Abstract
Background
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.
Conclusion
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.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 11, 2014
Accepted:
August 6,
2014
Received in revised form:
August 6,
2014
Received:
July 2,
2014
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
