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Transcranial direct current stimulation for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: patient selection and perspectives
Renata de Melo Felipe da Silva1, Andre Russowsky Brunoni2, Eurípedes Constantino Miguel1
1Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders Program and Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation (SIN), Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) shows promise for treating Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). However, current evidence is limited, with most studies focusing on severe, treatment-resistant adult cases.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Neuromodulation
Background:
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a heterogeneous condition requiring diverse treatment approaches.
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique offering potential as an alternative OCD treatment due to its accessibility.
- Existing research suggests tDCS may be well-tolerated and effective, but robust evidence is currently lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review studies on tDCS for OCD.
- To evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients included in tDCS for OCD studies.
- To identify future research directions for tDCS in OCD treatment.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed/MedLine and Scielo from inception to March 2019.
- Keywords used were "tdcs" or "transcranial direct current stimulation" and "obsessive compulsive disorder".
- Twelve manuscripts were included out of 45 identified, with a focus on patient characteristics and study design.
Main Results:
- The majority of included studies were uncontrolled.
- Controlled studies that reported improvements in OCD symptoms had notable limitations.
- Patients in the reviewed studies were typically adults with severe, treatment-resistant OCD, often with comorbidities and on medication.
Conclusions:
- There is a need for more high-quality, controlled trials to establish the efficacy of tDCS for OCD.
- Future research should investigate tDCS in specific populations (adolescents, elderly, pregnant/breastfeeding) and for less severe or treatment-intolerant OCD cases.
- Exploring tDCS as a first-line treatment option warrants further investigation.
