TRACE
DepressionDC
Study Overview
Description
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).
Study Design
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:
Funding
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).
Publications & Media
Peer-reviewed research and media coverage related to the DepressionDC trial and related tDCS depression research.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
7-
2023
Transcranial direct current stimulation as an additional treatment to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in adults with major depressive disorder in Germany (DepressionDC): a triple-blind, randomised, sham-controlled, multicentre trial
The Lancet, 402(10401), 545–554
doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00640-2 -
2023
Adverse childhood experiences and clinical effects of transcranial direct current stimulation in major depressive disorder: Results from the DepressionDC trial
Psychiatry Research, 330, 115577
doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115577 -
2023
Driving-related cognitive skills during antidepressant transcranial direct current stimulation: results in a subsample from the DepressionDC trial
Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14 (Brief Research Report)
doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1255415 -
2024
Neurocognitive function as outcome and predictor for prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation in major depressive disorder: an analysis from the DepressionDC trial
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience (published 26 Feb 2024; issue date Sep 2025)
doi:10.1007/s00406-024-01759-2 -
2025
A comparative analysis of technical data: At-home vs. in-clinic application of transcranial direct current stimulation in depression
Brain Stimulation, 18(4), 1097–1105
doi:10.1016/j.brs.2025.05.103 -
2025
Cross-trial prediction of treatment response to transcranial direct current stimulation in patients with major depressive disorder
Progress in Neuropsychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 144, 111600
doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2025.111600 -
2026
Efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation for depression: individual patient data meta-analysis
The British Journal of Psychiatry (First View, published online 07 Jan 2026)
doi:10.1192/bjp.2025.10511
Conference Contributions
0Press & Media Coverage
4TV Reports
0Dashboard
Aggregated view
This 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