- ICH GCP
- US Clinical Trials Registry
- Clinical Trial NCT01894815
Escitalopram, Placebo and tDCS in Depression: a Non-inferiority Trial (ELECT-TDCS)
December 1, 2016 updated by: Andre Brunoni, University of Sao Paulo
Escitalopram and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Major Depressive Disorder: a Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomized, Non-inferiority Trial
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric condition, mostly treated with antidepressant drugs, which are limited for issues such as refractoriness and adverse effects.
In this context, the investigators investigate a non-pharmacological treatment known as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).
To prove that tDCS is similarly effective than antidepressants would have a tremendous impact in clinical psychiatry, since tDCS is virtually absent of adverse effects.
Its ease of use, portability and low price are also interesting characteristics for using in primary and secondary health care.
Thus, our aim is to compare tDCS against a fully dosed, effective antidepressant.
The study will be a non-inferiority, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, three-arm trial comparing active tDCS/placebo pill, sham tDCS/escitalopram 20mg/day and sham tDCS/placebo pill.
Our primary aim is to show that tDCS is not inferior to escitalopram 20mg/day with a noninferiority margin of at least 50% of the escitalopram-placebo effect.
Study Overview
Status
Completed
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Detailed Description
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric condition, mostly treated with antidepressant drugs, which are limited for issues such as refractoriness and adverse effects.
In this context, the researchers investigate a non-pharmacological treatment known as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).
In a prior clinical trial with 120 patients with MDD, the investigators demonstrated that the combination of tDCS with sertraline 50mg/day had increased, faster effects on depressive symptoms (Brunoni et al., JAMA Psychiatry, 2013).
However, although the investigators suggested that tDCS vs. sertraline had similar efficacy, such comparison was compromised due to the low sertraline dose and also because the comparison of sertraline vs. placebo was not significant.
To prove that tDCS is similarly effective than antidepressants would have a tremendous impact in clinical psychiatry, since tDCS is virtually absent of adverse effects.
Its ease of use, portability and low price are also interesting characteristics for using in primary and secondary health care.
Thus, our aim is to compare tDCS against a fully dosed, effective antidepressant.
The study will be a non-inferiority, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, three-arm trial comparing active tDCS/placebo pill, sham tDCS/escitalopram 20mg/day and sham tDCS/placebo pill for ten weeks, randomizing 240 patients with MDD in a 3:3:2 ratio (less to placebo).
Our primary aim is to show that tDCS is not inferior to escitalopram 20mg/day with a noninferiority margin of at least 50% of the escitalopram-placebo effect.
As secondary aims, the researchers will investigate putative biomarkers for tDCS response.
This is important considering the large sample size of this study and also the paucity of tDCS studies - therefore, the identification of such biomarkers could generate new hypothesis for future studies and for tDCS' mechanisms of action.
The biomarkers will be: genetic polymorphisms (BDNF, SLC6A4, THP1, 5HT2A); serum markers (BDNF); motor cortical excitability (cortical silent period, intracortical inhibition, intracortical facilitation); heart rate variability; and neuroimaging (structural volume of the dorsolateral prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex, white matter tracts of the prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex connectivity).
This project represents a novel research line in our Institution, and the investigators thereby propose the onset of a new center denominated C.I.N.A. (Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Neuromodulation) that will foment the use and development of projects using neuromodulation techniques.
This new center will also interact with other centers on the fields of clinical research, neurosciences and neuropsychiatry.
Study Type
Interventional
Enrollment (Actual)
245
Phase
- Phase 3
Contacts and Locations
This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.
Study Locations
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São Paulo, Brazil, 05508-000
- Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo
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SP
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São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Institute of Psychiatry, HC-FMUSP
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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
Ages Eligible for Study
18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Genders Eligible for Study
All
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- HAMD17>=17
- more than 8 years of schooling OR able to read, speak and understand the Portuguese language.
- Low suicide risk.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Bipolar disorders.
- Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.
- Anxiety disorders, if it is the primary diagnosis (comorbidity with depression is not an exclusion disorder)
- Substance abuse or dependence.
- Depression symptoms better explained by medical conditions.
- Neurologic conditions (e.g., stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain tumor).
- Severe medical conditions.
- Pregnancy/breast-feeding.
- Severe suicidal ideation, suicidal planning or recent (<4 weeks) suicide attempt.
