Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 13, 2025
08:53
Randomized, Triple-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cognitive Rehabilitation after Stroke
Published on: June 6, 2025
1.3K
Evidence-Based Guidelines and Secondary Meta-Analysis for the Use of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in
Felipe Fregni1, Mirret M El-Hagrassy1, Kevin Pacheco-Barrios1,2
1Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
|July 26, 2020
Summary
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) shows effectiveness for conditions like depression and pain. Further research is needed to determine the real clinical impact and duration of effects for various neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique.
- Clinical trials indicate promising results for tDCS across various conditions.
- There is a growing need for evidence-based reviews on tDCS efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review clinical trials on tDCS efficacy.
- To assess tDCS for pain, Parkinson's disease, stroke, epilepsy, depression, OCD, Tourette syndrome, schizophrenia, and addiction.
- To provide evidence-based recommendations on tDCS effectiveness.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
- Inclusion of clinical trials with more than one stimulation session.
- Categorization of efficacy into Levels A, B, C, or no recommendation.
- Risk of bias assessment for all included studies.
Main Results:
- tDCS is definitely effective (Level A) for depression.
- tDCS is probably effective (Level B) for neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, migraine, post-operative pain, Parkinson's disease (motor and cognition), stroke (motor), epilepsy, schizophrenia, and alcohol addiction.
- Most studies had a low risk of bias, and sensitivity analyses confirmed results.
- Effect sizes varied, with significant effects in approximately 8 conditions.
Conclusions:
- Current PubMed-indexed data support tDCS efficacy for several conditions.
- High levels of evidence exist for some indications.
- Effect sizes and duration of effects are often limited, necessitating further research with diverse study designs to ascertain clinical impact.
