An interventional study of Spaced Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and Sham Spaced tDCS in Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), sponsored by University of California, San Diego. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-22.
Sponsored by University of California, San Diego · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
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Among 204 studies in Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant with a site in United States — 43 open to participants now, 65 under way, 6 of them phase 3. Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant · United States.
Among the 204 studies in Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant with a site in United States, this one is the 63rd largest by planned enrollment of the 181 interventional ones that give a count, is one of 19 that started in 2026, is one of 72 with no phase, reaches primary completion later than 60 of the 64 other live ones, and was the 202nd registered.
448 studies on the registry are indexed under Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant; 147 are open to participants now.
Browse Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant studies →43 of the 204 studies in Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant with a site in United States are open now. Recruiting first, the newest first:
NeuroRx, Inc. · Sites in United States
Ages 18–80
Mayo Clinic · Sites in United States
Ages 22–60
Motif Neurotech, Inc. · Sites in United States
Ages 22–85
BrainHealth Solutions, Inc. · Sites in United States
Ages 65+
Mclean Hospital · Sites in United States
Ages 18+
A study can be open while its sites in United States have not opened yet or have stopped. Only those recruiting at a site in United States →
Of the 114 Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant studies recruiting now, 26 (23%) set no upper age limit and 76 (67%) stop at 75 or younger; 1 takes children under 18; 13 take healthy volunteers.
This study: 18 Years to 70 Years · all sexes · no healthy volunteers.
The full table on the hub →This tab as a report to print or save as PDF → With an account.
204 studies; the count open now beside each. This study's row is marked.
A study in two phases is counted once above. Listed by phase, each with its combined phases: Phase 1 17 · Phase 2 58 · Phase 3 23 · Phase 4 17
First in 2001; this study’s year is marked. 19 started in 2026.
By drug class, each counting the studies that test any of its medicines:
This study's planned enrollment of 74 is above the median of 59 across 372 interventional studies indexed under Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant.
Median enrollment 38 across the 181 interventional studies, 83 across the 22 observational. Of the 119 that completed or were terminated, 70 (59%) have results posted.
This tab as a report to print or save as PDF → With an account.
57 of 204 have an industry lead sponsor. The 10 most frequent:
University of California, San Diego is the lead sponsor of 980 studies on the registry; 195 are open to participants now.
Of its 113 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 71 (63%) have results posted.
University of California, San Diego has 7 studies filed under Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant — fewer than ten, so there is no comparison to draw.
20 of the studies in Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant with a site in United States that are under way reach primary completion within a year, 1 of them phase 3. Phase 3 first, then by date:
| Study | Primary completion |
|---|---|
| NCT04041479Phase 3Weill Medical College of Cornell UniversityBiomarker-guided rTMS for Treatment Resistant Depression | 2027-04 |
| NCT04684706University of PennsylvaniaCompressed Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation | 2026-11-30 |
| NCT06938841University of California, San DiegoMaintenance rTMS for Depression (Maitr-De) | 2026-11-30 |
| NCT03573349Mayo ClinicKetamine Associated ACC GABA and Glutamate Change and Depression Remission: | 2026-12 |
| NCT07310381Stanford UniversityVagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Electroencephalogram (EEG) Protocol Supplement | 2026-12-31 |
Add all 20 to your calendar (.ics) → With an account.
Among the 204 studies in Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant with a site in United States, from their registry updates:
This tab as a report to print or save as PDF → With an account.
This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and neurophysiological mechanisms of home-based spaced tDCS in TRD through a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial conducted under remote supervision. Specifically, this trial will: (1) compare the efficacy of active versus sham spaced tDCS on depressive symptom severity in individuals with TRD and (2) characterize neurophysiological changes associated with spaced tDCS using TMS-EEG, TMS-EMG and resting state EEG.
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.
Exclusion Criteria:
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.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
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.
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Clinically significant
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
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.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Childbearing potential
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Investigational drug or device
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Active tDCS applies low-intensity electrical current to the scalp to modulate cortical excitability through subthreshold shifts in neuronal membrane potentials, influencing synaptic plasticity
Device: Spaced Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
Sham tDCS is a placebo control that simulates the physical sensations of tDCS but does not deliver any actual, prolonged electrical current to the brain.