- Contra-indications to escitalopram.
- Current use of escitalopram in the current depressive episode.
- Use of escitalopram in a prior depressive episode that was not effective.
- Contra-indications to tDCS.
- Previous use of tDCS (current or previous depressive episode).
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: Quadruple
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Active tDCS / placebo pill
transcranial direct current stimulation, using the parameters specified in Interventions.
|
The anode will be applied over the F3 area and the cathode over the F4 area.
The current dose is 2mA, current density is 0.8 A/m2.
Electrodes will be 5x5cm in size.
The investigators will apply 15 daily, consecutive tDCS sessions (excluding weekends) and after that one session per week until the primary endpoint.
Other Names:
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Active Comparator: Sham tDCS / escitalopram
Escitalopram oxalate (Reconter), 10mg/day (first 3 weeks) and 20mg/day (week 3 to week 10).
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The investigators will use 10mg and 20mg pills.
The investigators will up-titrate escitalopram from 10 to 20mg/day according to the patient tolerability.
The maximum dose (20mg/day) is sought to be achieved at week 3.
Other Names:
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Placebo Comparator: Sham tDCS / placebo pill
For sham tDCS, the device is automatically turned off after 30 second of stimulation and remains turned off during the 30-min session. For placebo pill, the pill has the same size, taste and color than escitalopram, and placebo and escitalopram will be provided in identical bottles, differing only according to a random-generated number placed in the label. |
This group receives sham tDCS and placebo pill.
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What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
---|---|---|
Changes in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, 17 items (HAMD17)
Time Frame: Weeks 0 and 10
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Continuous measure (score changes).
Non-inferiority assessment: the difference between tDCS to escitalopram should be >50% of escitalopram to placebo efficacy.
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Weeks 0 and 10
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Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
---|---|---|
Change in HDRS
Time Frame: Weeks 0, 3, 6, 8, 10
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Continuous measure (score changes).
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Weeks 0, 3, 6, 8, 10
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Change in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)
Time Frame: Weeks 0, 3, 6, 10
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Continuous measure (score changes).
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Weeks 0, 3, 6, 10
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Change in Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
Time Frame: Weeks 0, 3, 6, 10
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Weeks 0, 3, 6, 10
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Change in Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS)
Time Frame: Weeks 0, 3, 6, 10
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Weeks 0, 3, 6, 10
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Change in State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)
Time Frame: Weeks 0, 3, 6, 10
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Weeks 0, 3, 6, 10
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Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, 17 items (HAMD17)
Time Frame: Week 10
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Response (≥50% improvement from week 0 to 10)
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Week 10
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Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, 17 items (HAMD17)
Time Frame: Week 10
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Remission (HAMD17 ≤7) at week 10.
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Week 10
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Adverse events
Time Frame: Week 3 and Week 10.
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Assessment and comparisons of tDCS and drug adverse events.
We used a tDCS adverse events questionnaire (Brunoni et al., 2011) and the SAFTEE.
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Week 3 and Week 10.
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Serious adverse events
Time Frame: Up to Week 10.
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Serious adverse events include treatment-emergent hypomania/mania (YMRS>8), suicide, psychiatric hospitalization and others life-threatening or incapacitant events.
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Up to Week 10.
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Young Manic Rating Scale (YMRS)
Time Frame: Week 3 and Week 10.
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Assessment of treatment-emergent hypomania/mania, defined as YRMS>8.
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Week 3 and Week 10.
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Age (years)
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Gender
|
Week 10
|
Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Low wage (less than 5 monthly wages in Brazil)
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Recurrent depression
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Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Chronic depression
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Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Refractory depression
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Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Severe depression
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Benzodiazepine use
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Higher education (>15 years of schooling)
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
|
Age of onset of the depressive episode (years)
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Any anxiety disorder
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Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Physical activity
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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melancholic depression
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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atypical depression
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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smoking status
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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hypertension
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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diabetes mellitus
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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ethnicity
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
|
marital status
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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employment status
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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obesity
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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familial psychiatry history
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Temperament and Character Inventory - Novelty seeking
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Any tDCS related adverse event.
