Home-Based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS as Maintenance Therapy for Adults with Depression After Successful Esketamine, rTMS, or ECT Treatment

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the use of a home-based transcranial direct current stimulation tDCS program as a maintenance therapy for adults with depressive disorders who have already improved or stabilized after acute inpatient treatment such as esketamine, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation rTMS, or electroconvulsive therapy ECT. This pilot study aims to determine if the home tDCS program is practical, well tolerated, and shows early signs of maintaining clinical benefits obtained from prior treatments. Participants receive a portable tDCS device with a cap and sponge electrodes to use at home for 20 sessions over 4 weeks, each session lasting 30 minutes at a low current of 2 mA, five times per week. The device gradually ramps the current up and down for comfort and automatically pauses if electrode contact is poor. Participants also use a smartphone app that provides guidance, reminders, and automatically logs sessions. Throughout the treatment, participants complete weekly self-rating questionnaires and have brief phone check-ins every two weeks, followed by a 2-week follow-up period after completing the 4-week program. During the study, researchers monitor how many treatment sessions participants complete, assess depressive symptoms using clinician-rated and self-reported scales such as MADRS and BDI-II, and track any adverse events or device-related issues. The device ensures safety by monitoring electrode contact and pausing if necessary. Data are stored anonymously in the app for clinical team review via a secure portal. The total participation includes 4 weeks of home treatment and a 2-week follow-up, focusing on feasibility, safety, adherence, and preliminary effectiveness of the tDCS maintenance program.

At-Home tDCS as Maintenance Therapy