The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on sleep quality, resilience, and optimism

Poor sleep quality is prevalent among people all across the world. Different methods have been developed to help clinicians improve sleep quality. Good sleep quality is associated with positive factors, such as resilience and optimism. In this regard, this study aimed to determine the transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) effect on sleep quality, resilience, and optimism. This semi-experimental study was conducted using a pre- and post-test design with a control group in November and December 2019. The study sample consisted of 20 students with poor sleep quality from Semnan University (Semnan City, Iran), ranging from an associate degree to a doctorate. They were randomly divided into experimental and control groups (2 groups of 10 subjects). This study used tDCS for interventions, as well as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Life Orientation Test (LOT), and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) to assess research variables in a pre and post-test design. The experimental group received 10 sessions of therapeutic intervention, while the control group only received a sham wave. After analyzing data by multivariate and univariate analyses of covariance, the results demonstrated that tDCS interventions significantly affected resilience and sleep quality. However, there was no significant effect of tDCS on optimism. Our findings suggested that tDCS may be an effective way to improve sleep quality and resilience, and it could be used as a therapeutic method.

Automated summary

Poor sleep quality is a global issue, and this study aimed to explore the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on sleep quality, resilience, and optimism. The results showed that tDCS interventions significantly improved resilience and sleep quality, but had no significant effect on optimism.