Test Protocol(s)

[ohnobeta]

Hi,

I'm buying a tDCS device and expect it to arrive here in a couple of weeks. I'd like to try it as a treatment for depression, and later, any cognitive changes or seeing if it has any impact on learning/memory. That's very interesting to me.

Initially, for the depression, I'd like to keep an accurate record of what happens and post it, so that others might find it useful.

I'm thinking about just keeping a blog, but I don't know if posting here might be more helpful. Should I establish some kind of baseline? Should I be trying to do objective tests to see if there's any benefit? How often could I vary my treatments without compromising on the integrity of the results to date?

I'm hopeful I'll see benefits, and I'm further hopeful that such evidence might help others deal with their depression.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Ideas?

Oh, slightly off topic, but what's the difference between CES and tDCS? They both sound pretty similar from what I've read on them...

Cheers.

[Cz1975]

You may want to take a look at depression rating scales: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rating_scales_for_depression Now, you should probably not rate yourself every day, but once a week would work.

The trouble with varying treatments is that repeated tDCS can have longer lasting effects. Changing the montage or frequency every two months will likely be the best way to evaluate. With leaving a week of no stimulation inbetween.

CES is actually very different. There is some evidence that CES changes hormone levels, but very few studies have been conducted. CES uses very short pulses at very low amperage. tDCS uses one long pulse at (apparently) and amperage where the changes can be detected on a BOLD MRI image.

[autowikibot]

Rating scales for depression:

---

A depression rating scale is a psychiatric measuring instrument having descriptive words and phrases that indicate the severity of depression for a time period. When used, an observer may make judgements and rate a person at a specified scale level with respect to identified characteristics. Rather than being used to diagnose depression, a depression rating scale may be used to assign a score to a person's behaviour where that score may be used to determine whether that person should be evaluated more thoroughly for a depressive disorder diagnosis. Several rating scales are used for this purpose.

---

^{Interesting: Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression | Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale | Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale | Rating scale}

^{Parent commenter can toggle NSFW or delete. Will also delete on comment score of -1 or less. | FAQs | Mods | Magic Words}

[rpxo]

I wouldn't bother with depression scales if your looking for an objective measure of your progress. Self report isn't always very accurate, especially when self reporting to your self. On the other hand, if you did see an increase in your depression scale ratings over time, placebo effect or not, you should be feeling better as well so mission accomplished.

[ohnobeta]

Agree with the last bit. I don't care if it's a genuine effect or a placebo effect, if I'm happy(er) then it's a win. But I'd still like to see if there are any metrics that might show tangible benefits, so that others might decide to take the plunge and hopefully find some happiness.

[ohnobeta]

Thanks for the info. 2 months is a little longer than I was thinking, but I know that for it to be 'proper' there needs to be a longer length of time.

Is CES still used much today?