UnknownNot Applicable

High-definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) in Late-life Depression (LLD)

Hong Kong58 participantsStarted 2021-02-22

Plain-language summary

To determine the efficacy of a 2-week daily programme (10 sessions) of HD-tDCS to augment antidepressant therapy in subjects with late-life depression who had residual depressive symptoms despite adequate dosage and duration of antidepressant therapy.

Who can participate

Age range

60 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. 60 years of age or above
. Right-handedness, as determined by the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (to homogenise neuroanatomical targeting)
. Chinese ethnicity
. Fulfil the criteria of Major Depressive Disorder (single or recurrent episode) and in partial remission, defined by the 5th Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
. Presence of mild to severe level of depressive symptoms measured and defined by HAM-D-17 score ≥8 and ≤ 52\[22\]
. Suboptimal treatment response with at least one adequate antidepressant trial defined as full or best tolerated doses at least 6 weeks
. Stable dosage of antidepressants or other treatments for depression in recent 4 weeks
. Valid informed written consent

Exclusion criteria

. A DSM-5 diagnosis other than Depressive Disorders (e.g., bipolar and related disorders, schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders).
. A Hong Kong Chinese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (HK-MoCA) score below the second percentile according to the subject's age and education level (to exclude subjects with existing dementia)

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in the Depressive symptoms

Timeframe: Assessed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 4 and 12 weeks after the intervention.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05322863

SponsorThe University of Hong Kong

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2023-02-22

Contact for this trial

Pak Wing Calvin Cheng

22554486 chengpsy@hku.hk

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Depression in Old Age trials