Treating Depression With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
Depression
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Depression focused on measuring depression, transcranial direct current stimulation, direct current stimulation, tdcs
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Has a diagnosis of a major depressive episode or bipolar disorder and is currently in a major depressive episode (without psychotic features)
- Total pretreatment HDRS (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale)-24 score >= 18 (The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale is an interviewer scored tool for assessing the severity of depressive symtoms. The scale ranges from 0 (no symptoms, absence of depression) to 64
Category Ham-24 Score Normal, not depressed 9 or less Mildly depressed 10 to 19 Moderately depressed 20 to 29 Markedly/severely depressed 30 or more)
- Capable and willing to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of depression previously untreated with medication, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder (non mood disorder), psychosis, depression secondary to a medical condition, mental retardation, substance dependence or abuse within the past year (except nicotine), psychotic features in this or previous episodes, amnestic disorder, dementia or mms<24, DELIRIUM
- Significant current history of autoimmune, endocrine, viral or vascular disorder affecting the brain
- History of unstable cardiac disease, uncontrolled hypertension, or sleep apnea
- Changes in psychotropic medications within two weeks prior to study entry or patient is unable to maintain stable doses throughout the study trial
- Subject has an active suicidal plan and/or attempted suicide in the past twelve months
- Patients with a CGI of 6 or greater
- Subject is pregnant or has a positive pregnancy serum test
Sites / Locations
- New York State Psychiatric Institute
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Sham Comparator
transcranial direct current stimulation
sham tDCS
The active group of patients will receive active Iomed II Phoresor transcranial direct current stimulation for the first two weeks followed by another two weeks of active transcranial direct current stimulation.
The patients in the sham arm receive active Iomed II Phoresor transcranial direct current stimulation for the second two weeks of the clinical trial only. For the first two weeks the Iomed II Phoresor constant current generator is turned on for 10 seconds to produce the tingling sensation on the scalp experienced by the patients in the active arm but the generator is then turned off and the patients receive no stimulation for the remainder of the 20 minute session.