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Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS in Mice
Published on: September 23, 2018
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS): A Promising Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder?
Djamila Bennabi1, Emmanuel Haffen2
1Department of Clinical Psychiatry, CIC-1431 INSERM, CHU de Besançon, EA Neurosciences, University Bourgogne Franche-Comte, FondaMental Foundation, 94000 Creteil, France. djamila.bennabi@univ-fcomte.fr.
Abstract:
Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) opens new perspectives in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), because of its ability to modulate cortical excitability and induce long-lasting effects. The aim of this review is to summarize the current status of knowledge regarding tDCS application in MDD. Methods: In this review, we searched for articles published in PubMed/MEDLINE from the earliest available date to February 2018 that explored clinical and cognitive effects of tDCS in MDD. Results: Despite differences in design and stimulation parameters, the examined studies indicated beneficial effects of tDCS for MDD. These preliminary results, the non-invasiveness of tDCS, and its good tolerability support the need for further research on this technique. Conclusions: tDCS constitutes a promising therapeutic alternative for patients with MDD, but its place in the therapeutic armamentarium remains to be determined.
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