Reduction of symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder after transcranial direct current stimulation treatment: A real-world study

Lookene, M.; Markov, N.; Nikander, M.; Neuvonen, T.; Dilkov, D.

Abstract:

Background Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been demonstrated in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to be an effective treatment option for major depressive disorder (MDD). The aim of this study was to characterize the real-life effectiveness and tolerability of tDCS and to identify predictors of treatment outcome in patients with MDD. Methods A total of 462 patients with depressive symptoms, who were treated with tDCS as a part of routine clinical practice, were enrolled in the study. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using validated depression scales before and after the tDCS treatment in 410 patients who completed the treatment and for whom all the necessary treatment information was available. Results Complete clinical response (CCR) was achieved by 54.9% (n = 225), remission by 19.5% (n = 80), and minimal clinically important difference (MCID) by 94.6% (n = 388) of the study patients after the tDCS treatment completion. At least half of the patients achieved CCR in all severity classes and in patients with and without concomitant use of psychotropics. No serious adverse effects were reported during the treatment. Limitations As a non-interventional study based on retrospective data collection from routine clinical practice, the study did not include a control group. Medical history data was available from the tDCS treatment initiation. Conclusions This real-world study showed good tolerability and a reduction of depressive symptoms in patients with MDD after tDCS treatment. The results suggest that tDCS is a well-suited treatment alternative for MDD, either as a stand-alone treatment or in combination with antidepressant medication.

Patologie/Applicazioni:

• Depressione
• Terapia del dolore
• Stimolazione elettrica transcranica (TES)

Anno:

2022

Tipo di pubblicazione:

Articolo

Parola chiave:

depressione; stimolazione elettrica a corrente alternata; stimolazione elettrica transcranica; stimolazione elettrica a corrente diretta; dolore cronico; terapia domiciliare

Testata scientifica:

ScienceDirect

Mese:

4

Nota:

Questo studio fornisce il più grande set di dati del mondo reale finora riportato sull’efficienza e la tollerabilità della tDCS nel trattamento del disturbo depressivo maggiore nella pratica clinica. I risultati hanno indicato che oltre la metà dei 410 pazienti trattati con tDCS ha raggiunto una risposta clinica completa (CCR), valutata dopo il completamento del trattamento. La remissione è stata raggiunta da circa un paziente su cinque, il più delle volte da quelli con una forma lieve della malattia e senza uso concomitante di psicotropi. Il trattamento tDCS è stato ben tollerato dai pazienti e non sono stati segnalati effetti avversi gravi. I risultati suggeriscono che la tDCS è un’alternativa terapeutica adeguata per curare il disturbo depressivo maggiore, sia come trattamento autonomo che in combinazione con farmaci antidepressivi.

DOI:

10.1016/j.jadr.2022.100347