NCT07226011Active, not recruiting
Accelerated High-Dose tDCS for Depression
Accelerated High-Dose tDCS for Depression: An Open-Label Outpatient Pilot Study
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 4 Sept 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
In this study, investigators are testing whether a higher dose of a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), can be safely used in people with depression. Participants will come to the Brain Stimulation Lab and receive mild electrical stimulation through electrodes placed on their scalp. The study begins with a safety run-in, where the first few participants will receive stimulation at gradually increasing levels (2, 4, and 6 milliamps) while being closely monitored. If no serious side effects are found, later participants will receive repeated 6 milliamp sessions for 5 days total. Investigators will check skin comfort, mood, and overall tolerability after each session.
- Status (registry)
- Active, not recruiting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 20 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 4 Nov 2025
- Start date
- 15 Dec 2025
- Primary completion date
- 28 Dec 2026
- Lead sponsor
- Medical University of South Carolina
- Diseases
- Depression
- NCT number
- NCT07226011
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Planned participants: 20
- From 15 Dec 2025 to the primary completion date, 28 Dec 2026
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Primary anxiety disorders without concomitant major depression as defined above
- Use of neuromodulation therapies (e.g., ECT, TMS, VNS) within the past 6 months.
Other illness
- Bipolar or psychotic disorder
- History of seizures, implanted cranial/ cardiac metal, or neurosurgery.
- Use of medications that significantly reduce seizure threshold
- Personal history of head trauma, concussion, or TBI
- Current alcohol or substance-use disorder (moderate-severe).
- Any non-uniformities in the skin under the electrode site, including eczema, severe rashes, hyperhidrosis, communicable skin disorders, sensitive skin (ex. eczema, severe rashes), blisters, open wounds, burns including sunburns, cuts or irritation (e.g. due to shaving), or other skin defects or lesions, as determined by clinical personnel
Other
- Current significant suicidal ideation or behaviors require a higher level of care.
- Frequent/severe HA
- Catatonic or otherwise unable to perform the consent process
- Pregnancy (urine test required for women of childbearing potential).
Who the study is looking for
- Ages 18-70.
- Current MDD diagnosis (MINI v7).
- Baseline PHQ-9 \> 9.
- Capacity to consent
- Fluent English.
Age in the registry: 18 years to 70 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| MUSC Brain Stimulation Lab Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Charleston | United States | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.