TY - JOUR
T1 - A negative pilot study of daily bimodal transcranial direct current stimulation in schizophrenia
AU - Fitzgerald, Paul Bernard
AU - McQueen, Susan Ann
AU - Daskalakis, Zafiris Jeff
AU - Hoy, Kate Elizabeth
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - A small number of studies conducted to date have suggested that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the temporoparietal cortex may reduce auditory hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia. Prefrontal brain stimulation with other methods, has also been shown to potentially improve the negative symptoms of this disorder.
Objective To investigate the therapeutic potential of daily bimodal tDCS: anodal stimulation to the prefrontal cortex and cathodal stimulation to the temporoparietal junction in patients with persistent hallucinations and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Methods We conducted two small randomized double-blind controlled trials comparing bimodal tDCS to sham stimulation. In one study, stimulation was provided unilaterally, in the second study it was provided bilaterally.
Results Neither unilateral nor bilateral tDCS resulted in a substantial change in either hallucinations or negative symptoms. Stimulation was well tolerated without side-effects.
Conclusions Daily tDCS does not appear to have substantial potential in the treatment of hallucinations or negative symptoms and further research should investigate higher doses of stimulation or more frequently applied treatment schedules.
AB - A small number of studies conducted to date have suggested that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the temporoparietal cortex may reduce auditory hallucinations in patients with schizophrenia. Prefrontal brain stimulation with other methods, has also been shown to potentially improve the negative symptoms of this disorder.
Objective To investigate the therapeutic potential of daily bimodal tDCS: anodal stimulation to the prefrontal cortex and cathodal stimulation to the temporoparietal junction in patients with persistent hallucinations and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Methods We conducted two small randomized double-blind controlled trials comparing bimodal tDCS to sham stimulation. In one study, stimulation was provided unilaterally, in the second study it was provided bilaterally.
Results Neither unilateral nor bilateral tDCS resulted in a substantial change in either hallucinations or negative symptoms. Stimulation was well tolerated without side-effects.
Conclusions Daily tDCS does not appear to have substantial potential in the treatment of hallucinations or negative symptoms and further research should investigate higher doses of stimulation or more frequently applied treatment schedules.
UR - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1935861X14002770
U2 - 10.1016/j.brs.2014.08.002
DO - 10.1016/j.brs.2014.08.002
M3 - Article
SN - 1935-861X
VL - 7
SP - 813
EP - 816
JO - Brain Stimulation
JF - Brain Stimulation
IS - 6
ER -