Effect of High Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Anxiety Disorder

Intervention Effect of High Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) on Anxiety Disorder

Not applicable Interventional Anhui Medical University · NCT05298007

This study is testing whether a new brain stimulation treatment can help people with anxiety feel better by looking at their symptoms and brain activity.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment60 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 60 Years
SexAll
SponsorAnhui Medical University Academic / other
Locations1 site (Hefei)
Trial IDNCT05298007 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effects of high definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) on anxiety symptoms and associated somatic symptoms in patients diagnosed with anxiety disorder. A total of 60 participants, aged 18 to 60, will be randomly assigned to receive either active or sham HD-tDCS treatment over 14 sessions. The study will also utilize functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore the underlying neural mechanisms of the intervention. Participants will undergo clinical evaluations and laboratory examinations before and after the treatment to assess the efficacy of the intervention.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adults aged 18 to 60 diagnosed with anxiety disorder according to DSM-5 criteria.

Not a fit: Patients with severe somatic diseases, other neurological or mental disorders, or those who cannot undergo MRI will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could provide a novel non-invasive treatment option for patients suffering from anxiety disorders.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with transcranial direct current stimulation for various mental health conditions, suggesting potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* the patients were diagnosed by more than 2 psychiatrists and met the diagnostic criteria of DSM-5 for anxiety, and HAMA\>14, PHQ-15\>5.
* the age ranged from 18 to 60 years old, and the length of education was more than 5 years.
* the visual acuity or corrected visual acuity is normal, right-handed, can cooperate with the completion of various experimental tests.

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.
* pregnant and lactating women.
* 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.
* those who could not cooperate with those who completed the relevant experiments, such as patients with depressive stupor, claustrophobia and so on.

Where this trial is running

Hefei

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Transcranial Direct Current StimulationAnxietyMagnetic Resonance Imaging
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.