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document
Cognitive control therapy and transcranial direct current stimulation for depression : a randomized , double-blinded , controlled trial . BACKGROUND Based on findings that major depressive disorder ( MDD ) is associated to decreased dorsolateral prefrontal cortical ( DLPFC ) activity ; interventions that increase DLPFC activity might theoretically present antidepressant effects . Two of them are cognitive control therapy ( CCT ) , a neurocognitive intervention that uses computer-based working memory exercises , and transcranial direct current stimulation ( tDCS ) , which delivers weak , electric direct currents over the scalp . METHODS We investigated whether tDCS enhanced the effects of CCT in a double-blind trial , in which participants were randomized to sham tDCS and CCT ( n=17 ) vs. active tDCS and CCT ( n=20 ) . CCT and tDCS were applied for 10 consecutive workdays . Clinicaltrials.gov identifier : NCT01434836 . RESULTS Both CCT alone and combined with tDCS ameliorated depressive symptoms after the acute treatment period and at follow-up , with a response rate of approximately 25 % . Older patients and those who presented better performance in the task throughout the trial ( possibly indicating greater engagement and activation of the DLPFC ) had greater depression improvement in the combined treatment group . LIMITATIONS Our exploratory findings should be further confirmed in prospective controlled trials . DISCUSSION CCT and tDCS combined might be beneficial for older depressed patients , particularly for those who have cognitive resources to adequately learn and improve task performance over time . This combined therapy might be specifically relevant in this subgroup that is more prone to present cognitive decline and prefrontal cortical atrophy .
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Intervention_Psychological
Cognitive control therapy
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Intervention_Physical
transcranial direct current stimulation
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Intervention_Psychological
cognitive control therapy ( CCT )
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Intervention_Physical
transcranial direct current stimulation
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Intervention_Psychological
CCT
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Intervention_Control
sham tDCS
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Intervention_Educational
CCT
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Intervention_Physical
active tDCS
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Intervention_Psychological
CCT
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Intervention_Psychological
CCT
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Intervention_Physical
tDCS
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Outcome_Mental
stimulation for depression :
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Outcome_Mental
effects of CCT
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Outcome_Mental
ameliorated depressive symptoms
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Outcome_Mental
response rate
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Outcome_Mental
depression improvement
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Outcome_Mental
task performance
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Participant_Sample-size
n=17
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Participant_Age
Older patients
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Participant_Age
older