The HOME Study is a national trial exploring whether home-based transcranial direct current stimulation can help improve symptoms of depression alongside usual care. 

Summary of the project and objectives

The HOME Study is a multi-centre randomised controlled trial evaluating whether home-based transcranial direct current stimulation, known as tDCS, can help people with major depressive disorder. The study compares treatment as usual with treatment as usual plus tDCS, with the main aim of assessing whether tDCS improves clinician-rated depressive symptoms after 10 weeks of treatment. 

Why the project is important

Depression is common and can be disabling. Although antidepressant medication and talking therapies help many people, more than one third of people remain unwell after a full course of treatment. The HOME Study is important because it explores whether tDCS could offer an additional home-based treatment option for people experiencing depression. 

How we plan to achieve this

Participants are randomly allocated to either continue with their usual treatment or to receive usual treatment plus home-based tDCS. Those in the tDCS group complete sessions at home over 10 weeks, with regular follow-up appointments to monitor mood, symptoms and progress. Follow-up continues for around 10 months in total. 

Funding source

The HOME Study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research. 

Who is supporting the project

The study is led King’s College London and co-sponsored by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is one of the participating research sites, with Dr Mohammad Zia Ul Haq Katshu as the Nottinghamshire Principal Investigator, supported by the local study team. The study is also supported by Patient and Public Involvement contributors, including people with lived experience of depression, service users and carers, who have helped shape the study materials, protocol, participant expectations, study progress and how findings will be shared.

Further information online

The Home Study 

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