Safety and efficacy of adjunctive transcranial direct current stimulation in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder: An open-label trial

Indian Journal of Psychiatry
Satish KumarRohit Verma

Abstract

The current pharmacological and psychotherapeutic approaches have limited benefit in symptom management of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) urging clinicians and researchers to seek newer avenues of management. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has shown promise in this aspect from a neuromodulatory perspective. The current study aims to study the response to tDCS as an adjunctive treatment in patients with treatment-resistant OCD. This open-label study was conducted among 20 patients with treatment-resistant OCD. All participants received 20 sessions of tDCS with the cathode at the supplementary motor area (SMA) and the anode at right occipital area. The primary outcome measure was the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and the secondary outcome was evaluated on the clinical global impression (CGI) and side effect checklist for tDCS. There was a significant improvement from baseline in the mean scores of Y-BOCS and CGI scales after tDCS intervention. An improvement of >35% Y-BOCS score change was observed in 15% of participants. Short-lasting side effects were reported as mild headache and localized tingling sensation. Cathodal tDCS at SMA may be a useful approach to manage treatment-resistant OCD. ...Continue Reading

Citations

Jan 17, 2021·Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology·Renata de Melo Felipe da SilvaRoseli Gedanke Shavitt

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SMA

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Statistical Package for the Social Sciences ( SPSS )

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