Combining Interpersonal Therapy with Brain Stimulation for Teen Depression

Is this trial a fit for you?

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 augmenting interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) with high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) in treating adolescent depression. It targets adolescents aged 12 to 18 who meet the DSM-5 criteria for depression and have either their first episode or a relapse of depression. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either IPT with HD-tDCS or IPT with sham stimulation, allowing researchers to compare the outcomes of both approaches. The study aims to address the unique challenges of treating depression in adolescents, particularly given the limitations of current pharmacological options.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Sign a written informed consent form, willing to participate in the study and accept treatment (patients under 18 years of age need to obtain the consent of their parents or legal guardians);
2. Age between 12 and 18 years;
3. Right-handed;
4. Han ethnicity;
5. Meet the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for depression;
6. HAMD-24≥20;
7. Understand written language and able to complete questionnaires;
8. First-episode depression patients who have never received any treatment or relapse depression patients, have not taken any psychotropic drugs in the past 2 weeks, have not received systematic psychological or physical therapy.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Exclusion criteria for tDCS: (1) Patients with metal implants in the body; those with metal implants such as titanium or magnetic devices (including aneurysm clips); (2) Patients with implanted devices such as cardiac pacemakers, deep brain stimulators (DBS); (3) Patients with intracranial hypertension, skull defects, or tumors; (4) Patients with unstable vital signs such as severe cardiac or somatic diseases; (5) Patients in the acute phase of cerebrovascular diseases; (6) Patients with adverse reactions to electrical stimulation; (7) Patients with pain sensitivity, injury, or inflammation in the stimulation area.
2. Exclusion criteria for MRI;
3. Patients with severe neurological, cardiac, liver, kidney, endocrine, and blood system diseases, or any other condition that may interfere with the study evaluation;
4. Patients with organic mental disorders and mental retardation;
5. Patients with alcohol or drug dependence;
6. Patients with a high risk of suicide.

Where it's running

• The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University
  Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Manli Huang, M.D
• Email: huangmanli@zju.edu.cn
• Phone: 13957162975

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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.