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Temperament and Character Inventory - Harm avoidance
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Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Temperament and Character Inventory - Reward Dependence
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Temperament and Character Inventory - Persistence
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Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Temperament and Character Inventory - Cooperativeness
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Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Temperament and Character Inventory - Self-transcendence
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Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Temperament and Character Inventory - Self-directedness
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Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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FAS verbal fluency test
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Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Digit span forward
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Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Digit span backward
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Trail Making Test - A
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Trail Making Test - B
|
Week 10
|
Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Symbol digit
|
Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 10
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Montreal Cognitive Assessment
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Week 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 3 and 10
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Motor Cortical Excitability - Cortical silent period (left and right hemispheres)
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Week 3 and 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 3 and 10
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Motor Cortical Excitability - Intracortical inhibition (left and right hemispheres)
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Week 3 and 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 3 and 10
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Motor Cortical Excitability - Intracortical facilitation (left and right hemispheres)
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Week 3 and 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 3 and 10
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Heart rate variability - HF
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Week 3 and 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 3 and 10
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Heart rate variability - LF
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Week 3 and 10
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Predictor of response
Time Frame: Week 3 and 10
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Heart rate variability - RMSSD
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Week 3 and 10
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Collaborators and Investigators
This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.
Publications and helpful links
The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.
General Publications
- Goerigk SA, Padberg F, Chekroud A, Kambeitz J, Buhner M, Brunoni AR. Parsing the antidepressant effects of non-invasive brain stimulation and pharmacotherapy: A symptom clustering approach on ELECT-TDCS. Brain Stimul. 2021 Jul-Aug;14(4):906-912. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2021.05.008. Epub 2021 May 26.
- Bulubas L, Padberg F, Bueno PV, Duran F, Busatto G, Amaro E Jr, Bensenor IM, Lotufo PA, Goerigk S, Gattaz W, Keeser D, Brunoni AR. Antidepressant effects of tDCS are associated with prefrontal gray matter volumes at baseline: Evidence from the ELECT-TDCS trial. Brain Stimul. 2019 Sep-Oct;12(5):1197-1204. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2019.05.006. Epub 2019 May 8.
- Brunoni AR, Moffa AH, Sampaio-Junior B, Borrione L, Moreno ML, Fernandes RA, Veronezi BP, Nogueira BS, Aparicio LVM, Razza LB, Chamorro R, Tort LC, Fraguas R, Lotufo PA, Gattaz WF, Fregni F, Bensenor IM; ELECT-TDCS Investigators. Trial of Electrical Direct-Current Therapy versus Escitalopram for Depression. N Engl J Med. 2017 Jun 29;376(26):2523-2533. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1612999.
- Brunoni AR, Sampaio-Junior B, Moffa AH, Borrione L, Nogueira BS, Aparicio LV, Veronezi B, Moreno M, Fernandes RA, Tavares D, Bueno PV, Seibt O, Bikson M, Fraguas R, Bensenor IM. The Escitalopram versus Electric Current Therapy for Treating Depression Clinical Study (ELECT-TDCS): rationale and study design of a non-inferiority, triple-arm, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Sao Paulo Med J. 2015 May-Jun;133(3):252-63. doi: 10.1590/1516-3180.2014.00351712. Epub 2015 Jun 1.
Helpful Links
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
October 1, 2013
Primary Completion (Actual)
July 1, 2016
Study Completion (Actual)
November 1, 2016
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
July 3, 2013
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
July 9, 2013
First Posted (Estimate)
July 10, 2013
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Estimate)
December 5, 2016
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
December 1, 2016
Last Verified
December 1, 2016
More Information
Terms related to this study
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
- Behavioral Symptoms
- Mental Disorders
- Pathologic Processes
- Mood Disorders
- Depression
- Depressive Disorder
- Disease
- Depressive Disorder, Major
- Physiological Effects of Drugs
- Neurotransmitter Agents
- Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
- Parasympatholytics
- Autonomic Agents
- Peripheral Nervous System Agents
- Muscarinic Antagonists
- Cholinergic Antagonists
- Cholinergic Agents
- Psychotropic Drugs
- Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors
- Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors
- Membrane Transport Modulators
- Serotonin Agents
- Antidepressive Agents
- Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
- Antiparkinson Agents
- Anti-Dyskinesia Agents
- Citalopram
- Dexetimide
Other Study ID Numbers
- ELECT-TDCS
- FAPESP 2012/20911-5 (Other Grant/Funding Number: FAPESP 2012/20911-5)
Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)
Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?
No
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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