Prefrontal Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation in Patients With Depression

Prefrontal Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation in Patients With Depression

Transcranial random noise stimulation is used to stimulate the prefrontal cortices in patients with depression. It's a placebo-controlled two-arm study.

Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) is a non-invasive electric stimulation technique of the brain which was shown to be superior effective in contrast to other electric stimulation such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). These studies investigated mainly healthy controls and specific tasks. Only one case report is available for depression. Here we stimulate patients with depression with tRNS in a placebo-controlled two-arm design. Stimulation will be done as add-on to standard therapy. Electrodes will be applied over both dorsolateral prefrontal cortices which are standard target points of tDCS and also transcranial magnetic stimulation in depression.

Inclusion Criteria:

• episode of depression (unipolar or bipolar) ( ICD-10)
• female or male between 18 and 70 years old
• skills to participate in all study procedures
• 18 or more points in the Hamilton rating scale or depression
• written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• clinically relevant unstable internal or neurological comorbidity
• evidence of significant brain malformations or neoplasm, head injury
• cerebral vascular events
• neurodegenerative disorders affecting the brain or prior brain surgery
• metal objects in and around body that can not be removed
• pregnancy
• alcohol or drug abuse
• eczema on the head
• heart pacemaker
• high dose tranquillizers