Cognitive Enhancement in Depression (The COG-D Study)
Completed · Not applicable · Has a placebo group
Conditions studied: Aging, Depression, Cognitive Symptom
In brief
This study will investigate whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) enhances the effects of computerized cognitive training in older adults with recurrent depression (2 or more lifetime episodes; either current or within past 3 years).
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT05400512
- Run by
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- People needed
- 16
- Starts
- 2023-02-08
- Expected to finish
- 2025-08-18
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-06-03
Who can join
Age: 60 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Age 60+ years
- Diagnosis of a current or past (within last 3 years) depressive episode (e.g., Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)) using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria
- In total, participants must have 2 or more lifetime depressive episodes to be considered "recurrent"
- Either stable antidepressant regimen for at least 6 weeks or no current antidepressant treatment
- Evidence of subjective cognitive complaints on the Everyday Cognition Scale (ECog)
- English fluency
You may not qualify if…
- Other Axis I psychiatric conditions via the DSM-5, except for anxiety symptoms occurring in a depressive episode
- Acute suicidality on clinical evaluation
- Acute grief
- History of alcohol use disorder or substance use disorder in last 12 months
- Currently taking medications that would significantly interact with tDCS effects (such as sodium channel blockers or anticonvulsants)
- Neurological disorders (e.g., dementia, stroke, seizures, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease)
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score < 23
- Primary amnestic cognitive profile (>1.5 standard deviations (SDs) below demographically-adjusted mean on National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) memory measures in context of otherwise normal cognitive profile)
- Any physical or intellectual disability affecting ability to complete assessments
- Unstable medical illness needing urgent treatment
- MRI contraindications
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in last 2 months
- Current involvement in psychotherapy
- Current involvement in other research studies (including but not limited to: neuromodulation [TMS or tDCS] or investigational drug studies)
Where it is running
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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