Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation and increased beta amplitude in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on depression symptoms

The prevalence of major depressive disorder is rising, and current treatments are not universally effective. Therefore, enhancing clinical practice by advancing knowledge of alternative therapies is essential. This study was a randomized controlled trial involving two groups of 46 participants who received either neurofeedback or transcranial direct current stimulation treatments. Group one underwent 15 sessions of increasing beta wave amplitude in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, while group two received 2 mA direct current stimulation in the same region over five weeks. To compare depression symptoms between the two groups, the Beck Depression Inventory, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule were used at the pretest, sessions 5, 10, and 15. In both groups, depression symptoms decreased significantly, and there was no difference between groups in session 15 but stimulation group showed a greater reduction in depression symptoms and positive affect at the first 10 sessions; furthermore, the stimulation group showed superiority over the neurofeedback group in reducing fatigue symptoms. In conclusion both treatments effectively reduced symptoms of depression, with some differences in symptom improvement. Clinicians can make better treatment decisions by considering the different effects of each intervention during therapy sessions.