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Soldini A, Vogelmann U, Aust S, Goerigk S, Plewnia C, Fallgatter A, Normann C, Frase L, Zwanzger P, Kammer T, Schönfeldt-Lecuona C, Vural G, Bajbouj M, Padberg F, Burkhardt G. Neurocognitive function as outcome and predictor for prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation in major depressive disorder: an analysis from the DepressionDC trial. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024:10.1007/s00406-024-01759-2. [PMID: 38407625 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-024-01759-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the prefrontal cortex might beneficially influence neurocognitive dysfunctions associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, previous studies of neurocognitive effects of tDCS have been inconclusive. In the current study, we analyzed longitudinal, neurocognitive data from 101 participants of a randomized controlled multicenter trial (DepressionDC), investigating the efficacy of bifrontal tDCS (2 mA, 30 min/d, for 6 weeks) in patients with MDD and insufficient response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). We assessed whether active tDCS compared to sham tDCS elicited beneficial effects across the domains of memory span, working memory, selective attention, sustained attention, executive process, and processing speed, assessed with a validated, digital test battery. Additionally, we explored whether baseline cognitive performance, as a proxy of fronto-parietal-network functioning, predicts the antidepressant effects of active tDCS versus sham tDCS. We found no statistically significant group differences in the change of neurocognitive performance between active and sham tDCS. Furthermore, baseline cognitive performance did not predict the clinical response to tDCS. Our findings indicate no advantage in neurocognition due to active tDCS in MDD. Additional research is required to systematically investigate the effects of tDCS protocols on neurocognitive performance in patients with MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldo Soldini
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany.
- International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Freiburg, Breisgau, Germany.
| | - Ulrike Vogelmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Sabine Aust
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stephan Goerigk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany
- Charlotte Fresenius Hochschule, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Plewnia
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Tübingen Center for Mental Health, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Fallgatter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Tübingen Center for Mental Health, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Claus Normann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Freiburg, Breisgau, Germany
- Center for Basics in Neuromodulation, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Frase
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Freiburg, Breisgau, Germany
- Center for Basics in Neuromodulation, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Peter Zwanzger
- Clinical Center for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatic Medicine, Geriatrics and Neurology, Kbo-Inn-Salzach-Klinikum, Gabersee, Germany
| | - Thomas Kammer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Gizem Vural
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Malek Bajbouj
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Padberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Gerrit Burkhardt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany
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Burkhardt G, Kumpf U, Crispin A, Goerigk S, Andre E, Plewnia C, Brendel B, Fallgatter A, Langguth B, Abdelnaim M, Hebel T, Normann C, Frase L, Zwanzger P, Diemer J, Kammer T, Schönfeldt-Lecuona C, Kamp D, Bajbouj M, Behler N, Wilkening A, Nenov-Matt T, Dechantsreiter E, Keeser D, Bulubas L, Palm U, Blankenstein C, Mansmann U, Falkai P, Brunoni AR, Hasan A, Padberg F. Transcranial direct current stimulation as an additional treatment to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in adults with major depressive disorder in Germany (DepressionDC): a triple-blind, randomised, sham-controlled, multicentre trial. Lancet 2023; 402:545-554. [PMID: 37414064 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(23)00640-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been proposed as a feasible treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, meta-analytic evidence is heterogenous and data from multicentre trials are scarce. We aimed to assess the efficacy of tDCS versus sham stimulation as an additional treatment to a stable dose of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in adults with MDD. METHODS The DepressionDC trial was triple-blind, randomised, and sham-controlled and conducted at eight hospitals in Germany. Patients being treated at a participating hospital aged 18-65 years were eligible if they had a diagnosis of MDD, a score of at least 15 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (21-item version), no response to at least one antidepressant trial in their current depressive episode, and treatment with an SSRI at a stable dose for at least 4 weeks before inclusion; the SSRI was continued at the same dose during stimulation. Patients were allocated (1:1) by fixed-blocked randomisation to receive either 30 min of 2 mA bifrontal tDCS every weekday for 4 weeks, then two tDCS sessions per week for 2 weeks, or sham stimulation at the same intervals. Randomisation was stratified by site and baseline Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score (ie, <31 or ≥31). Participants, raters, and operators were masked to treatment assignment. The primary outcome was change on the MADRS at week 6, analysed in the intention-to-treat population. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one treatment session. The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02530164). FINDINGS Between Jan 19, 2016, and June 15, 2020, 3601 individuals were assessed for eligibility. 160 patients were included and randomly assigned to receive either active tDCS (n=83) or sham tDCS (n=77). Six patients withdrew consent and four patients were found to have been wrongly included, so data from 150 patients were analysed (89 [59%] were female and 61 [41%] were male). No intergroup difference was found in mean improvement on the MADRS at week 6 between the active tDCS group (n=77; -8·2, SD 7·2) and the sham tDCS group (n=73; -8·0, 9·3; difference 0·3 [95% CI -2·4 to 2·9]). Significantly more participants had one or more mild adverse events in the active tDCS group (50 [60%] of 83) than in the sham tDCS group (33 [43%] of 77; p=0·028). INTERPRETATION Active tDCS was not superior to sham stimulation during a 6-week period. Our trial does not support the efficacy of tDCS as an additional treatment to SSRIs in adults with MDD. FUNDING German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerrit Burkhardt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrike Kumpf
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander Crispin
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Hospital, Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Stephan Goerigk
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany; Department of Psychological Methodology and Assessment, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany; Department of Psychology, Charlotte Fresenius Hochschule, University of Psychology, Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Andre
- Münchner Studienzentrum, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Plewnia
