Brain zapping eases depression body pains, study hints
NCT ID NCT05286645
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called HD-tDCS on 57 adults with depression. The goal was to see if it could reduce physical symptoms like aches and fatigue, which often accompany depression. Participants received either real or fake stimulation, and their symptoms were tracked using questionnaires. The study also used MRI scans to explore how the brain might change with this treatment.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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57 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2021
- Finished
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Aug 2024
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 60 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * the patients were diagnosed by more than 2 psychiatrists and met the diagnostic criteria of DSM-5 for depression, and HAMD\>17, PHQ-15\>5. * the age ranged from 18 to 60 years old * right-handed * stable dose of medication for at least 4 weeks or no history of antidepressive drugs before intervention Exclusion Criteria: * accompanied by severe somatic diseases, such as severe heart, liver, renal insufficiency and so on. * accompanied by other neurological diseases, such as stroke, epilepsy and so on. * accompanied by other mental disorders, such as drug abuse, schizophrenia, schizophrenic affective disorder, hysteria, autism and so on. * patients with MRI taboos or factors affecting imaging quality, such as cardiac pacemaker, cochlear implant, cardio-cerebrovascular metal stent, metal denture, etc. * pregnancy and breastfeeding. * previous physical treatment (electroconvulsive therapy or tDCS).
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Anhui Medical University
Hefei, China
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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