tDCS for Social Media Addiction
Impact of Non-Invasive Neuromodulation on Social Media Addiction
Egas Moniz - Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL
60 participants
Mar 1, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive brain stimulation, can reduce "craving" and problematic levels of social media/internet use in university students. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does active tDCS reduce craving to use social media during the intervention period compared with sham stimulation and no stimulation? * Does active tDCS reduce internet/social media addiction severity (measured with the Internet Addiction Test, IAT) compared with sham stimulation and no stimulation, and are any effects still present at follow-up? Researchers will compare three groups-active tDCS, sham tDCS (a simulation where stimulation is stopped after the first seconds), and a control group (no stimulation)-to see whether changes are due to tDCS rather than placebo effects or time. Participants will: * Complete an initial screening and baseline questionnaires (a sociodemographic questionnaire and the IAT). * Be randomly assigned to one of three groups: active tDCS, sham tDCS, or control (no stimulation). * Complete the IAT again after the intervention and again about 5 weeks later (follow-up), along with questions about social media use habits. During intervention, participants in active tDCS and sham tDCS will: * Attend 10 sessions over 2 consecutive weeks (Monday-Friday), with each session lasting about 30 minutes; mobile phone use is not allowed during sessions. * Rate craving on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at the start and end of each session. This study will be conducted with university students in the Greater Lisbon area and will follow double-blind procedures for the active vs sham conditions (participants and researchers will not know the assigned condition until the end of the study).
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria3
- Age ≥18 years.
- Availability to participate in all study phases/sessions.
- IAT score ≥31 (moderate to severe level).
Exclusion Criteria5
- Diagnosis of depressive, anxiety, or bipolar disorders with recent symptoms; schizophrenia; psychotic disorders; or autism spectrum disorder.
- Recent psychotropic medication use or dose change within the last 3 months.
- Current need for inpatient care or ongoing psychotherapy.
- History of dizziness or seizures/convulsions.
- Contraindications to tDCS, including pregnancy, metallic implants, tumors, prior brain surgery, or significant anatomical brain alterations.
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Interventions
Active tDCS delivered in 10 consecutive sessions (Monday-Friday over 2 weeks), 30 minutes per session, in a supervised controlled environment. Electrode montage follows the International 10/20 system with the anode at F4 (right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) and the cathode at F3 (left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex).
Sham stimulation using the same device setup and schedule as active tDCS, but the stimulation is turned off after the first seconds to mimic the sensation while minimizing neuromodulatory effects. Sessions are supervised, with the same electrode positioning (anode F4; cathode F3).
Locations(1)
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NCT07410104