Safety and acceptability of transcranial direct current stimulation for the acute treatment of major depressive episodes: Analysis of individual patient data

J Affect Disord. 2017 Oct 15:221:1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.06.021. Epub 2017 Jun 13.

Abstract

Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation modality that has been increasingly used for major depressive disorder (MDD) treatment. Although studies in healthy volunteers showed that the technique is well-tolerated, tDCS safety and acceptability have not been sufficiently explored in patients with MDD.

Methods: We collected individual patient data from 6 randomized clinical trials that had been previously identified in a systematic review and meta-analysis. Primary outcomes were safety (rate of adverse events) and acceptability (rate of dropouts). Secondary outcomes were clinical, demographic and treatment predictors of the primary outcomes.

Results: Dropout rates between active (8.8%) and sham (12%) groups were not significantly different (OR= 0.7, p=0.38). Adverse event rates between active (73.5%) and sham (68.3%) groups were not significantly different (OR= 1.4, p= 0.23). Higher current densities were associated with lower adverse event rates.

Limitations: Dropout reasons were not systematically reported and adverse events were not collected using questionnaires standardized across studies.

Conclusions: Active tDCS is as acceptable and safe as sham tDCS, as found in randomized clinical trials of MDD.

Keywords: Acceptability; Adverse effects; Clinical trial; Major depressive disorder; Safety; Tolerability; Transcranial direct current stimulation.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Safety
  • Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation / adverse effects
  • Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome