Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27056623›Full record

SynthesisThe British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science2016

Transcranial direct current stimulation for acute major depressive episodes: meta-analysis of individual patient data.

André R Brunoni, Adriano H Moffa, Felipe Fregni, Ulrich Palm, Frank Padberg, Daniel M Blumberger, Zafiris J Daskalakis, Djamila Bennabi, Emmanuel Haffen, Angelo Alonzo and 1 more

4 registry-linked trialsOpen access · bronzeAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 4 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 164 papers, 15 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
164citing papers in PubMed, 15 pooled it
29.4field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04780152 phase2 / phase3unknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2021, after this paper: background citation

Assessment of Efficacy and Safety of Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS) in Pediatric and Teenage Patients With Major Depressive Disorder During COVID-19 Pandemics

TypeinterventionalSponsorEl Instituto Nacional de Neurologia y Neurocirugia Manuel Velasco SuarezRan2021 to 2022Enrolled172ConditionsMajor Depressive DisorderArmsTranscranial Direct Current Stimulation, Placebo-simulation of transcranial direct current stimulation, Fluoxetine Tablets
NCT04799405 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2020, after this paper: background citation

Supervised Home-based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Major Depressive Disorder

TypeinterventionalSponsorHebrew SeniorLifeRan2020 to 2021Enrolled5ConditionsMajor Depressive DisorderArmstDCS
NCT05322863 naunknown statusnot on this mapstarted 2021, after this paper: background citation

High-definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) as Augmentation Therapy in Late-life Depression (LLD) With Suboptimal Response to Treatment - Double-blinded Randomized Sham-controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorThe University of Hong KongRan2021 to 2024Enrolled58ConditionsDepression in Old AgeArmsHigh-definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
NCT06900959 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Transcranial Static Field Stimulation (tSMS) and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for the Treatment of Neurological Symptoms

TypeinterventionalSponsorNeuromed IRCCSRan2025 to 2026Enrolled40ConditionsNeurological Diseases or ConditionsArmstranscranial static field stimulation (tSMS) and transcranial (tDCS)
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

164 citing papers in PubMed, 15 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 420 citations in OpenAlex.

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  16. Home-based transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for bipolar depression: effects on quality of life and functioning-an open-label study.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2026
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104 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors at 6 institutions in 6 countries.

