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Developing Brain Imaging Analysis Expertise for Personalizing Transcranial Electric Stimulation in Anhedonia Treatment of Patients With Bipolar Depression

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

Not stated in the study description — ask the study team about visits and procedures.

Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This study tests how transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS), which uses a weak electric current on the head, affects brain pathways linked to reward. It also looks at whether changes in these pathways are linked to changes in trouble feeling pleasure. It is for people with bipolar disorder, mild depression symptoms, and significant trouble feeling pleasure.

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) will engage reward-related brain circuitry, more specifically the uncinate fasciculus (UF) tract, which connects the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAcc) regions. Also to evaluate whether the changes in the fractional anisotropy (FA) of the UF tract are associated with changes of clinical symptoms of anhedonia and finally to investigate the moderation role of simulated electric fields (EFs) in an association between FA of the UF and symptoms of anhedonia.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and significant trouble feeling pleasure, called anhedonia.
  • Have mild depression symptoms.

Who can't join

  • Have substance abuse or dependence, or used drugs other than alcohol or nicotine in the month before the starting assessment.
  • Have a personality disorder that the study clinician thinks would make it hard to take part.
  • Have a history of a brain or nerve condition, such as seizures, a brain injury, or a stroke.
  • Have a severe, life-threatening medical condition other than a mental health condition.
  • Have a condition that makes tDCS unsafe, such as metal plates in the head.
  • Are at immediate risk of suicide or are severely agitated.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder and clinically significant anhedonia * mild symptoms of depression Exclusion Criteria: * substance abuse/dependence and any use of drugs (except alcohol or nicotine) in the previous month of the baseline assessment * participants with personality disorder that would interfere with study participation according to clinical judgment * previous neurological conditions (epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke, etc) * any severe, life-threatening non-psychiatric medical condition * specific contraindications for tDCS (metallic plates in the head) * Participants identified as acutely suicidal or severely agitated

Study sites (1)

TX