Impact of Two or Less Missing Treatment Sessions on tDCS Clinical Efficacy: Results From a Factorial, Randomized, Controlled Trial in Major Depression

摘要

ObjectivesTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a neuromodulatory intervention with recent clinical trials showing promising results in major depression treatment. Although tDCS has some appealing characteristics (e.g., low cost, ease of use, and relatively benign profile of adverse effects), one important drawback of the technique is the need to deliver consecutive, repeated sessions for several weekdays. However, no study investigated whether absences during this acute treatment phase impact on tDCS efficacy, and, if so, whether absences should be considered dropouts, therefore increasing attrition.