Use Of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Research Articles

Novel Approaches for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review of Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Interventions and Insights from Clinical Trials.

First-line treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) encompass a wide range of pharmacotherapies and psychotherapies. However, many patients fail to respond to such interventions, highlighting the need for novel approaches. Due to its ability to modulate cortical activity, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) could represent a valuable therapeutic tool. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review is to summarize and discuss the existing evidence on the ameliorative effects of NIBS on PTSD and comorbid anxiety and depressive symptoms. Our goal is also to debate the effectiveness of an integrated approach characterized by the combination of NIBS and psychotherapy. This search was conducted following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in the PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, PSYINDEX, MEDLINE, and ERIC databases. Overall, 31 studies met the eligibility criteria, yielding a total of 26 clinical trials employing transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and 5 making use of transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS). From these studies, it emerged that NIBS consistently reduced overall PTSD symptoms' severity as well as comorbid anxiety and depressive symptoms. Moreover, we speculate that combining NIBS with prolonged exposure or cognitive processing therapy might represent a promising therapeutic approach for consistently ameliorating subjects' clinical conditions.

Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation May Improve Discourse Production in Healthy Older Adults.

Background: The use of transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) for therapeutic and neurorehabilitation purposes has become increasingly popular in recent years. Previous research has found that anodal tDCS may enhance naming ability and verbal fluency in healthy participants. However, the effect of tDCS on more functional, higher level language skills such as discourse production has yet to be understood.Aims: The present study aimed to investigate in healthy, older adults (a) the effect of anodal tDCS on discourse production vs. sham stimulation and (b) optimal electrode placement for tDCS to target language improvement at the discourse level.Methods: Fourteen healthy, older right-handed participants took part in this sham controlled, repeated measures pilot study. Each participant experienced three different experimental conditions; anodal tDCS on the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), anodal tDCS on the right IFG and sham stimulation while performing a story telling task. Significant changes in language performance before and after each condition were examined in three discourse production tasks: recount, procedural and narrative.Results: Left and right IFG conditions showed a greater number of significant within-group improvements (p < 0.05) in discourse production compared to sham with 6/12 for left IFG, 4/12 for right IFG and 2/12 for sham. There were no significant differences noted between tDCS conditions. No relationship was noted between language performance and physical activity, age, or gender.Conclusions: This study suggests that anodal tDCS may significantly improve discourse production in healthy, older adults. In line with previous tDCS language studies, the left IFG is highlighted as an optimal stimulation site for the modulation of language in healthy speakers. The findings support further exploration of tDCS as a rehabilitative tool for higher-level language skills in persons with aphasia.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Use in Warfighting: Benefits, Risks, and Future Prospects.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique which provides unique potential to directly improve human capability on a temporary, at needs, basis. The purpose of this paper is to consider the utility of tDCS through analysis of the potential risks and benefits in the context of defence service personnel. First, we look at the potential benefits, focusing primarily on warfighter survivability and enriching cognition quality in support of command and control. Second, we look at the potential detriments to tDCS military use, focusing on adverse effects, safety considerations, and risk. Third, we examine how the level of risk can be mitigated through military doctrine development focusing on safety parameters and exclusion criteria. Finally, we explore the future prospects of military tDCS use, particularly in terms of addressing gaps in the literature so that tDCS can be used ethically and efficaciously at the level of individual personnel.

Neuromodulation Is Gaining Momentum

This issue of Psychiatric Annals, guest edited by Dr. Khurshid A. Khurshid, focuses on which neuromodulation models can be used effectively to treat an array of mental disorders. As defined in this issue, the techniques used to administer some of the newer neuromodulation treatments are less invasive, which may increase patient satisfaction and remission. The first article, “Overview of the Current Use of Deep Brain Stimulation in Psychiatric Disorders,” by Drs. Daniel P. Witter and Herbert E. Ward reviews the history of deep brain stimulation, which started as a treatment for refractory mood disorders. The second article, “Update on Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression and Other Neuropsychiatric Illnesses,” by Drs. Jonathan E. Becker, Christopher Maley, Elizabeth Shultz, and Warren D. Taylor overviews transcranial magnetic stimulation and its use in clinical practice for the treatment of depression and other disorders. Next, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is discussed by Sarah M. Szymkowicz, Molly E. McLaren, and Drs. Uma Suryadevara and Adam J. Woods in the article “Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Use in the Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Disorders: A Brief Review.” The authors review the efficacy of tDCS in depression, while proposing that more in-depth studies are warranted to understand the benefits of this treatment model, as well as other neuromodulation techniques that seek to alleviate the symptoms of psychiatric disorders. The final article, “Charting the Course of Electroconvulsive Therapy: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Headed?,” by Drs. Peter B. Rosenquist, W. Vaughn McCall, and Nagy Youssef details electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and what methods are used to select patients who are a best fit for this treatment modality. A recent finding suggests that the medication pramipexole may be an alternative when ECT fails for patients with treatment-refractory depression.1 Although neuromodulation systems are emerging in the psychiatry field, there’s still lots of work necessary to balance medication-based therapies with psychotherapeutic methods; the long-term goal is the implementation of more effective holistic treatment modalities for all patients regardless of their disorder.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Use in the Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Disorders: A Brief Review.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that has grown in popularity over the past two decades as an alternative treatment option for various neuropsychiatric disorders. tDCS modulates cortical excitability through the application of a weak direct current to the scalp via electrodes placed over cortical regions of interest. It has been shown to be a promising and relatively safe treatment tool with few adverse events. In this article, we will briefly review the efficacy of tDCS in depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. We will also discuss biomarkers of tDCS efficacy in depression, as it is the most studied neuropsychiatric disorder using tDCS application. We will then offer suggestions for future directions. Although efficacy results show promise, more studies with larger samples and longer treatment periods are needed to better understand the benefits of using tDCS as an alternative treatment option for neuropsychiatric disorders.

Feasibility of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Use in Children Aged 5 to 12 Years

Transcranial direct current stimulation is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that has been studied for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders in adults, with minimal side effects. The objective of this study is to report the feasibility, tolerability, and the short-term adverse effects of transcranial direct current stimulation in children from 5 to 12 years of age. It is a naturalistic study of 14 children who underwent 10 sessions of transcranial direct current stimulation as an alternative, off-label, and open-label treatment for various languages disorders. Frequency, intensity, adverse effects, and perception of improvement reported by parents were collected. The main side effects detected were tingling (28.6%) and itching (28.6%), acute mood changes (42.9%), and irritability (35.7%). Transcranial direct current stimulation is a feasible and tolerable technique in children, although studies regarding plastic and cognitive changes in children are needed to confirm its safety. In conclusion, this is a naturalistic report in which we considered transcranial direct current stimulation as feasible in children.