With trials mostly conducted in western countries, SGH’s research on Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) opens new doors to clinical application and treatment of depression.

By Professor Colleen Loo
Professor, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales
Clinical & Research Psychiatrist, Black Dog Institute, Sydney

  • Ongoing trials in SGH hopes to test novel treatment for clinical depression
  • Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is more mild form of brain stimulation that does not involve general anaesthetic and no risk of memory loss
  • Research outside of SGH is trying to confirm tDCS' role in increase brain function as well

Existing treatment methods for depression are mainly psychological therapy and antidepressant medication. While conventional, patients may not be able to tolerate some of these existing treatments due to unacceptable side effects. 

Research in novel physical treatments then become necessary. For the last 18 years I have been in search of alternative methods to treat people with substantive clinical depression.

Two of my research projects have led me to collaborate with clinicians from Singapore.

First was my work with Dr Tor Phern Chern from IMH, who  conducted an analysis to show the efficacy and reduced cognitive side effects with the new technique of ultrabrief pulse electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). An ongoing collaboration with Singapore General Hospital’s Dr Chan Herng Nieng involves Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS).

 

Behind the Collaboration
Consultant at the SGH Department of Psychiatry, Dr Chan Herng Nieng tells us about Prof Loo
 
What’s it like working with her?
I did my HMDP in the Black Dog Institute and joined her research team from 2011-2012. She was able to effectively guide me in formulating appropriate research questions and in fine-tuning my methodology.

Her contacts in the field of research have also opened many doors for collaborations, and it is a privilege to be able to work with a renowned researcher of such high international standing.

What about her work inspires you most?
Prof Loo’s passion in researching into novel treatments inspires me the most. She is dedicated to helping patients who do not respond to conventional treatment and this involves long hours and a lot of hard work, which she undertakes with great enthusiasm.

Setbacks are inevitable, yet she takes them in her stride and is able to motivate her team to achieve even greater heights. She is also very open to collaboration and mentoring, so that the field of neurostimulation can expand and ultimately benefits patients.


tDCS is a milder form of brain stimulation than ECT. Although less effective, it does not involve a hospital procedure with general anaesthetic. There is also no risk of memory loss.

In fact, recent studies including our research in Sydney  suggest that tDCS may restore brain plasticity (ability of brain to adapt), and a parallel stream of research in our group is examining the use of tDCS to enhance brain function. I am hopeful that it will be accepted as a clinical treatment for depression within a few years.

So far, formal trials of tDCS have mainly been conducted in western countries. Hence, I am very excited about the tDCS study in Singapore, as it is important that these novel treatments are also tested in wider population groups, including in Asia.

Dr Chan’s particular study also examines a new way of administering tDCS that we think may be more effective than the approaches used so far.

Hopefully this cutting edge study, a collaboration between Singapore and Sydney, will be the first of more collaborative mental health research between the two countries!

A thought leader in research on depression treatment, Professor Colleen Loo has a particular interest in researching novel physical treatments for depression. She is a psychiatrist and clinical academic based at the University of New South Wales and the Black Dog Institute in Sydney, Australia.

Volunteers interested to sign up for Singapore General Hospital’s tDCS study should have been diagnosed with clinical depression and be between 21 and 65 years old. Please call 6323-7501 or e-mail [email protected] for details.