- Tübingen Center for Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Bettina Brendel
- Tübingen Center for Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Applied Biostatistics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Fallgatter
- Tübingen Center for Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Berthold Langguth
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Mohamed Abdelnaim
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Hebel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Claus Normann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine and Center for Basics in Neuromodulation, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Frase
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Peter Zwanzger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany; kbo-Inn-Salzach-Klinikum, Clinical Center for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatic Medicine, Geriatrics and Neurology, Wasserburg am Inn, Germany
| | - Julia Diemer
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany; kbo-Inn-Salzach-Klinikum, Clinical Center for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatic Medicine, Geriatrics and Neurology, Wasserburg am Inn, Germany
| | - Thomas Kammer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy III, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Daniel Kamp
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Landschaftsverband-Rheinland-Klinikum Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Malek Bajbouj
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Campus Benjamin Franklin, University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nora Behler
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Anja Wilkening
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Tabea Nenov-Matt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Esther Dechantsreiter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Keeser
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany; NeuroImaging Core Unit Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany; Munich Center for Neurosciences-Brain and Mind, Munich, Germany
| | - Lucia Bulubas
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrich Palm
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany; Medical Park Chiemseeblick, Bernau, Germany
| | | | - Ulrich Mansmann
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Hospital, Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Falkai
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany; Munich Center for Neurosciences-Brain and Mind, Munich, Germany
| | - Andre R Brunoni
- Department of Internal Medicine and Department of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alkomiet Hasan
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Bezirkskrankenhaus Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Frank Padberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
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Aust S, Brakemeier EL, Spies J, Herrera-Melendez AL, Kaiser T, Fallgatter A, Plewnia C, Mayer SV, Dechantsreiter E, Burkhardt G, Strauß M, Mauche N, Normann C, Frase L, Deuschle M, Böhringer A, Padberg F, Bajbouj M. Efficacy of Augmentation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry 2022; 79:528-537. [PMID: 35442431 PMCID: PMC9021985 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.0696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects approximately 10% of the population globally. Approximately 20% to 30% of patients with MDD do not sufficiently respond to standard treatment. Therefore, there is a need to develop more effective treatment strategies. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for the treatment of MDD can be enhanced by concurrent transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS The double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial PsychotherapyPlus was conducted at 6 university hospitals across Germany. Enrollment took place between June 2, 2016, and March 10, 2020; follow-up was completed August 27, 2020. Adults aged 20 to 65 years with a single or recurrent depressive episode were eligible. They were either not receiving medication or were receiving a stable regimen of antidepressant medication (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and/or mirtazapine). A total of 148 women and men underwent randomization: 53 individuals were assigned to CBT alone (group 0), 48 to CBT plus tDCS (group 1), and 47 to CBT plus sham-tDCS (group 2). INTERVENTIONS Participants attended a 6-week group intervention comprising 12 sessions of CBT. If assigned, tDCS was applied simultaneously. Active tDCS included stimulation with an intensity of 2 mA for 30 minutes (anode over F3, cathode over F4). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was the change in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score from baseline to posttreatment in the intention-to-treat sample. Scores of 0 to 6 indicate no depression; 7 to 19, mild depression; 20 to 34, moderate depression; and 34 and higher, severe depression. RESULTS A total of 148 patients (89 women, 59 men; mean [SD] age, 41.1 [13.7] years; MADRS score at baseline, 23.0 [6.4]) were randomized. Of these, 126 patients (mean [SD] age, 41.5 [14.0] years; MADRS score at baseline, 23.0 [6.3]) completed the study. In each of the intervention groups, intervention was able to reduce MADRS scores by a mean of 6.5 points (95% CI, 3.82-9.14 points). The Cohen d value was -0.90 (95% CI, -1.43 to -0.50), indicating a significant effect over time. However, there was no significant effect of group and no significant interaction of group × time, indicating the estimated additive effects were not statistically significant. There were no severe adverse events throughout the whole trial, and there were no significant differences of self-reported adverse effects during and after stimulation between groups 1 and 2. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Based on MADRS score changes, this trial did not indicate superior efficacy of tDCS-enhanced CBT compared with 2 CBT control conditions. The study confirmed that concurrent group CBT and tDCS is safe and feasible. However, additional research on mechanisms of neuromodulation to complement CBT and other behavioral interventions is needed. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02633449.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Aust
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eva-Lotta Brakemeier
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jan Spies
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ana Lucia Herrera-Melendez
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tim Kaiser
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Andreas Fallgatter
- Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Neurophysiologie & Interventionelle Neuropsychiatrie, Tübingen Center for Mental Health, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian Plewnia
- Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Neurophysiologie & Interventionelle Neuropsychiatrie, Tübingen Center for Mental Health, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sarah V. Mayer
- Universitätsklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Neurophysiologie & Interventionelle Neuropsychiatrie, Tübingen Center for Mental Health, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Esther Dechantsreiter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Gerrit Burkhardt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Maria Strauß
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nicole Mauche
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Claus Normann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine & Center for Basics in NeuroModulation, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Frase
