Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41345653›Full record

ArticleAnnals of general psychiatry2025

Acceptability of active and sham home-based transcranial direct current stimulation in major depression: mixed methods qualitative analysis in a randomised controlled trial.

Peter J Lagerberg, Rachel D Woodham, Sudhakar Selvaraj, Nahed Lajmi, Harriet Hobday, Gabrielle Sheehan, Ali-Reza Ghazi-Noori, Maheen Rizvi, Sarah S Kwon, Paulette Orhii and 6 more

2 registry-linked trialsAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of general psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
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.

NCT05202119 nacompletednot on this map

Empower: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Major Depressive Disorder: a Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomized, Superiority Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorFlow Neuroscience ABRan2022 to 2023Enrolled174ConditionsMajor Depressive DisorderArmsTranscranial direct current stimulation, Sham Transcranial direct current stimulation
NCT07556692 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Home-based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Bipolar Depression: a Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorKing's College LondonRan2026 to 2027Enrolled212ConditionsBipolar Disorder (BD)ArmsFlow FL-100 tDCS headset
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

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

16 authors.

Peter J LagerbergDepartment of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK. u1909705@uel.ac.uk.
Rachel D WoodhamDepartment of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK.
Sudhakar SelvarajCenter of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
Nahed LajmiDepartment of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK.
Harriet HobdayDepartment of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK.
Gabrielle SheehanDepartment of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK.
Ali-Reza Ghazi-NooriDepartment of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK.
Maheen RizviCenter of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
Sarah S KwonCenter of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
Paulette OrhiiCenter of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
Rodrigo Machado-VieiraCenter of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
Jair C SoaresCenter of Excellence on Mood Disorders, Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
Allan H YoungCentre for Affective Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
António R FidalgoDepartment of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK.
Hakimeh RezaeiDepartment of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK.
Cynthia H Y FuDepartment of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK. c.fu@uel.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4313-3500

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) GRK2773/1-454245598Rosetrees Trust CF20212104
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a novel non-invasive brain stimulation therapy that is a potential treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). Acceptability impacts patient preference, treatment adherence and outcomes, however, it has typically been assessed through measures of attrition, self-reported satisfaction levels, or adverse events. We sought to explore participant acceptability using structured questionnaires and individual interviews.

methodsAcceptability was assessed in a fully remote, multisite, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized superiority trial of a 10-week course of home-based tDCS for MDD. Questionnaires were conducted at baseline and at the 10-week end of treatment. Participants were 174 adults (120 women) with MDD in a current depressive episode of at least moderate severity. Active or sham tDCS was self-administered over 10 weeks with remote supervision at regular intervals. A thematic analysis was conducted.

resultsFour themes were revealed: acceptability, ease of use, side effects, and trial participation. The themes indicated generally high acceptability of tDCS as a treatment of MDD in both the active and sham treatment groups. Some participants noted concerns about the technical functionality of the device and the impact of side effects.

conclusionsThe first three themes are central to understanding participant perspectives of tDCS and its feasibility as a treatment option. In addition, the theme of trial participation highlights the value of participant support when introducing a new treatment, which may underscore treatment options in general. Furthermore, acceptability is a dynamic concept as participant views changed during treatment.

trial registrationNCT05202119, registered on 9th January 2022.

Indexed as

Home-basedMajor depressionQualitative analysisThematic analysis, acceptabilityTranscranial direct current stimulation

Identifiers

PMID41345653
PMCPMC12781599

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.