Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a prevalent, seriously impairing, and often recurrent
mental disorder. It has been ranked as a leading cause of disability worldwide by the World
Health Organization (WHO) as measured by years lived with disability.
A considerable number of patients with MDD experience a chronic course of illness and
approximately one third of MDD patients do not respond sufficiently to pharmacological
treatment, calling for treatment alternatives.
Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (NIBS) such as tDCS targeting prefrontal cortical
areas have emerged as a safe, promising, and cost-effective alternative to traditional
treatment options in patients with MDD.
This study focuses not only on an overall reduction of depressive symptoms, but also an
alleviation of cognitive control deficits in particular, since patients with MDD often suffer
from cognitive control deficits. tDCS has been shown to directly modulate cognitive control
functions in healthy participants and in depressed patients. Another approach to directly
modulate cognitive control functions is cognitive control training.
In the present study, an engaging and captivating cognitive control training designed as an
action video game will be employed. The primary objective is to test the feasibility and
efficacy of this innovative, combined treatment approach for self application, concurrently
applying both interventions (tDCS + cognitive control training) in patients suffering from
MDD. Additionally, participants have the opportunity to choose to take part in two adjunctive
assessments: a biological assessment which includes salivary samples and a multimodal imaging
paradigm (fMRI).
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