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine & Center for Basics in NeuroModulation, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michael Deuschle
- Central Institute for Mental Health, University of Heidelberg/Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Andreas Böhringer
- Central Institute for Mental Health, University of Heidelberg/Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Frank Padberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Malek Bajbouj
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Psychiatry, Campus Benjamin Franklin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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Hsu JL, Gu PS, Kang EYC, Lai CC, Lo FS. Retinal Thickness Associates with Cognition Dysfunction in Young Adult with Type 1 Diabetes in Taiwan. J Diabetes Res 2022; 2022:9082177. [PMID: 36200004 PMCID: PMC9529476 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9082177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several factors could affect the cognitive dysfunction in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). OBJECTIVES To report the characteristic of cognitive dysfunction in T1D and find its association with the retinal thickness. SUBJECTS We recruited one hundred and seven patients with T1D in our study. METHODS Detailed clinical and demographic factors and Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery (CANTAB) were performed in all participants. The age at onset>5 years old and ≤5 years old groups was defined as old- and young-onset groups. The levels of the average values of 5-year glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c_5) before study were collected. Ophthalmic study and central retinal thickness (CRT) were performed. RESULTS The median age of T1D was 24.9 years old and 57 participants were women. The median age at onset was 7.4 years old, and mean disease duration was 17.2 years. After adjusting off multiple covariates by the regression analyses, the young-onset group had significantly a longer latency in sustained attention than old-onset group (P = 0.02). The HbA1c_5 showed a significantly negative association with the sustained attention (P = 0.03). The average values of CRT showed significantly negative correlations with the reaction time in sustained attention and visual searching (P = 0.04 and P < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that age at onset and glycemic control had significant impacts on different cognitive domains in T1D. The CRT had a significant correlation with sustained attention, which could be a surrogate markers of brain structural changes in T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Lung Hsu
- Department of Neurology, New Taipei Municipal Tucheng Hospital, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou and Neuroscience Research Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain, & Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Brain & Consciousness Research Center, Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Shin Gu
- Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Eugene Yu-Chuan Kang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Chun Lai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Sung Lo
- Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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5
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Padberg F, Kumpf U, Mansmann U, Palm U, Plewnia C, Langguth B, Zwanzger P, Fallgatter A, Nolden J, Burger M, Keeser D, Rupprecht R, Falkai P, Hasan A, Egert S, Bajbouj M. Prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as treatment for major depression: study design and methodology of a multicenter triple blind randomized placebo controlled trial (DepressionDC). Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2017; 267:751-766. [PMID: 28246891 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-017-0769-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2016] [Accepted: 01/14/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been proposed as novel treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) based on clinical pilot studies as well as randomized controlled monocentric trials. The DepressionDC trial is a triple-blind (blinding of rater, operator and patient), randomized, placebo controlled multicenter trial investigating the efficacy and safety of prefrontal tDCS used as additive treatment in MDD patients who have not responded to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). At 5 study sites, 152 patients with MDD receive a 6-weeks treatment with active tDCS (anode F3 and cathode F4, 2 mA intensity, 30 min/day) or sham tDCS add-on to a stable antidepressant medication with an SSRI. Follow-up visits are at 3 and 6 months after the last tDCS session. The primary outcome measure is the change of the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores at week 6 post-randomisation compared to baseline. Secondary endpoints also cover other psychopathological domains, and a comprehensive safety assessment includes measures of cognition. Patients undergo optional investigations comprising genetic testing and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of structural and functional connectivity. The study uses also an advanced tDCS technology including standard electrode positioning and recording of technical parameters (current, impedance, voltage) in every tDCS session. Aside reporting the study protocol here, we present a novel approach for monitoring technical parameters of tDCS which will allow quality control of stimulation and further analysis of the interaction between technical parameters and clinical outcome. The DepressionDC trial will hopefully answer the important clinical question whether prefrontal tDCS is a safe and effective antidepressant intervention in patients who have not sufficiently responded to SSRIs. TRIAL REGISTRY ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT0253016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Padberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Nussbaumstr. 7, 80336, Munich, Germany.
| | - Ulrike Kumpf
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Nussbaumstr. 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrich Mansmann
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology (IBE), Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrich Palm
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Nussbaumstr. 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Plewnia
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Berthold Langguth
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | | | - Andreas Fallgatter
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jana Nolden
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Nussbaumstr. 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Max Burger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel Keeser
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Nussbaumstr. 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Rainer Rupprecht
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Peter Falkai
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Nussbaumstr. 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Alkomiet Hasan
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Nussbaumstr. 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Silvia Egert
- Münchner Studienzentrum, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Malek Bajbouj
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité-Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
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