Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe and frequent neuropsychiatric disorder. Despite antipsychotic medications, up to 30% of patients with schizophrenia still report disabling treatment-resistant symptoms. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been proposed as a novel method to alleviate such symptoms. Here, we review studies investigating the effects of tDCS on symptoms, cognition, brain activity and cortical plasticity in patients with schizophrenia. We provide an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the use of tDCS in patients with schizophrenia. More specifically, we first present the effects of tDCS on treatment-resistant symptoms of schizophrenia. We report that tDCS applied over the frontotemporal regions reduced auditory hallucinations, with a mean 34% reduction of symptoms. Moreover, tDCS applied over both prefrontal cortices reduced negative symptoms and catatonia. We discuss the need for further sham-controlled studies to confirm these effects. Second, we present the impact of tDCS on cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia. Positive effects of tDCS have been reported on learning, working memory, attention and source-monitoring. Third, we review the effects of tDCS on brain activity in patients with schizophrenia. Although only few studies investigated the effects of tDCS using neuroimaging technics, these studies are helpful at identifying the mechanisms of action of tDCS in schizophrenia. Fourth, we present tDCS studies on cortical plasticity showing reduced cortical plasticity in patients with schizophrenia that tDCS may beneficially modulate. Lastly, we discuss the safety aspects of tDCS in patients with schizophrenia and potential directions to improve efficacy for this clinical populations.
Keywords: Auditory hallucinations, cognition, negative symptoms, schizophrenia, tDCS, transcranial direct current stimulation.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for the Treatment of Refractory Symptoms of Schizophrenia. Current Evidence and Future Directions
Volume: 21 Issue: 23
Author(s): Marine Mondino, Jerome Brunelin, Ulrich Palm, Andre R. Brunoni, Emmanuel Poulet and Shirley Fecteau
Affiliation:
Keywords: Auditory hallucinations, cognition, negative symptoms, schizophrenia, tDCS, transcranial direct current stimulation.
Abstract: Schizophrenia is a severe and frequent neuropsychiatric disorder. Despite antipsychotic medications, up to 30% of patients with schizophrenia still report disabling treatment-resistant symptoms. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been proposed as a novel method to alleviate such symptoms. Here, we review studies investigating the effects of tDCS on symptoms, cognition, brain activity and cortical plasticity in patients with schizophrenia. We provide an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the use of tDCS in patients with schizophrenia. More specifically, we first present the effects of tDCS on treatment-resistant symptoms of schizophrenia. We report that tDCS applied over the frontotemporal regions reduced auditory hallucinations, with a mean 34% reduction of symptoms. Moreover, tDCS applied over both prefrontal cortices reduced negative symptoms and catatonia. We discuss the need for further sham-controlled studies to confirm these effects. Second, we present the impact of tDCS on cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia. Positive effects of tDCS have been reported on learning, working memory, attention and source-monitoring. Third, we review the effects of tDCS on brain activity in patients with schizophrenia. Although only few studies investigated the effects of tDCS using neuroimaging technics, these studies are helpful at identifying the mechanisms of action of tDCS in schizophrenia. Fourth, we present tDCS studies on cortical plasticity showing reduced cortical plasticity in patients with schizophrenia that tDCS may beneficially modulate. Lastly, we discuss the safety aspects of tDCS in patients with schizophrenia and potential directions to improve efficacy for this clinical populations.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Mondino Marine, Brunelin Jerome, Palm Ulrich, Brunoni R. Andre, Poulet Emmanuel and Fecteau Shirley, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for the Treatment of Refractory Symptoms of Schizophrenia. Current Evidence and Future Directions, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2015; 21 (23) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612821666150619093648
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612821666150619093648 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Editorial (Thematic Issue: Old Facts and New Perspectives to Face Alzheimer’s Dementia. Focus on Non Neuronal Participants to Neurodegeneration)
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Neurotensin NTS1-Dopamine D2 Receptor-Receptor Interactions in Putative Receptor Heteromers: Relevance for Parkinson`s Disease and Schizophrenia
Current Protein & Peptide Science Genetic Factors in Parkinsons Disease and Potential Therapeutic Targets
Current Neuropharmacology The Flavin-Containing Monoooxygenases (FMOs): Genetic Variation and its Consequences for the Metabolism of Therapeutic Drugs
Current Pharmacogenomics Polypeptide and Protein Aggregates with Neurotoxic Properties in Neurodegenerative Disorders: Emphasis on β-Amyloid-Induced Dysfunction of Receptor-Mediated Signal Transduction Pathways
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Application of NSAIDs and Derived Compounds in Alzheimers Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Parkinson's Disease: A Role for the Immune System
Current Molecular Pharmacology The-N-End Rule: The Beginning Determines the End
Protein & Peptide Letters Tau as a Therapeutic Target for Alzheimers Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Therapeutic Approaches for Lysosomal Storage Diseases: A Patent Update
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Tyrosine Kinases as New Molecular Targets in Treatment of Inflammatory Disorders and Leukemia
Current Pharmaceutical Design C. elegans as a Genetic Model System to Identify Parkinson's Disease- Associated Therapeutic Targets
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Neurotoxic and Neuroactive Compounds from Cnidaria: Five Decades of Research….and More
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Endothelium and Oxidative Stress: The Pandora's Box of Cerebral (and Non-Only) Small Vessel Disease?
Current Molecular Medicine Tetracyclines: Drugs with Huge Therapeutic Potential
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Prion Proteins Leading to Neurodegeneration
Current Alzheimer Research Improving the Hsp90 Inhibitors Containing 4-(2,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-1,2,3-thiadiazole Scaffold: Synthesis, Affinity and Effect on Cancer Cells
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Nanoneuromedicines for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology-Asia Virulence on the Fly: Drosophila melanogaster as a Model Genetic Organism to Decipher Host-Pathogen Interactions
Current Drug Targets Autophagy to the Rescue
Current Neurovascular Research