Spaced Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Major Depression
Couture et al. 2025. American Journal of Psychiatry.
- This study investigated spaced transcranial direct current stimulation for major depressive disorder, focusing on feasibility.
- In a prospective open-label study, 30 participants with major depressive disorder were enrolled to receive a 50-session transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) treatment over 2 weeks.
- The protocol demonstrated good feasibility, with a retention rate of 93.3% and an adherence rate of 99.7%. There were no serious adverse events.
- Depressive symptom severity, as measured by the HAM-D-17, showed significant reductions over time, with similar trends observed on the MADRS.
- The protocol was feasible, safe, and well-tolerated and led to significant reductions in depressive symptoms. These results will need to be validated in a sham-controlled randomized trial.