Authors: Luxin Xie; Peina Hu; Zhenglong Guo; Miao Chen; Xiao Wang; Xinzhe Du; Yue Li; Bo Chen; Jihui Zhang; Wentao Zhao; Sha Liu · Research
Can Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Help Treat Anxiety and Related Disorders?
A review of studies on using transcranial direct current stimulation to treat anxiety, OCD, and PTSD finds promising short-term and long-term benefits.
Source: Xie, L., Hu, P., Guo, Z., Chen, M., Wang, X., Du, X., Li, Y., Chen, B., Zhang, J., Zhao, W., & Liu, S. (2024). Immediate and long-term efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tCDS) in obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Translational Psychiatry, 14, 343. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-024-03053-0
What you need to know
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) shows promise for treating anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD
- tDCS can improve symptoms immediately and effects may last up to one month
- More research is needed on optimal treatment protocols and long-term efficacy
What is transcranial direct current stimulation?
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a form of non-invasive brain stimulation. It involves applying a weak electrical current to specific areas of the brain using electrodes placed on the scalp. This can alter brain activity in those regions. tDCS is being studied as a potential treatment for various mental health conditions.
How well does tDCS work for anxiety and related disorders?
Researchers analyzed data from 15 studies looking at tDCS for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorders. Overall, they found tDCS showed benefits in reducing symptoms.
Specifically, tDCS appeared to:
- Improve disorder-specific symptoms with a large effect size
- Reduce general anxiety symptoms with a large effect size
- Alleviate depression symptoms in these disorders
Importantly, the positive effects of tDCS lasted up to one month after treatment in many cases.
Which disorders showed the most improvement?
The analysis found tDCS was most effective for:
- Social anxiety disorder - large improvements in symptoms
- Generalized anxiety disorder - moderate improvements
- OCD - moderate improvements in OCD-specific and general anxiety symptoms
Results were less clear for PTSD and panic disorder, likely due to having fewer studies on these conditions.
How does tDCS compare to other treatments?
This analysis did not directly compare tDCS to medications or therapy. However, the researchers note that about 30% of patients with these disorders do not respond well to standard treatments. tDCS could potentially offer an alternative option for those who have not found relief from other approaches.
Are there any side effects?
The studies reviewed did not report any serious side effects from tDCS. It is generally considered a safe procedure when done properly. Common mild side effects can include itching or tingling at the electrode sites.
What are the limitations of the research?
Some key limitations to keep in mind:
- There were relatively few studies for some of the disorders analyzed
- The studies used varying protocols for applying tDCS
- More research is needed on the optimal number of sessions, electrode placement, etc.
- Longer-term follow-up is needed to assess how long effects last
Conclusions
- tDCS shows promise as a treatment option for anxiety disorders, OCD, and possibly PTSD
- It can provide both immediate symptom relief and benefits lasting up to a month
- More research is still needed, especially on optimizing treatment protocols
- tDCS may be worth discussing with a doctor for those who have not responded to other treatments
While more study is needed, this analysis suggests tDCS could become a useful tool for treating anxiety and related disorders in the future. Patients interested in tDCS should talk to their mental health provider about whether it may be an appropriate option to consider as part of their overall treatment plan.