André R BrunoniAndré R. Brunoni, MD, PhD, Adriano H. Moffa, BS, Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Neuromodulation, University Hospital & Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Felipe Fregni, MD, PhD, Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Ulrich Palm, MD, Frank Padberg, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany; Daniel M. Blumberger, MD, Zafiris J. Daskalakis, MD, Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention and Campbell Family Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Djamila Bennabi, MD, Emmanuel Haffen, MD, Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Clinical Investigation Center 1431 Inserm, EA 481 Neurosciences, University Hospital of Besancon and FondaMental Foundation, Créteil, France; Angelo Alonzo, PhD, Colleen K. Loo, MD, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Black Dog Institute and St George Hospital, Sydney, Australia brunoni@usp.br.
Adriano H MoffaAndré R. Brunoni, MD, PhD, Adriano H. Moffa, BS, Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Neuromodulation, University Hospital & Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Felipe Fregni, MD, PhD, Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Ulrich Palm, MD, Frank Padberg, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany; Daniel M. Blumberger, MD, Zafiris J. Daskalakis, MD, Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention and Campbell Family Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Djamila Bennabi, MD, Emmanuel Haffen, MD, Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Clinical Investigation Center 1431 Inserm, EA 481 Neurosciences, University Hospital of Besancon and FondaMental Foundation, Créteil, France; Angelo Alonzo, PhD, Colleen K. Loo, MD, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Black Dog Institute and St George Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Felipe FregniAndré R. Brunoni, MD, PhD, Adriano H. Moffa, BS, Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Neuromodulation, University Hospital & Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Felipe Fregni, MD, PhD, Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Ulrich Palm, MD, Frank Padberg, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany; Daniel M. Blumberger, MD, Zafiris J. Daskalakis, MD, Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention and Campbell Family Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Djamila Bennabi, MD, Emmanuel Haffen, MD, Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Clinical Investigation Center 1431 Inserm, EA 481 Neurosciences, University Hospital of Besancon and FondaMental Foundation, Créteil, France; Angelo Alonzo, PhD, Colleen K. Loo, MD, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Black Dog Institute and St George Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Ulrich PalmAndré R. Brunoni, MD, PhD, Adriano H. Moffa, BS, Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Neuromodulation, University Hospital & Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Felipe Fregni, MD, PhD, Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Ulrich Palm, MD, Frank Padberg, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany; Daniel M. Blumberger, MD, Zafiris J. Daskalakis, MD, Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention and Campbell Family Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Djamila Bennabi, MD, Emmanuel Haffen, MD, Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Clinical Investigation Center 1431 Inserm, EA 481 Neurosciences, University Hospital of Besancon and FondaMental Foundation, Créteil, France; Angelo Alonzo, PhD, Colleen K. Loo, MD, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Black Dog Institute and St George Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Frank PadbergAndré R. Brunoni, MD, PhD, Adriano H. Moffa, BS, Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Neuromodulation, University Hospital & Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Felipe Fregni, MD, PhD, Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Ulrich Palm, MD, Frank Padberg, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany; Daniel M. Blumberger, MD, Zafiris J. Daskalakis, MD, Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention and Campbell Family Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Djamila Bennabi, MD, Emmanuel Haffen, MD, Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Clinical Investigation Center 1431 Inserm, EA 481 Neurosciences, University Hospital of Besancon and FondaMental Foundation, Créteil, France; Angelo Alonzo, PhD, Colleen K. Loo, MD, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Black Dog Institute and St George Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Daniel M BlumbergerAndré R. Brunoni, MD, PhD, Adriano H. Moffa, BS, Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Neuromodulation, University Hospital & Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Felipe Fregni, MD, PhD, Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Ulrich Palm, MD, Frank Padberg, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany; Daniel M. Blumberger, MD, Zafiris J. Daskalakis, MD, Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention and Campbell Family Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Djamila Bennabi, MD, Emmanuel Haffen, MD, Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Clinical Investigation Center 1431 Inserm, EA 481 Neurosciences, University Hospital of Besancon and FondaMental Foundation, Créteil, France; Angelo Alonzo, PhD, Colleen K. Loo, MD, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Black Dog Institute and St George Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Zafiris J DaskalakisAndré R. Brunoni, MD, PhD, Adriano H. Moffa, BS, Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Neuromodulation, University Hospital & Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Felipe Fregni, MD, PhD, Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Ulrich Palm, MD, Frank Padberg, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany; Daniel M. Blumberger, MD, Zafiris J. Daskalakis, MD, Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention and Campbell Family Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Djamila Bennabi, MD, Emmanuel Haffen, MD, Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Clinical Investigation Center 1431 Inserm, EA 481 Neurosciences, University Hospital of Besancon and FondaMental Foundation, Créteil, France; Angelo Alonzo, PhD, Colleen K. Loo, MD, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Black Dog Institute and St George Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Djamila BennabiAndré R. Brunoni, MD, PhD, Adriano H. Moffa, BS, Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Neuromodulation, University Hospital & Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Felipe Fregni, MD, PhD, Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Ulrich Palm, MD, Frank Padberg, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany; Daniel M. Blumberger, MD, Zafiris J. Daskalakis, MD, Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention and Campbell Family Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Djamila Bennabi, MD, Emmanuel Haffen, MD, Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Clinical Investigation Center 1431 Inserm, EA 481 Neurosciences, University Hospital of Besancon and FondaMental Foundation, Créteil, France; Angelo Alonzo, PhD, Colleen K. Loo, MD, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Black Dog Institute and St George Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Emmanuel HaffenAndré R. Brunoni, MD, PhD, Adriano H. Moffa, BS, Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Neuromodulation, University Hospital & Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Felipe Fregni, MD, PhD, Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Ulrich Palm, MD, Frank Padberg, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany; Daniel M. Blumberger, MD, Zafiris J. Daskalakis, MD, Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention and Campbell Family Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Djamila Bennabi, MD, Emmanuel Haffen, MD, Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Clinical Investigation Center 1431 Inserm, EA 481 Neurosciences, University Hospital of Besancon and FondaMental Foundation, Créteil, France; Angelo Alonzo, PhD, Colleen K. Loo, MD, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Black Dog Institute and St George Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Angelo AlonzoAndré R. Brunoni, MD, PhD, Adriano H. Moffa, BS, Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Neuromodulation, University Hospital & Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Felipe Fregni, MD, PhD, Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Ulrich Palm, MD, Frank Padberg, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany; Daniel M. Blumberger, MD, Zafiris J. Daskalakis, MD, Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention and Campbell Family Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Djamila Bennabi, MD, Emmanuel Haffen, MD, Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Clinical Investigation Center 1431 Inserm, EA 481 Neurosciences, University Hospital of Besancon and FondaMental Foundation, Créteil, France; Angelo Alonzo, PhD, Colleen K. Loo, MD, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Black Dog Institute and St George Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Colleen K LooAndré R. Brunoni, MD, PhD, Adriano H. Moffa, BS, Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Neuromodulation, University Hospital & Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Felipe Fregni, MD, PhD, Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Ulrich Palm, MD, Frank Padberg, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, Germany; Daniel M. Blumberger, MD, Zafiris J. Daskalakis, MD, Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention and Campbell Family Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Djamila Bennabi, MD, Emmanuel Haffen, MD, Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Clinical Investigation Center 1431 Inserm, EA 481 Neurosciences, University Hospital of Besancon and FondaMental Foundation, Créteil, France; Angelo Alonzo, PhD, Colleen K. Loo, MD, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Black Dog Institute and St George Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital · USCentre for Addiction and Mental Health · CALudwig-Maximilians-Universität München · DEHarvard University · USSt George Hospital · AUUniversidade de São Paulo · BR

Funding

CIHR
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-pharmacological intervention for depression. It has mixed results, possibly caused by study heterogeneity.

aimsTo assess tDCS efficacy and to explore individual response predictors.

methodSystematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis.

resultsData were gathered from six randomised sham-controlled trials, enrolling 289 patients. Active tDCS was significantly superior to sham for response (34% v. 19% respectively, odds ratio (OR) = 2.44, 95% CI 1.38-4.32, number needed to treat (NNT) = 7), remission (23.1% v. 12.7% respectively, OR = 2.38, 95% CI 1.22-4.64, NNT = 9) and depression improvement (B coefficient 0.35, 95% CI 0.12-0.57). Mixed-effects models showed that, after adjustment for other predictors and confounders, treatment-resistant depression and higher tDCS 'doses' were, respectively, negatively and positively associated with tDCS efficacy.

conclusionsThe effect size of tDCS treatment was comparable with those reported for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and antidepressant drug treatment in primary care. The most important parameters for optimisation in future trials are depression refractoriness and tDCS dose.

Indexed as

Patient Outcome AssessmentHumansMajor Depressive DisorderTranscranial Direct Current Stimulation

Identifiers

PMID27056623
PMCPMC4887722
OpenAlexW2327064177

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.