ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT06455527Updated Sep 25, 2026

Heart Rate Variability (HRV)-Guided Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

An interventional study of Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Depression, sponsored by NYU Langone Health. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-25.

Sponsored by NYU Langone Health · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other

From the registry’s dates

  • Started Jan 2025; still recruiting 1 year 10 months later.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
100
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Where this study stands

Counted across the records on this site · 2026-11-12

Among 25 studies in Depression by NYU Langone Health — 8 open to participants now, 10 under way, none of them phase 3. Depression · NYU Langone Health.

Planned enrollment
5th of 22
100 · median 33
Started
2025
with 2 others
No phase
12 of 25
5 open now
Registered
20th of 25
by date

Among the 25 studies in Depression by NYU Langone Health, this one is the 5th largest by planned enrollment of the 22 interventional ones, is one of 3 that started in 2025, is one of 12 with no phase, and was the 20th registered.

By phase

25 studies; the count open now beside each. This study's row is marked.

No phasethis study12 · 5 open
Phase 15 · 1 open
Phase 24 · 2 open
Observational3 · 0 open
Phase 2/31 · 0 open

By the year they started

First in 2002; this study’s year is marked. 3 started in 2025.

Size and results

Median enrollment 33 across the 22 interventional studies, 30 across the 3 observational. Of the 11 that completed or were terminated, 7 (64%) have results posted.

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Watch this landscapeDownload CSVWith an account: a weekly mail of what changed among 25 studies in Depression by NYU Langone Health, or all of them as a file.
02

Study summary

This technology development project will be informed and guided by initial data collection of human subject data. For this purpose, the investigators will recruit n=100 people with mild to moderate depression in a double-blinded, parallel-arm, sham-controlled data collection period administered at home and using the investigator's remotely supervised (RS) tDCS protocol. Enrolled participants will complete 10 days of 30-minute tDCS (2.0, DLPFC left anodal) using the RS-tDCS protocol. During each daily session, standard HR and impedance-based HR (i-HR), obtained from the tDCS headset, will be collected to identify a possible marker of response to tDCS in depression. Participants will be randomized 2:1 to active vs. sham tDCS.

03

Conditions studied

  • Depression

Browse trials for

Keywords

  • Depression
  • Heart Rate
  • tDCS
  • Brain stimulation
  • telehealth
04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Mild to moderate depression (Beck Depression Inventory(BDI)-II 14-28)
  • , Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-V-TR) Depressive episode
  • Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT)-4th Reading Recognition subtest standard score >85

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Primary neurologic, psychiatric (e.g., multiple sclerosis, stroke, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, intracranial mass, traumatic brain injury (TBI), epilepsy, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or dementia), or major medical disorder (e.g., history of myocardial infarction, diabetes, thyroid disease, arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation) (medical history review)
  • bipolar depression, psychotic disorder, or alcohol or substance use disorder (M.I.N.I.)
  • Active or high suicidality risk (Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, C-SSRS), or otherwise judged as inappropriate by the study clinicians
  • History of a heart transplant, presence of permanent pacemaker implant or Left Ventricular Assist Device
  • Use of certain medications that can affect heart rate variability, such as beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, or cardiac glycosides
  • Use of antidepressant, antipsychotic, anxiolytic, or stimulant medications
  • Pregnant or planning pregnancy during the study period
  • Seizure disorder or recent (\<5 years) seizure history
  • Presence of metal objects in the head/neck
  • Any skin disorder or skin sensitive area near stimulation locations
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

DSM diagnostic criteria

The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
Double (Participant, Investigator)
Enrollment
100 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Active tDCS

    Participants randomized to the Active tDCS arm will complete 10 sessions of 30-minute active remotely supervised (RS)-tDCS with chest strap and impedance-based HRV data collection over the course of approximately 2-4 weeks.

    Device: Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

  • Sham comparator
    Sham tDCS

    Participants randomized to the Active tDCS arm will complete 10 sessions of 30-minute sham RS-tDCS with chest strap and impedance-based HRV data collection over the course of approximately 2-4 weeks.

    Device: Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

Interventions

  • DeviceActive Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

    tDCS will be delivered using the 1x1 Mini CT tDCS device. For active tDCS, the device is programmed to ramp up to 2.0 mA (for 30 seconds), provide constant current throughout the session (29 minutes), and then ramp down (for 30 seconds) at the end. Participants will receive 10 sessions of tDCS over the course of this study on weekdays (M-F).

