Recruiting · registry status

Testing low-level electrical stimulation for depression

Researchers use brain imaging to guide stimulation through the head and study changes in depression symptoms in Parkinson’s.

Testing a treatment or activity · Study reference: NCT06467695

Plain-language introduction written with AI from the registry; not independently checked by a clinician. Read the original details below ↓

This registry record was last updated over six months ago, or its update date is missing. Recruitment may have changed. Confirm with the team before making plans.

Open the official registry record ↗

Follow this study

Looking for volunteers

Start (reported actual date): 2024-08-01
Main measurements finished (planned): 2027-05-01
Study finished (planned): 2027-06-30

Planned dates can move. A study finishing does not tell us when a paper will be published.

No results summary has been confirmed in the registry records we imported. See connected papers below; we keep checking after recruitment ends.

Changes we have recorded

2026-10-11 — recruiting

These are dates we observed a change, not necessarily the dates it happened.

Papers connected to this study

No connected paper has been found yet. The tracker checks the growing library for study identifiers and registry-linked publications.

Who can join?

Ages 19 years to 65 years · Does not accept healthy volunteers

These are starting points, not the full rules. The research team can tell you whether the study is right for your situation.

Read all the rules for taking part

Sex eligibility reported by registry: all

Inclusion Criteria: * 19 to 65 years in age. * Parkinson's Group must have a physician dx of Parkinson's Disease * Must meet exhibit elevated levels of depression on the Beck Depression Inventory (scores of 20 or above). * Must be willing and able to travel of the Psychology Department for EEG and tDCS sessions. * Participants who have undergone surgery for Deep Brain Stimulation implantation may be enrolled if advised to and monitored by their physician. * Read and understand spoken English. Exclusion Criteria: * No history of or being treated for epilepsy or other seizure disorders. * No history of penetrating head wounds or TBI greater than mild TBI. * No history of atypical Parkinson's

Full study name & original research details

Official study title

The Effect of MRI-Guided Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Cognitive and Affective Symptoms in Persons With Parkinson's Disease and Controls

Short title used by the registry

Low Voltage Electrical Stimulation for Depression in Parkinson's Patients

Original description

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the relative efficacy of fMRI model guided Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (mgTDCS) in improving the depressive symptoms of patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD). The main questions it aims to answer are: 1) Can the use of mgTDCS significantly improve the self-reported level of depression and apathy in patients with PD from pre-intervention to post-intervention compared to a sham control? 2) Can the use of mgTDCS significantly normalize the cortical eeg alpha asymmetry so commonly seen in depressed patients compared to sham mgTDCS? 3) Can the use of mgTDCS significantly improve scores on neuropsychological tests of working memory?

Further description from the registry

This study seeks to expand the growing body of literature on the use of a particular type of low voltage electrical stimulation known as Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (TDCS) to reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (PD). One common disorder that can result from, and/or be exacerbated by PD is Major Depressive Disorder. In particular, apathy has been noted as a common and detrimental component for those with PD. While many studies have been performed on PD patients using TDCS, the consensus in the literature is that results are widely variable. Participants will: * complete self-report measures and neuropsychological tests * undergo eeg recording pre and post intervention * participate in 15, 46 minute sessions (2 13 minute stimulation sessions with 20 minutes of rest between) of mgTDCS over the course of 4-5 weeks Researchers will compare active mgTDCS to Sham mgTDCS to see if active mgTDCS is more effective. A non Parkinson's group of depressed controls who are age-matched to the PD patients will serve to determine if treatment effects are specific to PD or generalize to depression more generally.

Conditions reported: Parkinson Disease; Depressive Symptoms

Registry records for this study

Records are joined using registration identifiers. Titles alone do not establish that two studies are the same.

ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT06467695 ↗ — RECRUITING; checked 2026-10-11
ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT06467695 ↗ — Recruiting; WHO ICTRP processed 2026-04-14; checked 2026-10-11

Study type: Interventional
Interventions: BIOPAC Stimsola; BIOPAC Stimsola Sham (zero amps)
Phases: NA
Sponsor: University of South Alabama
Start date reported by registry: 2024-08-01 (actual)

Registry updated: 2026-04-06 · Status last verified by the registry submitter: 2026-04

Registry records retrieved 2026-10-11 (UTC). Individual records may have older updates. Recruitment and eligibility must be confirmed with the study team.

Contact the research team

Public study contacts supplied to the registry. Ask whether recruitment is still open and what participation involves.

John F Shelley-Tremblay, PhD · 2514606883 · jstremblay@southalabama.edu

Benjamin D Hill, PhD · 251-460-6546 · bdhill@southalabama.edu

Study locations

Site status can differ from overall study status. “Status not reported” means local availability needs confirmation. Remote participation and travel arrangements must be checked with the team.

University of South Alabama

Mobile, Alabama, United States

Recruiting

Facility not reported

United States

Status not reported

The original descriptions and participation rules come from the registry. Participation is voluntary and does not guarantee benefit.