Role of tDCS in Schizophrenia Management

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique with potential clinical utility in schizophrenia as an add-on treatment option. This review focuses on factors concerning stimulation parameters- and summarizes the findings from the recent clinical studies employing tDCS to address and target symptoms of schizophrenia.

Some of the most common symptoms of target using tDCS are auditory hallucinations, negative symptoms, and cognitive deficits. Various newer protocols with different numbers of sessions and inter-session periods have been used to target auditory verbal hallucinations. Different electrode placements targeting the frontal brain region have shown promise to alleviate negative symptoms, along with the utility of high-definition tDCS. Several studies have evaluated various protocols targeting cognitive symptoms, and some have been shown to improve working memory. All the protocols of tDCS are well tolerated and safe.

tDCS continues to show promise in alleviating several symptoms of schizophrenia. The utility of various stimulation parameters and treatment protocols requires further research to establish tDCS as a reliable and safe treatment option for schizophrenia.