Examining bi-anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex coupled with bilateral extracephalic references as a treatment for negative symptoms in non-acute schizophrenia patients: A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial

Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry
Chuan-Chia ChangHsin-An Chang

Abstract

No studies have examined the efficacy of bi-anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) coupled with bilateral extracephalic references in treating negative symptoms of non-acute schizophrenia patients. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of the new approach of tDCS on negative symptoms, other schizophrenia symptoms, cognitive deficits and psychosocial functioning in a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial. Patients with non-acute schizophrenia (N = 60) in randomized order received sham treatment or bilaterally provided tDCS (2 mA, twice-daily sessions for five consecutive days) with the anode over the DLPFC and the reference (cathode) over the ipsilateral forearm. The negative symptoms as measured by a dimensional approach of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were rapidly reduced by bimodal tDCS relative to sham stimulation (F = 24.86, Cohen's d = 0.661, p = 6.11 × 10-6). The beneficial effect on negative symptoms lasted for up to 3 months. The authors also observed improvement with tDCS of psychosocial functioning as measured by the global score of Personal and Social Performance scale (PSP) and psychopathological symptoms...Continue Reading

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