NESBID: Neuro-Stimulation of the Brain in Depression
Key facts
- Who runs it
- University of Alberta
- Where
- Canada1 site in 1 countryChoose a country to see its sites
- Trial code
- Status
- Withdrawn
- Started
- 1 Sept 2020
- Ended
- 15 Nov 2025
- Type of study
- Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets a sham (pretend) treatment, for comparison.
- Treatments tested
- Transcranial direct current stimulation
- Record updated
- 21 January 2026
- Why it stopped
- Logistical reasons
Who can take part
- Age
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Women and men
- Healthy volunteers
- Cannot take part
The registry criteria, word for word
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Who can take part
- Currently suffering from an MDE with a score on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) greater than 34 (signifying severe depression)
- Have ultra treatment resistant MDD (defined as failure to remit despite adequate trials with five antidepressants, or failure to remit with ECT, or failure to remit with ketamine)
Who cannot take part
- Are currently using a herbal compound or known NMDA-modulating agent, as these substances could interfere with the induction of LTP and thereby limit the effectiveness of tDCS
- Have been diagnosed with psychosis, an addiction disorder (other than nicotine), borderline personality disorder, or antisocial personality disorder, as these conditions could interfere with adherence to the study protocol
- Have an electronic implant, cardiac dysrhythmia, seizure disorder, neurological disorder, or neurosurgical history, as the safety of electrical stimulation with tDCS cannot be assured given these comorbidities
- Are pregnant, as tDCS has not been adequately studied in this population
This trial has no sites in United States.
It has sites in one country. Choose a country to see its sites.
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
In Canada, approximately 20% of patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) have treatment-resistance and fail to respond to trials of pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy. Although the treatment of choice has historically consisted of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), this is not always feasible or practical, and carries a risk of side-effects that may be unacceptable to certain patients.
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In this pragmatic, multi-site, placebo-controlled and double-blinded clinical trial, participants with ultra treatment-resistant MDD will be randomized to receive either active or sham transcranial direct current stimulation in addition to their usual treatment. Ultra treatment-resistant depression will be operationally defined as MDD that has failed to respond to at least five previous trials of antidepressants at sufficient doses, or ECT, or ketamine. Patients will receive a total of 30 active or sham treatment sessions (5 per week), for 30 minutes per session. In both groups, the anode will be placed over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (position F3), and the cathode over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (position F4). Patients in the sham group will receive electrical stimulation at 2 mA for less than 30 seconds, whereas patients in the active group will receive that level of stimulation for the entire duration of treatment.
The study's primary outcome is the change in score on a clinician-graded depression inventory (the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scales). Secondary outcomes include change in scores on a self-administered depression rating scale and measurement of function scale. Information on language ability will also be collected, as will data on side-effects of treatment. Scores will be collected before the trial start, after every 10 sessions, and one month after trial completion.
The 2 groups in the trial
- Active transcranial direct current stimulationTreatment being tested
Active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), delivered at 2 mA and for 30 minutes, on sequential weekdays, for a total of 30 sessions. Participants will continue to receive their usual pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy.
Treatment: Transcranial direct current stimulation
- Sham transcranial direct current stimulationSham treatment, for comparison
Sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which will ramp up to 2 mA over 17 s, and then ramp down to and remain at 0.3 mA for the remainder of the 30 minute session. The short period of active stimulation is included to stimulate the somatic sensations of active therapy. The trickle current at 0.3 mA is necessary to measure electrode contact and prevent investigators from deducing that the device is no longer active. Participants will receive the sham therapy on sequential weekdays for a total of 30 sessions. Participants will continue to receive their usual pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy.
Treatment: Transcranial direct current stimulation
Data and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- NESBID: Neuro-Stimulation of the Brain in Depression. A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Augmentation, as Compared to Sham Therapy, in the Treatment of Ultra-resistant Major Depressive Disorder
- Record updated
- 21 January 2026