Home-Based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation In Major Depressive Disorder (HOME)

Depression is a prevalent and debilitating disorder. The most common treatments are antidepressant medications and talking therapies. However, for many individuals, these are not their treatment of choice. Furthermore, even following a full course of treatment with an antidepressant or talking therapy, over one third of patients continue to be unwell. The novel brain stimulation treatment, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), is a potential first-line treatment for major depression. The present research question is whether home-based tDCS is an effective treatment for major depression for adults with major depression. Participants will be randomised to receive either a 10-week course of active tDCS treatment in addition to their standard care (Treatment as Usual), or to only receive Treatment as Usual. Participants will be followed up for 6-months after the start of the treatment began. After the 6-month follow-up visit, all participants from both groups can choose to continue/start the tDCS treatment. There will be a final follow-up visit 3 months later (9 months from the original treatment start of the trial).