Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation as an Augmenting Intervention for Major Depression
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation as an Augmenting Intervention for Major Depression
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive method to activate or
 de-activate neurons in superficial regions of the brain through the induction of weak
 electric currents in the brain tissue delivered by two scalp electrodes. Initial studies have
 shown tDCS to be effective for treating major depressive disorder (MDD), although there are
 negative trials in the specialized literature. One reason for these discrepant results might
 be that the duration of tDCS treatment in clinical trials to date (up to 2 weeks) is still
 insufficient to produce consistent clinical improvements. Thus, we intend to assess, in a
 sample of outpatients with MDD, whether a 3-week adjunctive course of active tDCS over the
 left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is associated with a significant clinical improvement
 when compared to sham tDCS. The investigators hypothesize that subjects receiving active tDCS
 will present with significantly higher response and remission rates at weeks 3.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Presence of a current major depressive disorder (according to the Diagnostic and
 Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition, Text Revision [DSM-IV-TR])

 -  Baseline score ≥ 13 on the QIDS-C

 -  Stable medication regimen (> 4 weeks)

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Psychotic features in the current episode

 -  Lifetime history of psychotic disorders and/or bipolar I or II disorders

 -  Substance or alcohol abuse/dependence in the past 6 months

 -  Lifetime history of a major neurological disease (e.g., Parkinson's, stroke)

 -  Uncontrolled medical disease (e.g., cardiovascular, renal)

 -  Pregnancy and/or lactation

 -  Presence of a specific contraindication for tDCS (e.g., personal history of epilepsy,
 metallic head implant, cardiac pacemaker)