Actively Recruiting
tDCS for Social Media Addiction
Led by Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL · Updated on 2026-02-20
60
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
26 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive brain stimulation, can reduce "craving" and problematic levels of social media/internet use in university students. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does active tDCS reduce craving to use social media during the intervention period compared with sham stimulation and no stimulation? * Does active tDCS reduce internet/social media addiction severity (measured with the Internet Addiction Test, IAT) compared with sham stimulation and no stimulation, and are any effects still present at follow-up? Researchers will compare three groups-active tDCS, sham tDCS (a simulation where stimulation is stopped after the first seconds), and a control group (no stimulation)-to see whether changes are due to tDCS rather than placebo effects or time. Participants will: * Complete an initial screening and baseline questionnaires (a sociodemographic questionnaire and the IAT). * Be randomly assigned to one of three groups: active tDCS, sham tDCS, or control (no stimulation). * Complete the IAT again after the intervention and again about 5 weeks later (follow-up), along with questions about social media use habits. During intervention, participants in active tDCS and sham tDCS will: * Attend 10 sessions over 2 consecutive weeks (Monday-Friday), with each session lasting about 30 minutes; mobile phone use is not allowed during sessions. * Rate craving on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at the start and end of each session. This study will be conducted with university students in the Greater Lisbon area and will follow double-blind procedures for the active vs sham conditions (participants and researchers will not know the assigned condition until the end of the study).
CONDITIONS
Official Title
tDCS for Social Media Addiction
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age 18 years or older
- Available to participate in all phases and sessions of the study
- Internet Addiction Test (IAT) score of 31 or higher indicating moderate to severe internet/social media dependence
You will not qualify if you...
- Diagnosed with depressive, anxiety, or bipolar disorders with recent symptoms, schizophrenia, psychotic disorders, or autism spectrum disorder
- Recent use or dose change of psychotropic medication within the last 3 months
- Current need for hospitalization or ongoing psychotherapy
- History of dizziness or seizures/convulsions
- Contraindications to tDCS including pregnancy, metallic implants, tumors, prior brain surgery, or significant anatomical brain changes
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Egas Moniz School of Health and Science
Almada, Portugal
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
P
Paulo Chaló, PhD
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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