Intensive tDCS for MDD: Feasibility Study

This will be a prospective, open-label, single-arm study to determine the safety and feasibility of an intensive treatment of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for major depressive disorder (MDD). Secondary objective is to gather preliminary data on the clinical effects of the protocol. After assessment and inclusion into the study, participants will receive up to 50 tDCS sessions over 10 days.

Study procedures:

Daily assessments: brief questions before and after each tDCS session to evaluate potential adverse events as well as a verbal rating scale for pain.

Questionnaires : a battery of mood questionnaires will be completed to inform findings regarding clinical effects of the treatment.

Cognitive measures: a short cognitive assessment will be completed to inform findings regarding cognitive safety of the treatment.

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of Major unipolar depression for at least 4 weeks meeting the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5)
• Age between 18 to 65
• Minimum score of 17 on the GRID-Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (GRID-HAMD)

Exclusion criteria

• Bipolar disorder,
• Psychosis
• Active substance use disorder (in the last 3 months)
• Personality disorder
• Neurocognitive disorder
• High risk of suicide
• Major comorbid medical or neurological condition
• Pregnancy

Medical contraindications to tDCS:

• Ferromagnetic material in the skull
• Defect in the bone substance of the skull
• Dermatological condition (e.g. eczema, psoriasis, urticaria, dermatitis, acne, hyperhidrosis, folliculitis, rosacea, keratosis, herpes, infectious or neoplastic phenomenon, etc.)
• Skin lesion on the skull (ex: cuts, abrasions, rash, tattoos on the skull, piercings on the head, etc.)