Transcranial direct current stimulation for depression: 3-week, randomised, sham-controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Preliminary evidence suggests transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has antidepressant efficacy.


OBJECTIVE
To further investigate the efficacy of tDCS in a double-blind, sham-controlled trial (registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00763230).


METHODS
Sixty-four participants with current depression received active or sham anodal tDCS to the left prefrontal cortex (2 mA, 15 sessions over 3 weeks), followed by a 3-week open-label active treatment phase. Mood and neuropsychological effects were assessed.


RESULTS
There was significantly greater improvement in mood after active than after sham treatment (P<0.05), although no difference in responder rates (13% in both groups). Attention and working memory improved after a single session of active but not sham tDCS (P<0.05). There was no decline in neuropsychological functioning after 3-6 weeks of active stimulation. One participant with bipolar disorder became hypomanic after active tDCS.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings confirm earlier reports of the antidepressant efficacy and safety of tDCS. Vigilance for mood switching is advised when administering tDCS to individuals with bipolar disorder.
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. colleen.loo@unsw.edu.au
Colleen K
CK
Loo
Angelo
A
Alonzo
Donel
D
Martin
Philip B
PB
Mitchell
Veronica
V
Galvez
Perminder
P
Sachdev
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome