Effects of home-use transcranial direct current stimulation on clusters of depressive symptoms: an ancillary analysis of the PSYLECT study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Major depressive disorder is heterogeneous. While transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is an effective treatment, its impact on symptoms remains underexplored. This ancillary study investigated the effects of home-use tDCS on depression symptom clusters.

Methods

Data were used from the Portable Transcranial Electrical Stimulation and Internet-Based Behavioral Therapy for Major Depression Study (PSYLECT) study, in which 210 depressed patients were randomized to active (n=137) or sham tDCS (n=73) for 6 weeks. Items from the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale were grouped into symptom clusters using hierarchical clustering. Treatment effects were analyzed with mixed regressions. An alternative clustering solution was also evaluated using a larger sample.

Re

SUBMITTER: Luethi MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12815306 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature