Transcranial direct current stimulation targeting dmPFC ameliorates somatic symptoms in depression: A randomized...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Somatic symptoms are common in depression, linked to treatment resistance and poor outcomes.
• Current treatments like antidepressants and psychotherapy offer limited efficacy for somatic symptoms.
• Effective and acceptable therapies for somatic symptoms in depression are urgently needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy and safety of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) in depressed patients experiencing somatic symptoms.

Main Methods:

• A 2-week randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial of tDCS over the dmPFC was conducted.
• Clinical symptoms were assessed at baseline, post-treatment, and at 6-week follow-up.
• Individualized finite element models were used to correlate electric fields in the dmPFC and amygdala with symptom changes.

Main Results:

• The active tDCS group showed greater improvement in somatic symptoms compared to the sham group post-treatment.
• A higher responder ratio was observed in the active group during follow-up.
• A positive correlation was found between the right amygdala's electric field and somatic symptom improvement in the active group.

Conclusions:

• tDCS targeting the dmPFC is an effective and acceptable complementary therapy for depression with somatic symptoms.
• The electric field in the right amygdala is associated with the alleviation of somatic symptoms after tDCS treatment.