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Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 to 70

Combining brain stimulation and therapy to reduce worrying

Official title: Stop Worrying, Learn to Let go Through a Combination of Neurostimulation and Psychotherapy

Run by University Hospital, Ghent · NCT06369532 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing if combining brain stimulation with therapy can help people who often worry less than just therapy alone.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 70 Years
SexAll
Enrollment85 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity Hospital, Ghent
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Ghent, East-Flanders)
StatusRecruiting
StartedMarch 6, 2024
Main results expectedSeptember 26, 2027
Study endsDecember 20, 2027
Registry record updatedMarch 12, 2026
Trial IDNCT06369532 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates include individuals diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder or depressive disorder who experience high levels of rumination.

Probably not a fit

Patients with other psychiatric conditions, acute suicidality, or those unable to commit to the therapy sessions may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effectiveness of combining transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat repetitive negative thinking in patients with high rumination. Participants will undergo a 7-week CBT intervention followed by home-based tDCS for 4 weeks. The study will utilize non-invasive neuroimaging techniques, including EEG and fNIRS, to assess brain activity before and after the therapy. The goal is to determine if this combined approach is more effective than CBT alone.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression related to repetitive negative thinking.

How similar studies have gone: While the combination of tDCS and CBT is a novel approach, previous studies have shown promise in using tDCS for various psychiatric conditions.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

* Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
* Depressive disorder

Exclusion Criteria:

* other psychiatric pathology than GAD or depression screened by senior psychiatrist by means of the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and psychiatric anamnesis
* Abuse of alcohol, drugs or medication other than prescribed by general practitioner or psychiatrist
* no consent to participate in measurement (questionnaire, fNIRS or EEG)
* Insufficient knowledge of the current language (Dutch)
* Acute or chronic suicidality
* Acute psychosis or manic depressive disorder
* Inability to commit to 8 sessions of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or receive 4 weeks of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS).

Where it's running

  • University Hospital Ghent
    Ghent, East-Flanders, Belgium     Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
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Sham tDCS 2University Hospital, Ghent 99
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.