Device: Sham Spaced tDCS
Spaced-tDCS will be self-administered at home under the supervision of a trained clinical research coordinator using the Soterix Medical mini-CT device with remote monitoring via a secure videoconferencing platform (e.g., Microsoft Teams).
Soterix Medical mini-CT device sham protocol that match real stimulation parameters will be used.
Active vs Sham spaced tDCS Efficacy as measured by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale
To compare the efficacy of active versus sham spaced tDCS in reducing depressive symptom severity in TRD. Symptom severity will be measured using the MADRS score at four weeks post-treatment.
Time frame: Baseline to 4-weeks post treatment
Changes in MADRS with active versus sham spaced tDCS during all post treatment visits
Clinical outcomes associated with active versus sham spaced tDCS as measured by MADRS response (≥50% reduction) and remission (score ≤10) rates.
Time frame: 1-week post treatment to 10-week post treatment
Changes in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, 17-item version scores
Reduction in HAMD-17 scores at all follow-up timepoints. Score range from 0 to 52.
Time frame: 1-week post treatment to 10-week post treatment
Changes in Patient Health Questionnaire-9
Changes in PHQ scores at all follow-up timepoints. With scores ranging from 0-27
Time frame: 1-week post treatment to 10-week post treatment
Changes in General Anxiety Disorder-7
Changes in GAD-7 scores at all follow-up timepoints. Score range from 0-21
Time frame: 1-week post treatment to 10-week post treatment
Changes in The Modified Scale for Suicidal Ideation
Changes in the presence and severity of suicidal thoughts at all follow-up timepoints. Scores ranging from 0-54
Time frame: 1-week post treatment to 10-week post treatment
Feasibility (Recruitment)
Recruitment rate will be measured as the number of patients enrolled by the conclusion of the study, reported as a whole number.
Time frame: Baseline clinical assessment to 10 weeks post treatment.
Feasibility (Retention)
Retention rate will be measured as the percentage of enrolled patients who complete all study visits, reported as a percentage.
Time frame: Baseline clinical assessment to 10 weeks post treatment.
Feasibility (Adherence)
The proportion of completed sessions relative to the total prescribed sessions, expressed as a percentage.
Time frame: Baseline clinical assessment to 10 weeks post treatment
Safety of at-home spaced tDCS
Safety will be measured by the number of serious adverse events (SAEs)
Time frame: Baseline clinical assessment to 10 weeks post treatment
Tolerability to spaced tDCS
Tolerability will be measured by the number of adverse events (AEs).
Time frame: Baseline clinical assessment to 10 weeks post treatment.
Biomarker Discovery: Short-Interval Intracortical Inhibition (SICI) and Long-Interval Intracortical Inhibition (LICI) via TMS-EMG
TMS-EMG will be used to evaluate changes in SICI and LICI.
Time frame: Baseline to 4-weeks post treatment
Biomarker Discovery: Intracortical Facilitation (ICF) via TMS-EMG
TMS-EMG will be used to evaluate changes in intracortical facilitation
Time frame: Baseline to 4-weeks post treatment
Biomarker Discovery: Cortical Silent Period (CSP) via Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation-Electromyography (TMS-EMG)
TMS-EMG will be used to assess changes in the cortical silent period (CSP). Unit of Measurement: Duration (milliseconds).
Time frame: Baseline to 4-weeks post treatment
TMS-Evoked Potential (TEP) Component Amplitudes via TMS-EEG
TMS-EEG will be used to evaluate changes in TMS-evoked potential (TEP) component amplitudes. Unit of Measurement: Voltage (µV).
Time frame: Baseline to 4-weeks post treatment
Resting-State Electroencephalography (rsEEG)
rsEEG will be used to analyze changes in brain activity patterns at rest. Unit of Measurement: Frequency (Hz)
Time frame: Baseline to 4-weeks post treatment
Plan to share: No
Start is estimated for Oct 2026; primary completion for Oct 2031, 60 months later.
Of 136 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, half reached primary completion within 42 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 22 and three quarters within 79. This study's planned 60 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 140 studies reached it within 50 months; a quarter within 22 and three quarters within 88.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Sep 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant →
University of California, San Diego →