  • DeviceSham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

    Sham tDCS will be delivered using the 1x1 Mini CT tDCS device. For sham tDCS, the device is programmed to ramp up to 2.0 mA (for 30 seconds) followed by a ramp down (30 seconds), with no current delivery for 28 minutes, and then ramp up (for 30 seconds) and down (for 30 seconds) at the end. Participants will receive 10 sessions of sham tDCS over the course of this study on weekdays (M-F).

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Average Heart Rate (HR) Measured Using Polar H10 Chest Monitor

    HR will be measured using Polar H10 Chest Monitor at each daily tDCS session.

    Time frame: Up to Week 4

  2. Average HR Measured Using i-HR Data Logger

    HR will be measured using an impedance-based HR (i-HR) data logger attached to the Mini-CT tDCS device at each daily tDCS session.

    Time frame: Up to Week 4

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Montgomery Ӓsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Score

    MADRS is a 10-item assessment of severity of depressive episodes in patients with mood disorders. Each item is rated on a scale from 0-6. The total score is the sum of responses and ranges from 0-60; higher scores indicate greater severity of depressive episodes.

    Time frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (Up to Week 4)

  2. Change in State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults (STAI): State Score

    STAI is a 40-item questionnaire measuring state and trait anxiety. Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale. The range of possible scores for state anxiety ranges from a minimum score of 20 to a maximum score of 80; higher scores indicate greater state anxiety.

    Time frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (Up to Week 4)

  3. Change in State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults (STAI): Trait Score

    STAI is a 40-item questionnaire measuring state and trait anxiety. Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale. The range of possible scores for trait anxiety ranges from a minimum score of 20 to a maximum score of 80; higher scores indicate greater trait anxiety.

    Time frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (Up to Week 4)

  4. Change in Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-SF): Positive Affect Score

    PANAS-SF is a self-report questionnaire that consists of two 10-item scales (20 items total) to measure both positive and negative affect. Each item is rated on a scale from 1 (very slightly or not at all) to 5 (extremely). The total positive affect score is the sum of affect item responses and ranges from 10 - 50; higher scores represent higher levels of positive affect.

    Time frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (Up to Week 4)

  5. Change in Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-SF): Negative Affect Score

    PANAS-SF is a self-report questionnaire that consists of two 10-item scales (20 items total) to measure both positive and negative affect. Each item is rated on a scale from 1 (very slightly or not at all) to 5 (extremely). The total negative affect score is the sum of negative item responses and ranges from 10 - 50; lower scores represent lower levels of negative affect.

    Time frame: Baseline, End of Intervention (Up to Week 4)

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — The de-identified participant data from the final research dataset used in the published manuscript will be shared upon reasonable request beginning 9 months and ending 36 months following article publication or as required by a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research provided the investigator who proposes to use the data executes a data use agreement with NYU Langone Health. Requests may be directed to: Giuseppina.Pilloni@nyulangone.org. The protocol and statistical analysis plan will be made available on Clinicaltrials.gov only as required by federal regulation or as a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research.

Supporting information: Study protocol, Statistical analysis plan

Time frame: Beginning 9 months and ending 36 months following article publication or as required by a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research.

Access criteria: The investigator who proposes to use the data will be granted access upon reasonable request. Requests should be directed to Giuseppina.Pilloni@nyulangone.org. To gain access, data requestors will need to sign a data access agreement.

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

1 registry update since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Started Jan 2025 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Nov 2027, 33 months after the start.

Of 3,468 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Depression, half reached primary completion within 21 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 41. This study's planned 33 months is above that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 3,566 studies reached it within 21 months; a quarter within 9 and three quarters within 41.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Jun 7, 2024
First posted
Jun 12, 2024
StartActual
Jan 2, 2025
Primary completionEst.
Nov 1, 2027
CompletionEst.
Nov 1, 2027
Last update
Sep 25, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
Minor edits
Nothing that changes what the study is or who can join. Edited: verification date
1 update, last Sep 25, 2026
Show all 1 update
  1. Sep 25, 2026
    Minor edits only
    + 1 other change: verification date

From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06455527
Lead sponsor
NYU Langone Health
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jun 12, 2024
Start date
Jan 2, 2025
Primary completion
Nov 1, 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Nov 1, 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 25, 2026

Study contacts

Shayna Pehel
Contact
Shayna.Pehel@nyulangone.org
929-455-5104
Giuseppina Pilloni, PhD
principal investigator · NYU Langone Health

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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