title: [Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for depression: Results of nearly a decade of clinical research].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since 2006 transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been investigated in the treatment of depression. In this review, we discuss the implications and clinical perspectives that tDCS may have as a therapeutic tool in depression from the results reported in this domain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive literature review has found nearly thirty articles - all in English - on this topic, corresponding to clinical studies, placebo-controlled or not, case reports and reviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several meta-analyses showed that the antidepressant effects of active tDCS are significant against placebo, but variable, mainly due to the heterogeneity of the patients included in the studies, for example regarding the resistance to antidepressant treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Specific recommendations for the use of tDCS in treating depression may not yet be available, but some elements of good practice can be highlighted. Of particular note is that anodal tDCS of the left prefrontal cortex at 2mA for 20 minutes per day has a potential therapeutic value without risk of significant side effects: tDCS offers safe conditions for clinical use in the treatment of depression.
authors.affiliation: EA 4391, faculté de médecine, université Paris-Est Créteil, 94000 Créteil, France; Département de psychiatrie et psychothérapie, laboratoire de stimulation non invasive du cerveau et de neuroplasticité, université Ludwig-Maximilian, 80336 Munich, Allemagne. Electronic address: ulrich.palm@med.uni-muenchen.de.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Palm
authors.affiliation: EA 4391, faculté de médecine, université Paris-Est Créteil, 94000 Créteil, France; Explorations fonctionnelles, service de physiologie, hôpital Henri-Mondor, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 94000 Créteil, France.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ayache
authors.affiliation: Département de psychiatrie et psychothérapie, laboratoire de stimulation non invasive du cerveau et de neuroplasticité, université Ludwig-Maximilian, 80336 Munich, Allemagne.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Padberg
authors.affiliation: EA 4391, faculté de médecine, université Paris-Est Créteil, 94000 Créteil, France; Explorations fonctionnelles, service de physiologie, hôpital Henri-Mondor, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 94000 Créteil, France.
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lefaucheur
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
keywords: Depression; Dépression; Non-invasive brain stimulation; Resistance; Résistance; Stimulation cérébrale non invasive; Traitement; Treatment; tDCS