Description Module
The Description Module contains narrative descriptions of the clinical trial, including a brief summary and detailed description. These descriptions provide important information about the study's purpose, methodology, and key details in language accessible to both researchers and the general public.
Description Module path is as follows:
Study -> Protocol Section -> Description Module
Description Module
Ignite Creation Date:
2025-12-24 @ 7:44 PM
Ignite Modification Date:
2025-12-24 @ 7:44 PM
NCT ID:
NCT03178903
Brief Summary:
The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation) for increasing exercise adherence among low active individuals with elevated depressive symptoms. The investigators expect that this project will contribute much needed knowledge about the role that tDCS can play in changing the affective experience of exercise.
Detailed Description:
Exercise adherence is a significant public health problem. Affective experiences during exercise predict long-term physical activity (PA) levels. Therefore, approaches to improving the affective experience of exercise are both important and likely to have high impact. This may be particularly true among individuals with elevated depressive symptoms due to their tendency toward more negative and less positive affect. tDCS is a noninvasive brain stimulation approach with a growing body of literature supporting its effects on cognitive and emotional processing in varied populations, including some support for those with depression. In addition, there is recent increased interest in utilizing tDCS in the context of exercise (see above) and in obesity prevention. While the effects of tDCS on behavioral and cognitive functioning are still developing, promising findings have emerged for tDCS used in repeated combination with a behavioral or cognitive intervention. Given that tDCS is relatively safe, inexpensive, and portable, individuals who struggle with enjoying exercise could be afforded a practical option for increasing and maintaining physical activity levels.
We propose to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial of tDCS versus sham delivered 3x/week for 8 weeks in the context of a supervised aerobic exercise (AE) program among 72 low-active individuals with elevated depressive symptoms. Follow-up assessments will be conducted at end of treatment, 3, and 6 months.
Study:
NCT03178903
Study Brief:
Protocol Section:
NCT03178903