Estimated mean 17-item HDRS rating scores from baseline to week 10 in the modified ITT analysis sample ( n = 173) for the active and sham tDCS treatment arms. The error bars represent 1 s.e. The HDRS scores range from 0 to 52, with higher values indicating more severe depressive symptoms. A significant improvement was observed in the change in HDRS ratings from baseline to week 10 in the active tDCS treatment arm, that is, an HDRS decrease of 9.41 6.25 (s.d.) (mean HDRS at week 10 = 9.58 0.70 (s.e.)), compared to the sham tDCS treatment arm (HDRS decrease = 7.14 6.10 (s.d.)) (mean HDRS at week 10 = 11.66 0.69 (s.e.)) (95% CI = 0.54.0, P = 0.012). The difference in change scores was also significant at week 4 (95% CI = 0.23.4, P = 0.03), with a greater score decrease in the active treatment arm. A fully conditional specification (FCS) approach was used to produce 20 multiply imputed complete datasets. The FCS approach accommodates nonmonotonicity in the pattern of missing data and requires regression models to be specified for each variable, with missing values needing imputation. All models included age, sex, undergoing psychotherapy at baseline, use of any antidepressants at baseline and treatment group. The resulting complete datasets were combined using Rubin’s rules. * P < 0.05.
