Actively Recruiting

Phase Not Applicable
Age: 18Years - 35Years
All Genders
Healthy Volunteers
NCT07319143

The Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Improving Emotion Health

Led by The University of Hong Kong · Updated on 2026-05-04

90

Participants Needed

1

Research Sites

85 weeks

Total Duration

On this page

Sponsors

T

The University of Hong Kong

Lead Sponsor

R

Research Grants Council, Hong Kong

Collaborating Sponsor

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate how transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) affects emotion functions in young adults aged 18-35 from the local community, including both male and female participants. The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are: * Does tDCS improve emotional functions, such as mood regulation and motivation, in individuals with subthreshold depression (StD)? * Can tDCS enhance emotional regulation compared to a sham stimulation (placebo)? Researchers will compare participants receiving tDCS on either the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (lDLPFC) or right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (rVLPFC) with those receiving sham stimulation to see if tDCS has a stronger effect on emotional functions. Participants will: * Complete online and in-person screening to assess depressive symptoms using the Chinese version of the Beck Depression Inventory II (C-BDI-II) and be selected based on their depressive symptoms (C-BDI-II score ≥ 13). * Be randomly assigned to one of three groups: lDLPFC tDCS, rVLPFC tDCS, or Sham control group (1:1:1 ratio). * Receive 10 sessions of tDCS or Sham tDCS over 2 weeks, with each session lasting 20 minutes. * Complete assessments at baseline, post-intervention, 1-month follow-up, and 3-month follow-up, with each assessment lasting 2-2.5 hours. This includes questionnaires and perform emotional and cognitive tasks.

CONDITIONS

Official Title

The Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Improving Emotion Health

Who Can Participate

Age: 18Years - 35Years
All Genders
Healthy Volunteers

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible

You may qualify if you...

  • Age 18-35 years
  • Fluent in Cantonese or Mandarin
  • Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing
  • IQ above 75th percentile in Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices
  • At least 9 years of formal education
  • Right-handed
Not Eligible

You will not qualify if you...

  • Past or current major physical illness or psychiatric disorders
  • Use of psychotropic medication in the past 6 months
  • Pregnancy (for women)
  • Any condition preventing safe tDCS use, such as brain injury or implants
  • Previous participation in neuromodulation in the past 3 months

AI-Screening

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Trial Site Locations

Total: 1 location

1

The University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Actively Recruiting

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Research Team

A

Associate Professor, Principle Investigator

CONTACT

How is the study designed?

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Masking

DOUBLE

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Model

PARALLEL

Primary Purpose

TREATMENT

Number of Arms

3

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