Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Augmentation by D-Cycloserine as a Treatment for Depression

Phase 2

Completed

• Conditions: Major Depressive Disorder; Bipolar Disorder
• Interventions: Drug: D-Cycloserine; Device: tDCS (Eldith DC-Stimulator (CE certified))

• Registration Number: NCT00869765
• Lead Sponsor: The University of New South Wales

Brief Summary

Among antidepressant treatments, Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) stands as the most effective in treating acute depression. However, patient concerns with the cognitive side effects of ECT have encouraged the development of new and more focal forms of brain stimulation such as transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). The investigators' current study of tDCS as a treatment for depression suggests that this technique has antidepressant effects and is safe, painless and well tolerated. However, not all patients may respond to this treatment and the concern of possible relapse in some patients who respond to tDCS has raised interest in finding treatments that may enhance and prolong the antidepressant effects of tDCS. This study will investigate whether D-Cycloserine, a medication shown to lengthen the effects of tDCS on brain activity, can also enhance/prolong the antidepressant effects of tDCS in people suffering from depression.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2009-03-25
• Study First Submitted QC: 2009-03-25
• Study First Posted: 2009-03-26
• Study Start: 2009-04
• Status Verified: 2010-09
• Primary Completion: 2010-09
• Study Completion: 2010-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2010-09-09
• Last Update Posted: 2010-09-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 5

Inclusion Criteria

1. Subject met inclusion criteria for study HREC 07305 (a sham controlled study of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a treatment for depression).
2. Subject completed study HREC 07305.
3. Subject either did not reach remission at the end of trial (defined as MADRS score of ≤ 10) or suffered an early relapse (within a month of finishing the trial).

Exclusion Criteria

1. Diagnosis (as defined by DSM-IV) of: any psychotic disorder (lifetime); bipolar disorder; eating disorder (current or within the past year); obsessive compulsive disorder (lifetime); post-traumatic stress disorder current or within the past year); mental retardation.
2. History of drug or alcohol abuse or dependence (as per DSM-IV criteria) within the last 3 months (except nicotine and caffeine).
3. Inadequate response to ECT in the current episode of depression.
4. Subject is on regular benzodiazepine medication which it is not clinically appropriate to discontinue.
5. Subject requires a rapid clinical response due to inanition, psychosis or high suicide risk.
6. Neurological disorder or insult, e.g., recent stroke (CVA), which places subject at risk of seizure or neuronal damage with tDCS.
7. Subject has metal in the cranium, skull defects, or skin lesions on scalp (cuts, abrasions, rash) at proposed electrode sites.
8. Female subject who is pregnant, or of child-bearing age, sexually active and not using reliable contraception (urine test for pregnancy will be used)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
tDCS and D-CYC	D-Cycloserine	Major Depression tDCS and D-cyc
tDCS and D-CYC	tDCS (Eldith DC-Stimulator (CE certified))	Major Depression tDCS and D-cyc

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (IDS-C)	6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale for Depression (MADRS)	6 months

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales; 🇦🇺 Randwick, New South Wales, Australia