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Evaluating tDCS Brain-stimulation in Depression Using MRI

Optimization of tDCS Brain Network Engagement in 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
20 Years to 55 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

  • Procedures mentioned: MRI scans

Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.

Show the study's own words
  • "To address this challenge, the investigators are using MRI to take pictures of the brain during tDCS."
  • "In the first visit, the investigators will use the MRI to take a picture of the brain and head structure to determine appropriate locations for placing the tDCS electrodes at the start of the second visit."
  • "Following electrode placement, an MRI scan will be performed to take pictures of the brain during tDCS."
  • "Participants may also be asked to perform a mental task during MRI."
  • "Consequently, the current study is proposing to use MRI techniques to map and investigate network engagement by tDCS in depression, as described below."
  • "Both in-person visits will involve MRI's: the first visit's MRI scans will help determine tDCS electrode positioning for the second visit, and the second visit's MRI scans will help us map changes in brain activity and connectivity during tDCS. 3."
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 uses MRI brain scans to learn how tDCS, a treatment that sends a small amount of electricity through the brain, affects depression. It is for adults ages 20–55 with depression. Participants may receive active tDCS or a comparison version that uses very little electricity.

Patients, physicians, and those who fund depression research are keenly interested in depression treatments that do not involve taking medications. One promising candidate treatment is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a low-cost technique that involves placing electrodes on specific scalp locations and using a 9-volt battery to cause a small amount of electricity to pass through parts of the brain. Depending on the direction of electrical flow, tDCS can make brain cells (neurons) more likely or less likely to generate their own electrical signals. When evaluated as a treatment, tDCS is typically done in daily sessions over a period of two weeks. One of the challenges of tDCS is to work out the best possible positioning of electrodes and direction of electricity flow to gradually cause lasting changes in brain activity in ways that might be expected to improve depression. To address this challenge, the investigators are using MRI to take pictures of the brain during tDCS. This data will help us better understand the short-term effects of tDCS in depression and help us learn how to customize future treatments to cause a lasting beneficial response. Patients with depression between the ages of 20-55 years are eligible to take part in this research. Potential participants will undergo: 1. An assessment to confirm eligibility. This will take place over a secure videoconference call lasting no more than 3 hours. 2. Two in-person study visits lasting 30 min and 2-1/2 hours respectively. In the first visit, the investigators will use the MRI to take a picture of the brain and head structure to determine appropriate locations for placing the tDCS electrodes at the start of the second visit. Following electrode placement, an MRI scan will be performed to take pictures of the brain during tDCS. Depending on the study arm, 1. Participants may receive 'active' or 'sham' tDCS. The 'sham' condition is identical to the 'active' tDCS in every way except that it involves minimal tDCS and is designed to help rule out effects unrelated to the administered tDCS electricity. 2. Participants may also be asked to perform a mental task during MRI.

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

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Be 20–55 years old. All genders, races, and ethnic groups may join.
  • Be able to understand the study and agree to take part.
  • Have a score of 17–23 on the Hamilton depression rating scale. Anxiety symptoms are allowed.
  • Have had no depression treatment, or take a standard antidepressant with no treatment changes for 6 weeks before or during tDCS.
  • Work at UCLA or live within a 1-hour drive of UCLA.

Who can't join

  • Be pregnant, be unable to speak English, or have had a substance use disorder in the past 12 months.
  • Have a brain condition, such as a brain injury, recent stroke, or tumor; schizophrenia; dementia; bipolar I disorder; or depression caused by a serious medical illness.
  • Have a condition that makes tDCS or MRI unsafe, such as irritated skin, metal implants, fear of tight spaces, or a breathing or movement disorder.
  • Currently receive talk therapy, have changed antidepressants within 6 weeks of starting, or have received brain or nerve stimulation treatment within 3 months.
  • Have severe or hard-to-treat depression: a Hamilton score above 24 plus a history of a depression episode lasting over 2 years or at least 2 failed antidepressant trials during the current episode.
  • Use, or have used in the past month, seizure medicines, lithium, stimulant medicines, or dexamphetamine.
  • Currently take decongestants or other medicines known to affect brain cell activity, or regularly take benzodiazepines that cannot safely be stopped for the 2-week trial.
  • Be actively suicidal, defined as a score of 4 on question 3 of the Hamilton depression rating scale.

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

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age between 20 to 55 years, inclusive 2. Gender: all 3. Race/ethnicity: all races and ethnic groups 4. Capacity to provide informed consent 5. Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score of ≥17 and \<24, with or without symptoms of anxiety. 6. Treatment naïve or on a stable standard antidepressant regimen (including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MOAIs) or tricyclic's (TCAs)) with no change in treatment 6-weeks prior to and during the tDCS intervention. 7. Work at UCLA or live within 1-hr driving distance of UCLA Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pregnancy 2. Non-English speaking (due to scales administered) 3. Substance Use Disorder within last 12 months 4. Neurological condition associated with brain abnormalities (e.g., traumatic brain injury; recent stroke, tumor) 5. Any contraindication to tDCS (e.g., skin disease or treatment causing irritation) 6. Any condition that would contraindicate scanning (metal implants, claustrophobia or a breathing or movement disorder) 7. Currently receiving any form of psychotherapy 8. Change in antidepressant medication within 6-weeks of starting the trial 9. Severe or treatment resistant depression - HAMD scores \> 24 and a history of a major depressive episode lasting \>2- years or failure to 2 or more antidepressant trials in the current index episode 10. Any neuromodulation therapy (e.g., ECT, rTMS, DBS, VNS or tDCS) within the last 3-months 11. Current or past (within the last 1-month) use of anticonvulsants, lithium, psychostimulant, dexamphetamine 12. Current use of decongestants or other medication previously shown to interfere with cortical excitability 13. Diagnosis: Schizophrenia Axis I disorder, or dementia of any type 14. Bipolar I disorder (due to possible risk of mania and because lithium and anticonvulsants are excluded). 15. On regular benzodiazepine medication that it is not clinically appropriate to discontinue for the 2-week duration of the trial 16. Depression related to serious medical illness (i.e., mood disorder due to general medical condition) 17. Actively suicidal as defined by a score of 4 on item 3 of HAMD

Study sites (1)

CA