fMRI Study of tES in Depression (STU00213826, PI: Amber Leaver, Ph.D. Northwestern University)

Whether you have depression or not, you can help us by volunteering for this study.

Why is this study being done?

Many people experience sadness or depressed mood from time to time. For some people, these feelings are present almost constantly and can interfere with daily activities and well-being. This research study uses brain scans (MRI) to understand how painless electrical currents applied to the head, a method called “transcranial electrical stimulation” or tES, might change the way the brain works to relieve symptoms of depression.

Why tES?

In a recent study, tES improved the symptoms of depression about as well as a common antidepressant. But in other studies, tES did not improve symptoms. Your symptoms may not improve during this study. We hope this study will help researchers understand how tES works so that it can be improved and studied as a potential treatment for depression.

What does tES feel like?

People describe tES as a light tingling or itching on their skin that is not painful. For most people, this feeling decreases or goes away after ~30 seconds, and some don’t feel tES at all. Remember that we can stop tES right away if you decide to stop for any reason. tES uses rubber electrodes covered in gel or paste to prevent irritation, which can be removed with water.

What’s involved in this study?

This study involves two visits to Northwestern’s Chicago Streeterville campus.

During the first visit, you’ll answer questionnaires about your health history and have an MRI. This visit will take 2-3 hours.

During the second visit, you will answer questionnaires and have an MRI. During this visit,  you will also have active or inactive tES. This visit will take 3 hours.

If you have depression, you can choose to have active tES for 2- minutes during the second visit and on the next 4 consecutive days (Monday through Friday, for example). This part of the study is optional. Visits 3-6 will take 1 hour or less.

During this study, you’ll also take ten minutes each week to record your symptoms at home for about eight weeks total.

Who can participate in this study?

If you have had depression for 1 year or longer, and are currently under the care of a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other clinician for your symptoms, you may be eligible to volunteer for our study. If you do not have depression, you may also be eligible to volunteer. Other criteria include:

  • 18-65 years old
  • Able to have an MRI scan
  • No history of other major health issues (cancer, substance abuse, head injury, neurological, neuropsychiatric, or severe mood disorder)
  • Available to attend 2 or 6 study visits at the Northwestern University Chicago Streeterville Campus

I’d like to volunteer. What’s next?

If you’re interested in volunteering for this study, please contact the study team to schedule screening. During screening, we can talk more about the study, and answer your questions. We will also review questions about your health history to determine whether you’re eligible for this study. Screening will be done remotely by phone or secure website and does not require a visit to Northwestern.

You can also review a sample consent form and MRI screening form for this study. Please do not fill these forms out now, but do let us know if you have questions.

For more information, please contact us at (312) 694-2966 or inmri at northwestern.edu