Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the treatment of depression: Systematic review and meta-analysis of efficacy and tolerability

Meron, D., Hedger, N. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2733-1913, Garner, M. and Baldwin, D. S. (2015) Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the treatment of depression: Systematic review and meta-analysis of efficacy and tolerability. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 57. pp. 46-62. ISSN 0149-7634 doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.07.012

Abstract/Summary

BACKGROUND Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a potential alternative treatment option for major depressive episodes (MDE). OBJECTIVES We address the efficacy and safety of tDCS in MDE. METHODS The outcome measures were Hedges' g for continuous depression ratings, and categorical response and remission rates. RESULTS A random effects model indicated that tDCS was superior to sham tDCS (k=11, N=393, g=0.30, 95% CI=[0.04, 0.57], p=0.027). Adjunctive antidepressant medication and cognitive control training negatively impacted on the treatment effect. The pooled log odds ratios (LOR) for response and remission were positive, but statistically non-significant (response: k=9, LOR=0.36, 95% CI[-0.16, 0.88], p=0.176, remission: k=9, LOR=0.25, 95% CI [-0.42, 0.91], p=0.468). We estimated that for a study to detect the pooled continuous effect (g=0.30) at 80% power (alpha=0.05), a total N of at least 346 would be required (with the total N required to detect the upper and lower bound being 49 and 12,693, respectively). CONCLUSIONS tDCS may be efficacious for treatment of MDE. The data do not support the use of tDCS in treatment-resistant depression, or as an add-on augmentation treatment. Larger studies over longer treatment periods are needed.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/87284
Identification Number/DOI	10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.07.012
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	No Reading authors. Back catalogue items Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Department of Psychology
Publisher	Elsevier
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