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The Therapeutic Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Depression in Parkinson's Disease

The Therapeutic Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Depression in Parkinson's Disease

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02917122
Acronym
Parkinson's
Enrollment
15
Registered
2016-09-28
Start date
2015-08-31
Completion date
2021-08-31
Last updated
2021-10-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Depression, Parkinson Disease

Keywords

Parkinson disease, transcranial direct current stimulation, depression, dopamine transporter, single photon emission computerized tomography

Brief summary

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurological diseases manifested by movement disturbance. The concomitant psychiatric symptoms, especially depression, are often observed and have also great impact on patients' quality of life. The treatment of depressive symptoms in PD with antidepressants as the majority remains variable and inefficient, which complicates the disease prognosis. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain modulation technique and has been demonstrated to improve psychiatric diseases such as major depression. In this study the investigators will assess the combined effects of tDCS on sertraline for the treatment of depression in PD. Ten sessions of tDCS in two weeks will be applied and the follow-up evaluation will continue bi-weekly for one month after completing all sessions. The efficacy of tDCS vs sertraline will be compared and evaluated with behavioral and cognitive outcome. In addition, the investigators will evaluate if the baseline dopaminergic activity in brain could predict the treatment outcome by using SPECT imaging. The investigators aim to establish the therapeutic parameters and safety criteria of tDCS as an add-on or alternative therapy, and further enhance the overall clinical efficacy in the treatment of depression in PD.

Detailed description

Study design This study is a factorial randomized, placebo-control trial, including 2 groups: 'sertraline only' (sertraline + sham tDCS), and 'combined treatment' (sertraline + active tDCS). It is planned to recruit 20 subjects for each group, which results in all together 40 participants. Patients will take 12 tDCS sessions (30min for each session): first 10 consecutive sessions for two weeks (Monday to Friday), and then 2 follow-up sessions scheduled 2 and 4 weeks after the consecutive treatment. Both pharmacological and tDCS intervention will be started simultaneously on the first day of the treatment.

Interventions

DEVICEactive tDCS

Patients will take 12 tDCS sessions (30min for each session): first 10 consecutive sessions for two weeks (Monday to Friday), and then 2 follow-up sessions scheduled 2 and 4 weeks after the consecutive treatment.

DRUGSertraline

Patients will take Sertraline.

DEVICEsham tDCS

Patients will take 12 tDCS sessions (30min for each session): first 10 consecutive sessions for two weeks (Monday to Friday), and then 2 follow-up sessions scheduled 2 and 4 weeks after the consecutive treatment.

Sponsors

National Cheng-Kung University Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. In the opinion of the investigator, the participant is capable of understanding and complying with protocol requirements. 2. The participant or, when applicable, the participant's legally acceptable representative signs and dates a written, informed consent form and any required privacy authorization prior to the initiation of any study procedures. 3. Suffers from Parkinson's disease fulfill the Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank clinical criteria with insidious 2 or more PD symptoms (bradykinesia, tremor, or rigidity). 4. Suffers from DSM-IV major depressive disorder, single episode or DSM-IV major depressive disorder, recurrent according to Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition - Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria. 5. Reported duration of the current episode is ≥4 weeks and has not been treated with antidepressants. 6. Has a Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score ≥20 at the screening (baseline) visit. 7. Is a man or woman aged 18 to 75 years, inclusive.

Exclusion criteria

1. Subjects known to have allergies to sertraline and pimozide. 2. Subjects showed any signs of substantial risk of suicide during the trial. 3. Subjects ever received electroconvulsive treatment. 4. Subjects co-morbid with other major mental disorders or with substance/alcohol dependence or abuse in the past 6 months per DSM-IV criteria. 5. Nursing women, pregnant women or patients suspected pregnant. 6. History or presence of clinically significant hepatic, cardiovascular or renal disease, or other serious medical disease that might compromise the study. 7. History of seizure disorder or need to taking medications that increase the risk of seizure. 8. History or presence of dementia and any previous history of brain tumor, brain arteriovenous malformation, encephalitis or meningitis. 9. Subjects ever received or plan to receive brain surgery during the trial. 10. Subjects with pacemaker or are contraindicated for MRI.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change of Modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Among Different Weeksweek 0 and 6mds: modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease mds1 non-motor experiences of daily living: summed, 0-52 mds2 motor experiences of daily living: summed, 0-52 mds3 motor examination: summed, 0-132 mds4 motor complications: summed, 0-24 higher value is worse
Change of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression Among Different Weeksweek 0 and 6Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression: summed, 0-50 higher value is worse
Change of Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire Among Different Weeksweek 0 and 6Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire: summed, 0-54 higher value is worse

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Sertraline + Sham tDCS
Patients will take sham tDCS. Sertraline: Patients will take Sertraline. sham tDCS: Patients will take 12 tDCS sessions (30min for each session): first 10 consecutive sessions for two weeks (Monday to Friday), and then 2 follow-up sessions scheduled 2 and 4 weeks after the consecutive treatment.
8
Sertraline + Active tDCS
Patients will take 12 tDCS sessions (30min for each session): first 10 consecutive sessions for two weeks (Monday to Friday), and then 2 follow-up sessions scheduled 2 and 4 weeks after the consecutive treatment. active tDCS: Patients will take 12 tDCS sessions (30min for each session): first 10 consecutive sessions for two weeks (Monday to Friday), and then 2 follow-up sessions scheduled 2 and 4 weeks after the consecutive treatment. Sertraline: Patients will take Sertraline.
7
Total15

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicSertraline + Sham tDCSSertraline + Active tDCSTotal
Age, Continuous62.00 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.5
61.86 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.82
61.93 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.8
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Asian
8 Participants7 Participants15 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
8 Participants3 Participants11 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants4 Participants4 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 80 / 7
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 80 / 7
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 80 / 7

Outcome results

Primary

Change of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression Among Different Weeks

Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression: summed, 0-50 higher value is worse

Time frame: week 0 and 6

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Sertraline + Sham tDCSChange of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression Among Different Weeksweek021.83 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 4.79
Sertraline + Sham tDCSChange of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression Among Different Weeksweek65.83 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 4.36
Sertraline + Active tDCSChange of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression Among Different Weeksweek027.40 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 4.22
Sertraline + Active tDCSChange of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression Among Different Weeksweek610.20 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 7.69
Primary

Change of Modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Among Different Weeks

mds: modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease mds1 non-motor experiences of daily living: summed, 0-52 mds2 motor experiences of daily living: summed, 0-52 mds3 motor examination: summed, 0-132 mds4 motor complications: summed, 0-24 higher value is worse

Time frame: week 0 and 6

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Sertraline + Sham tDCSChange of Modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Among Different Weeksmds1 non-motor experiences of daily living-week09.00 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 5.48
Sertraline + Sham tDCSChange of Modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Among Different Weeksmds1 non-motor experiences of daily living-week66.17 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 3.43
Sertraline + Sham tDCSChange of Modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Among Different Weeksmds2 motor experiences of daily living-week05.33 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 3.5
Sertraline + Sham tDCSChange of Modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Among Different Weeksmds2 motor experiences of daily living-week62.17 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.33
Sertraline + Sham tDCSChange of Modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Among Different Weeksmds3 motor examination-week023.50 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 12.93
Sertraline + Sham tDCSChange of Modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Among Different Weeksmds3 motor examination-week622.17 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 10.34
Sertraline + Sham tDCSChange of Modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Among Different Weeksmds4 motor complications-week00.50 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.22
Sertraline + Sham tDCSChange of Modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Among Different Weeksmds4 motor complications-week61.00 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.55
Sertraline + Active tDCSChange of Modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Among Different Weeksmds4 motor complications-week61.25 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.5
Sertraline + Active tDCSChange of Modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Among Different Weeksmds1 non-motor experiences of daily living-week010.00 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 4.83
Sertraline + Active tDCSChange of Modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Among Different Weeksmds3 motor examination-week018.75 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 6.4
Sertraline + Active tDCSChange of Modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Among Different Weeksmds1 non-motor experiences of daily living-week68.25 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 3.1
Sertraline + Active tDCSChange of Modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Among Different Weeksmds4 motor complications-week02.75 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 3.77
Sertraline + Active tDCSChange of Modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Among Different Weeksmds2 motor experiences of daily living-week02.25 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.06
Sertraline + Active tDCSChange of Modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Among Different Weeksmds3 motor examination-week619.50 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 5
Sertraline + Active tDCSChange of Modified-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Among Different Weeksmds2 motor experiences of daily living-week64.75 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 3.2
Primary

Change of Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire Among Different Weeks

Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire: summed, 0-54 higher value is worse

Time frame: week 0 and 6

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Sertraline + Sham tDCSChange of Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire Among Different Weeksweek025.50 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 11.64
Sertraline + Sham tDCSChange of Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire Among Different Weeksweek614.83 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 12.34
Sertraline + Active tDCSChange of Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire Among Different Weeksweek024.80 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 11.19
Sertraline + Active tDCSChange of Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire Among Different Weeksweek618.60 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 16.01

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026