Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder in the HIV Population: A Safe, Effective Noninvasive Promising Treatment as Compared to Conventional Antidepressant Therapy

Abstract

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in the HIV-positive population. For long periods of time, MDD has been treated with conventional antidepressant therapy in these patients. Novel Antidepressant Therapy for Major Depression in HIV-infected adults is associated with various side effects such as sleep disturbance, nervousness, insomnia, weight loss, and sexual dysfunction that could lead to non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy. To uphold compliance and prevent patients from serious adverse effects of antidepressant therapy; emerging noninvasive innovative transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) could serve as a better alternative. tDCS has shown promising results; it is an effective, safe therapeutic strategy with an immediate onset of action as compared to conventional SSRI therapy. The application of tDCS is an easy one and the device for conducting this treatment modality is highly portable. Along with its convenient application, subjects who have been treated with tDCS in study settings, found it tolerable with minimum discomfort and without developing chronic and profound adverse effects. The role of transcranial direct current stimulation therapy is not limited to addressing solely the depressive component in the MDD population; however, it could be critical in assisting these patients by combating their co-morbidities of alcoholism and substance abuse by decreasing their cravings. Furthermore, tDCS has proven itself in improving the cognition in this patient population. This paper will further review this innovative treatment option and will also suggest tDCS to be studied in larger clinical trials as it could serve a huge role in developing better understanding of patient experiences regarding its tolerability, safety, and efficacy. Similarly, it will also provide important evidence to clinicians for the development of better practices in this area.