Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40766254›Full record

ArticleResearch square2025

Home-Based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Bipolar Depression: Effects on Quality of Life and Functioning: an open-label study.

Hakimeh Rezaei, Rachel D Woodham, Ali-Reza Ghazi-Noori, Elvira Bramon, Michael Bauer, Allan H Young, Cynthia H Y Fu, Philipp Ritter

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In one paragraph

Article in Research square, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
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0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Hakimeh RezaeiDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.ORCID 0009-0005-4516-5823
Rachel D WoodhamSchool of Psychology, University of East London, Arthur Edwards Building, Water Lane, London, E15 4LZ, UK.
Ali-Reza Ghazi-NooriSchool of Psychology, University of East London, Arthur Edwards Building, Water Lane, London, E15 4LZ, UK.
Elvira BramonDepartment of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.
Michael BauerDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Allan H YoungDepartment of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Cynthia H Y FuDepartment of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Philipp RitterDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.

Funding

Disentangling the anatomical, functional and clinical heterogeneity of major depression, using machine learning methodsR01MH134236 · NIMH · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI DAVATZIKOS, CHRISTOS, FU, CYNTHIA · 2023 to 2024
$1.5M
NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH134236Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: Individuals with bipolar disorder often experience reduced quality of life (QoL). Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising non-invasive treatment for bipolar depression that is portable, safe, and suitable for use at home. We developed a home-based tDCS protocol with real-time remote supervision and examined its effect on QoL in bipolar depression. Methods: In an open-label design, 44 participants (31 women) with bipolar depression of at least a moderate severity received 21 sessions of home-based tDCS (2 mA, 30 min, F3 anode/F4 cathode) over 6 weeks, with a follow up visit conducted 5 months from baseline. QoL was assessed using the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire at baseline, week 2, end of treatment, and follow up session. Baseline and post treatment scores were compared with healthy control participants (28 adults; 17 women). Results: At baseline and at the end of treatment, bipolar participants showed a significantly lower Q-LES-Q score than healthy controls ( Conclusion: A 6-week course of supervised home-based tDCS was associated with significant QoL improvements in bipolar depression, which appeared to be closely linked to reduction in depressive symptoms. Randomized, sham-controlled trials are warranted to clarify the specific contribution of tDCS to improve QoL in bipolar depression.

Indexed as

Bipolar depressionHome-based treatmentQuality of lifeTranscranial direct current stimulation

Identifiers

PMID40766254
PMCPMC12324608

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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.