Noninvasive brain stimulation in psychiatric disorders: a primer

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Neuromodulation

Background:

• Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques, including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), are gaining traction for treating mental health conditions, especially major depressive disorder.
• These methods offer potential alternatives or adjuncts to traditional therapies, prompting a need for comprehensive evaluation of their current status.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the latest advancements, challenges, and future directions in the application of NIBS for psychiatric disorders.
• To synthesize evidence regarding the mechanisms, safety, tolerability, and efficacy of tDCS and rTMS.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across major databases, including PubMed, up to July 2017.
• The review focused on articles, particularly systematic reviews and meta-analyses, assessing NIBS efficacy in psychiatric populations.

Main Results:

• Repetitive TMS is an established depression treatment with potential for refinement; tDCS is simpler for broader application but has less robust evidence for antidepressant effects, with one study showing it inferior to pharmacotherapy.
• Clinical trial results for rTMS in other mental disorders are mixed, and tDCS efficacy remains less appraised.
• NIBS techniques demonstrate high safety and tolerability profiles.

Conclusions:

• Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has yielded the most promising outcomes in treating depression.
• While safe and well-tolerated, the efficacy of NIBS techniques requires further enhancement for optimal clinical impact.