Exploring Mechanisms for Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Parkinson Disease Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

February 19, 2026 updated by: Johns Hopkins University
This study evaluates the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease, including depression and cognitive symptoms. Participants are randomized to receive active or sham tDCS for 30 minutes over 10 treatment sessions.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Suspended

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
80

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21287
        • Johns Hopkins Hospital / Johns Hopkins University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 95 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Abel to provide written informed consent is obtained in the English language
  • Age 18 to 95 years old
  • Movement Disorder Society Clinical Diagnostic Criteria for probable idiopathic Parkinson disease
  • Report disabling depressive or neuropsychiatric symptoms prior to study entry
  • Capacity to understand the nature of the study;

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Known structural brain disease such as a neoplasm, abscess etc.
  • Pre-existing skull / scalp defects that would impede standardized electrode placement
  • Current electronic or metal implants
  • Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a Psychotic Disorder or any other non-unipolar depressive disorder as a principal diagnosis in the 6 months prior to screening;
  • Concurrent treatment with medication which may affect tDCS (benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, dextromethorphan and pseudoephedrine)
  • Endorse active suicidal ideation at enrollment or during any study visit, or have attempted suicide in the six months prior to screening;
  • History of substance abuse or dependence in the 2 months prior to screening;
  • Considered to be at significant risk of committing homicide;
  • Unstable medical condition;
  • Score less than 22 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
  • Women of childbearing potential who are pregnant or are considering becoming pregnant during the length of the study;
  • There has been a change in their depression or psychotherapy treatment regimen in the 2 weeks preceding screening;

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Sham Comparator: Sham tDCS
Sham transcranial direct current stimulation where current will be reduced to zero after standardized ramp up to 2 mA
Device: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a commonly used non-invasive form of brain stimulation for studying motor functions in health and disease [36]. It involves the attachment of surface electrodes to the scalp through which very small electric currents (1 or 2mA) are applied via a current regulated device. The currents do not produce any sensation. The applied current affects excitability of underlying neural tissue.
Other Names:
  • Neuromodulation
  • tDCS
  • Brain Stimulation
Experimental: Active tDCS
Transcranial direct current stimulation according to protocol maintained for 30 minutes after ramping up to 2 mA
Device: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a commonly used non-invasive form of brain stimulation for studying motor functions in health and disease [36]. It involves the attachment of surface electrodes to the scalp through which very small electric currents (1 or 2mA) are applied via a current regulated device. The currents do not produce any sensation. The applied current affects excitability of underlying neural tissue.
Other Names:
  • Neuromodulation
  • tDCS
  • Brain Stimulation

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Participants Demonstrating improvements on Objective Rating Scales of Depression via structured interview
Time Frame: 1 months
Primary outcome measure will be the number of participants who demonstrate remission of depressive symptoms OR improvement of 50% (i.e. response) on the Montgomery-Asberg Scale of Depression (MADRS)
1 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Apathy Scores as measure by a self-report scale (the Apathy Scale)
Time Frame: 1 months
The dimensional degree of change in Apathy symptoms as assessed via the Apathy Scale, a subjective self-report tool of apathetic symptoms
1 months
Subjective Depression Severity rated via self-report on depression inventory
Time Frame: 1 months
Subjective severity of depression as measured via self-reported Beck Depression Inventory - II
1 months
Subjective reactive to pleasure (i.e. improvement of anhedonia) as rated via self-report
Time Frame: 1 month
Monitoring degree of change of hedonic-tone scores via the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS)
1 month
Subjective improvement of Anxiety Symptoms via Rating Scale
Time Frame: 1 month
The change in Parkinson Anxiety Scale (PAS) score per person and across sham v. experimental groups.
1 month
Performance on abbreviated cognitive battery
Time Frame: 1 month
Objective improvement on measures of attention, verbal fluency, working memory and recall by various bedside cognitive tests
1 month
Improvement of Parkinsonian Motor Symptoms
Time Frame: 1 month
Number of participants between arms and individual improvement of Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale Part 3 (MDS-UPDRS Pt3) Score.
1 month

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Johns Hopkins University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Kelly Mills, M.D., Johns Hopkins University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
February 1, 2016

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
February 28, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 2, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 3, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 9, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
February 23, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 19, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • IRB00087957

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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