Status:

RECRUITING

Spaced Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Home-Based Feasibility and Safety Study

Lead Sponsor:

University of California, San Diego

Conditions:

Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD)

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Eligibility:

All Genders

18-85 years

Phase:

NA

Brief Summary

The investigators propose a single-arm, open-label study to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, tolerability and feasibility of at-home transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a treatment fo...

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

  • People between the ages of 18 and 85 at the time of screening.
  • Currently diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) as measured by the MINI and a MADRS score of ≥ 20.
  • Safe for TMS as measures by the TMS Adult Safety Screening (TASS).
  • Medical records confirming a history of failing to achieve clinical response to an adequate antidepressant trial as defined an Antidepressant Treatment History Form (ATHF) score ≥ 3 or ) or shown intolerance to at least two inadequate trials (score 1 or 2), without psychiatric illness due to a general medical condition.
  • Stable internet connection and a device compatible with Microsoft Teams.

Exclusion

  • History of psychotic or bipolar disorder or depression with psychotic features;
  • Significant borderline personality disorder;
  • Significant comorbid obsessive-compulsive or post-traumatic stress:
  • Current moderate or severe substance use disorder or demonstrating signs of acute substance withdrawal;
  • Clinically significant suicidality disorder;
  • Chronic depression (defined as of over 5 years duration);
  • Pregnancy or lactation, lack of adequate birth control in women of childbearing age;
  • History of significant neurologic disease, including dementia, Parkinson's or Huntington's disease, brain tumor, seizure disorder, subdural hematoma, multiple sclerosis, or history of significant head trauma with persistent symptoms;
  • Unstable medical illness;
  • Contraindication to receiving tDCS (e.g., ferromagnetic implant, history of seizure, known brain lesion);
  • History of TMS (greater than 15 sessions) without a clinically meaningful response.; History of ketamine (greater than 4 sessions) without a clinically meaningful response;
  • Require a benzodiazepine with a dose \> lorazepam 2 mg/day;
  • dermatological conditions contraindicating tDCS;
  • Non-correctable sensory impairments;
  • Inability to consent or participate as an outpatient

Key Trial Info

Start Date :

September 27 2025

Trial Type :

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation :

ESTIMATED

End Date :

March 1 2027

Estimated Enrollment :

10 Patients enrolled

Trial Details

Trial ID

NCT07217223

Start Date

September 27 2025

End Date

March 1 2027

Last Update

January 9 2026

Active Locations (1)

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1

UCSD Interventional Psychiatry

San Diego, California, United States, 92127