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Home-Based Individualized Alpha Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation Improves Symptoms of
M Prabhavi N Perera1,2,3, Neil W Bailey1,2,3, Oscar W Murphy1,4
1Central Clinical School, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
Depression and Anxiety
|April 14, 2025
Summary
Individualized transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) effectively reduced obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms in a pilot study. This home-based treatment targeting the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) showed significant improvements over a 6-week period.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) presents significant challenges with conventional treatments.
- Noninvasive brain stimulation, specifically transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), offers a potential avenue for modulating neural circuitry in OCD.
- Individualized tACS protocols may enhance treatment efficacy for treatment-resistant conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of individualized alpha-tACS targeting the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in reducing OCD symptom severity.
- To assess the safety and tolerability of a 6-week, home-based tACS treatment protocol.
- To evaluate the durability of treatment effects at a 3-month follow-up.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled pilot trial was conducted with 25 OCD patients.
- Participants self-administered tACS at home for 6 weeks, targeting the mPFC at their individualized peak alpha frequency.
- OCD severity was measured using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS), with statistical analysis using a linear mixed model.
Main Results:
- A significant time-condition interaction (p < 0.0001) demonstrated that active alpha-tACS was superior to sham in improving YBOCS scores from baseline to 6 weeks.
- A trend towards sustained improvement was observed at the 3-month follow-up.
- Significant improvements in depressive symptoms were also noted from baseline to follow-up.
Conclusions:
- A 6-week course of individualized alpha-tACS targeting the mPFC can effectively improve OCD symptoms.
- Home-based, self-administered tACS shows promise as a viable treatment option for OCD.
- Further large-scale trials are warranted to confirm tACS as a definitive therapy for OCD.
