The DepressionDC trial was a triple-blind, randomised controlled trial that investigated the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) versus sham stimulation as an additional treatment to a stable dose of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD).
Depression DC trial was conducted at eight hospitals in Germany. Participants aged between 18-65 years were eligible if they had a diagnosis of MDD, a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (21-item version) score ≥15, no response to an antidepressant trial in the current depressive episode and treatment with a SSRI for a minimum of four weeks before study enrolment. Participants were allocated (1:1) by fixed-block randomization either to receive 30 min of 2mA bifrontal tDCS every weekday for 4 weeks, then two tDCS sessions per week for 2 weeks, or sham stimulation at the same intervals.
Primary outcome:
Change on the Montgomery- Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) at week 6.
Trial registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02530164)
Additional Materials:
The DepressionDC trial was conducted as part of the German Center for Brain Stimulation research consortium, which is
funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
(FKZ 01EE1403G).
Peer-reviewed research and media coverage related to the DepressionDC trial and related tDCS depression research.
The Lancet, 402(10401), 545–554
doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00640-2Psychiatry Research, 330, 115577
doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115577Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14 (Brief Research Report)
doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1255415European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience (published 26 Feb 2024; issue date Sep 2025)
doi:10.1007/s00406-024-01759-2Brain Stimulation, 18(4), 1097–1105
doi:10.1016/j.brs.2025.05.103Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 144, 111600
doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2025.111600The British Journal of Psychiatry (First View, published online 07 Jan 2026)
doi:10.1192/bjp.2025.10511This dashboard shows aggregated data only.
Valid n = 160 · Total = 160
Valid n = 160 · Total = 160
Valid n = 160 · Total = 160
Valid n = 160 · Total = 160