Depression, Parkinson's
Conditions
Brief summary
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disease that has effects on both movement and mental health. One of the most common mental health complications of PD is depression. Up to 30% of Parkinson's patients will experience depression at some point. We aim to investigate whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a type of electrical stimulation for the brain, can improve depression in PD as well as improve motor function in PD.
Detailed description
The purpose of this double-blind, randomized control design study is to investigate the efficacy of 15-sessions of tDCS (versus 15-sessions of sham tDCS) to treat depression in PD. We will also assess dopamine function in a smaller cohort of participants before and after their 15 sessions of tDCS by using PET scanning.
Interventions
DEVICEactive tDCS
transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), is a type of electrical stimulation for the brain
DEVICESham tDCS
Sham tDCS will appear exactly the same as active tDCS, but no stimulation will be administered.
Sponsors
Pacific Parkinson's Research Centre
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
19 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. are outpatients, 2. are voluntary and competent to consent to treatment, 3. have a Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) confirmed diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD), 4. have a diagnosis of PD according to the UK PD brain bank criteria, 5. are 19 years of age or more, 6. have a score \> 13 on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), 7. still have depressive symptoms after 6 weeks or more of antidepressant (SSRI) medication treatment (and on a stabilized dose of at least 4 weeks), 8. are able to adhere to the treatment schedule, 9. are proficient in written and verbal English.
Exclusion criteria
1. have a history of substance dependence or abuse within the last 6 months, 2. have a concomitant significant unstable medical illness, 3. have active suicidal intent, 4. have any history of seizure or medication-resistant epilepsy in the family, 5. have a lifetime Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) diagnosis of bipolar I or II disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, delusional disorder, or current psychotic symptoms 6. have a MINI diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (current or within the last year), anxiety disorder (generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder), or dysthymia, assessed by a study investigator to be primary and causing greater impairment than MDD, 7. have failed a course of ECT in the current episode or previous episode, 8. have received tDCS or other neurostimulation therapy for any previous indication due to the potential compromise of expectancy effects, 9. have any significant neurological disorder or insult including, but not limited to: any condition likely to be associated with increased intracranial pressure, space occupying brain lesion, any history of seizure except those therapeutically induced by ECT, cerebral aneurysm, Huntington's chorea, multiple sclerosis, significant head trauma with loss of consciousness for greater than or equal to 5 minutes, or developmental disorder, 10. have an intracranial implant (e.g., aneurysm clips, shunts, stimulators, cochlear implants, or electrodes) or any other metal object within or near the head, excluding the mouth, that cannot be safely removed, 11. are taking a non-SSRI antidepressant medication, 12. are pregnant (women of childbearing age only).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| HAMD score | 12 weeks | an assessment of the severity of depression |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dopamine levels | 12 weeks | PET scanning will be used to assess dopamine levels before and after sham/active tDCS in 20 participants |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed