Actively Recruiting
Home-Based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation In Major Depressive Disorder (HOME)
Led by King's College London · Updated on 2026-01-26
438
Participants Needed
6
Research Sites
110 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
K
King's College London
Lead Sponsor
N
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Depression is a prevalent and debilitating disorder. The most common treatments are antidepressant medications and talking therapies. However, for many individuals, these are not their treatment of choice. Furthermore, even following a full course of treatment with an antidepressant or talking therapy, over one third of patients continue to be unwell. The novel brain stimulation treatment, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), is a potential first-line treatment for major depression. The present research question is whether home-based tDCS is an effective treatment for major depression for adults with major depression. Participants will be randomised to receive either a 10-week course of active tDCS treatment in addition to their standard care (Treatment as Usual), or to only receive Treatment as Usual. Participants will be followed up for 6-months after the start of the treatment began. After the 6-month follow-up visit, all participants from both groups can choose to continue/start the tDCS treatment. There will be a final follow-up visit 3 months later (9 months from the original treatment start of the trial).
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Home-Based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation In Major Depressive Disorder (HOME)
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Adults aged 18 years or over
- Current episode of major depressive disorder based on DSM-5 criteria
- Moderate or higher depression severity with a MADRS score of at least 18
- Either not taking antidepressants or on a stable dose for at least 6 weeks
- Either not in psychotherapy or in psychotherapy for at least 6 weeks
- Under the care of a general practitioner (GP)
- Agreeable for GP to be regularly informed about study participation
- Able to provide written informed consent
You will not qualify if you...
- Significant suicide risk as indicated by specific questions on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale
- Primary comorbid psychiatric disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder
- Daily use of medications affecting brain excitability like benzodiazepines
- Current illicit drug use or heavy alcohol use with high risk of alcohol use disorder
- History of brain stimulation treatments including ECT, TMS, CES, tDCS, DBS
- History of esketamine or ketamine treatment for depression
- History of psychosurgery for depression
- Cognitive impairment such as dementia
- Medical or neurological disorders that may mimic mood disorders
- Presence of brain implants or neurocranial defects
- Shrapnel or ferromagnetic material in the head
- Active implantable medical devices like pacemakers
- Pregnant or planning pregnancy if female and of child-bearing potential
- Participation in another interventional study
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 6 locations
1
Cardiff and Vale Health Board
Cardiff, United Kingdom, CF24 4HQ
Not Yet Recruiting
2
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
London, United Kingdom, SE5 8AF
Actively Recruiting
3
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Newcastle, United Kingdom, NE4 5PL
Not Yet Recruiting
4
Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Northampton, United Kingdom, NN5 6UD
Not Yet Recruiting
5
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Nottingham, United Kingdom, NG7 2UH
Not Yet Recruiting
6
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Southampton, United Kingdom, SO14 3DT
Not Yet Recruiting
Research Team
C
Cynthia Fu
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
DOUBLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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