{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,21]],"date-time":"2026-03-21T06:26:08Z","timestamp":1774074368578,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,25]],"date-time":"2025-04-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1745539200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology","award":["POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653"]}]},{"name":"Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology","award":["PTDC\/PSI-ESP\/29701\/2017"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PTDC\/PSI-ESP\/29701\/2017"]}]},{"name":"Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology","award":["UID\/01662\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/01662\/2020"]}]},{"name":"Portuguese Ministry of Science","award":["POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653"]}]},{"name":"Portuguese Ministry of Science","award":["PTDC\/PSI-ESP\/29701\/2017"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PTDC\/PSI-ESP\/29701\/2017"]}]},{"name":"Portuguese Ministry of Science","award":["UID\/01662\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/01662\/2020"]}]},{"name":"FEDER","award":["POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653"]}]},{"name":"FEDER","award":["PTDC\/PSI-ESP\/29701\/2017"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PTDC\/PSI-ESP\/29701\/2017"]}]},{"name":"FEDER","award":["UID\/01662\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/01662\/2020"]}]},{"name":"FCT","award":["POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653"]}]},{"name":"FCT","award":["PTDC\/PSI-ESP\/29701\/2017"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PTDC\/PSI-ESP\/29701\/2017"]}]},{"name":"FCT","award":["UID\/01662\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/01662\/2020"]}]},{"name":"Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia","award":["POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653"]}]},{"name":"Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia","award":["PTDC\/PSI-ESP\/29701\/2017"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["PTDC\/PSI-ESP\/29701\/2017"]}]},{"name":"Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia","award":["UID\/01662\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/01662\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Brain Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Aims: This pilot study assessed the potential psychosocial and therapeutic impacts of augmenting transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in treatment-na\u00efve patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: In this double-blind randomized controlled trial, 10 subjects were randomized into two groups\u2014CBT with active tDCS (active tDCS; n = 6; M = 33.3 years; 4 females) or CBT with sham tDCS (Sham; n = 4; M = 31.2 years; 2 females). Severity of depression was measured with the Montgomery\u2013\u00c5sberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Participants\u2019 secondary outcomes included life satisfaction, sleep quality, and anxiety symptoms. They were assessed at baseline, following treatment (week 6), and at 2, 4, 8, and 12-week follow-ups. Results: By week 12, the active tDCS group\u2019s BDI scores showed greater improvement relative to the sham group. There were also significant differences between groups over time in MADRS scores. Sleep quality also improved in the active tDCS group, with many participants achieving symptom-free status\u2014defined as BDI scores of 9 or less and supported by consistently low MADRS scores\u2014by the end of the follow-up period. Conclusions: These preliminary data indicate that the combination of tDCS with CBT may optimize the treatment of MDD through depressive symptom relief and improved sleep, while also prolonging the benefits of treatment.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/brainsci15050444","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,25]],"date-time":"2025-04-25T04:08:24Z","timestamp":1745554104000},"page":"444","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Delayed Effects of tDCS Combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Major Depression: A Randomized, Double-Blind Pilot Trial"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1759-5146","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sandra","family":"Carvalho","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Psychological Neuroscience Laboratory, Centro de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Psicologia (CIPsi), Department of Basic Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5011-7715","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Catarina Gomes","family":"Coelho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Psychological Neuroscience Laboratory, Centro de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o em Psicologia (CIPsi), Department of Basic Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0323-9012","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jorge","family":"Leite","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CINTESIS@RISE, CINTESIS.UPT, Portucalense University, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"959","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cpr.2007.02.005","article-title":"Risk for Recurrence in Depression","volume":"27","author":"Burcusa","year":"2007","journal-title":"Clin. 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