Journal
NEUROSCIENTIST
Volume 27, Issue 3, Pages 285-309Publisher
SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
DOI: 10.1177/1073858420936167
Keywords
transcranial direct current stimulation; tDCS; cognitive deficits; neuropsychiatric disorders; cognition; mood disorders; schizophrenia; dementia
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Funding
- Italian Ministry of Health [RC17-18-19/A]
- Italian Ministry of Health 5Xmille 2018-2019 Multidimensional study of timing abilities and sense of agency in schizophrenia and bipolar patients
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The efficacy of tDCS in neuropsychiatric disorders depends on the specific type of disorder, with positive effects on cognitive functions observed in patients with mood and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, while the effects in AD and MCI patients are still inconclusive. Future research should focus on developing standardized stimulation protocols to maximize therapeutic potential in clinical practice.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been implemented in neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by cognitive impairment. However, methodological heterogeneity challenges conclusive remarks. Through a critical analysis of previous conflicting findings and in the light of current neurobiological models of pathophysiology, we qualitatively assessed the effects of tDCS in neuropsychiatric disorders that share neurobiological underpinnings, as to evaluate whether stimulation can improve cognitive deficits in patients' cohorts. We performed a systematic review of tDCS studies targeting cognitive functions in mental disorders and pathological cognitive aging. Data from 41 studies, comprising patients with diagnosis of mood disorders, schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), were included. Results indicate that tDCS has the capacity to enhance processing speed, working memory, and executive functions in patients with mood and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. The evidence of a positive effect on general cognitive functioning and memory is either inconclusive in AD, or weak in MCI. Future directions are discussed for developing standardized stimulation protocols and for translating the technique therapeutic potential into effective clinical practice.
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