Efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation for depression: individual patient data meta-analysis

Background Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) shows promise for treating depression, but heterogeneous findings from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) – likely due to patient characteristics and methodological differences – limit clear conclusions about its efficacy. Aims This individual patient data meta-analysis (IPD-MA) aims to evaluate the efficacy of tDCS for depression and explore moderators of clinical depression improvement. Method Databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library) were searched up to 1 February 2025 for RCTs comparing active versus sham tDCS in acute depressive episodes. The outcomes were Hedges’ g for continuous measures of depressive symptoms, odds ratio for…