Non-invasive brain stimulation and cognitive processing in depression
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does non-invasive brain stimulation improve cognitive processing and response to psychological therapy in depression?
IRAS ID
128006
Contact name
Stephen Pilling
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Research summary
Depression is a serious mental health problem that affects millions. Depression is usually treated using drugs and/or psychotherapy, but neither approach is successful for everyone, and some people do not respond to either. Therefore it is crucial that we continue to seek new methods for treating depression, and develop enhancements to existing treatments. In recent years, trials have documented improvements in depressive symptoms using non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, such as transcranial direct current stimulation, or tDCS. Our aim in this research is to investigate the effects of brain stimulation combined with psychological therapy in depression, an area that remains largely unexplored. Specifically, stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a brain region known to work inefficiently in depression, has been shown to result in an improvement of depressive symptoms, as well as in the patient’s ’cognitive control’ abilities. Because ’cognitive control’ processes, such as concentrating and ignoring distracting thoughts, are engaged during psychological therapies for depression, we predict that DLPFC stimulation should improve how patients respond to psychological therapy. This study has considerable implications as it will potentially benefit a large number of patients for which current treatments are ineffective.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/1028
Date of REC Opinion
11 Nov 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion