tDCS for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Impact on Worry, Anxiety, and Depression

Author Names

• Fariba Sadeghi Movahed, Jaber Alizadeh Goradel, Asghar Pouresmali and Mehri Mowlaie

Published Date: June 2018

Journal Name: Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

This randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in treating worry, anxiety, and depression in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Eighteen patients were randomly assigned to either the tDCS group, pharmacotherapy group, or a sham condition. The study found that both tDCS and pharmacotherapy effectively reduced worry, anxiety, and depression, but tDCS showed a more significant impact on reducing depressive symptoms.

Key Concepts

• Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS): A non-invasive brain stimulation technique that uses low-intensity electrical currents to modulate neuronal activity, potentially reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): A chronic mental health condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as sleep disturbances and muscle tension.

• DASS-21: The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 was used to measure the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in the study participants.

• Literature Review: Previous research has shown tDCS to be effective in reducing symptoms of various mental health disorders, but its specific impact on GAD has been less studied. This trial seeks to fill that gap by comparing tDCS with pharmacotherapy.

Procedure Highlights - Research Methodology

1. Study Design: A quasi-experimental, single-blind, randomized clinical trial with a sham-controlled group.

2. Participants: 18 patients with GAD, diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria, were randomly assigned to tDCS, pharmacotherapy, or sham conditions.

3. tDCS Intervention: The tDCS group received 10 sessions of 2 mA stimulation for 20 minutes each, targeting the contralateral deltoid and right prefrontal cortex (F4). The pharmacotherapy group received standard treatment with anti-anxiety medications, and the sham group received placebo stimulation.

4. Outcome Measures: Symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), and Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) at pre-test, post-test, and a 2-month follow-up.

Results - Findings of the Research

• Worry Reduction: Both tDCS and pharmacotherapy significantly reduced worry symptoms, but pharmacotherapy was slightly more effective in the treatment of worry compared to tDCS and sham conditions.

• Anxiety Reduction: Anxiety symptoms were reduced by both tDCS and pharmacotherapy, with no significant difference between the two methods.

• Depression Reduction: tDCS was more effective than pharmacotherapy and sham conditions in reducing depressive symptoms. The tDCS group showed a significant reduction in depression scores post-treatment and at follow-up.

Discussion and Conclusion of the Research

The study concludes that tDCS is a promising treatment for GAD, particularly in reducing depressive symptoms. While pharmacotherapy was slightly more effective in reducing worry, tDCS showed a comparable impact on anxiety and a superior effect on depression. The findings suggest that tDCS could be a valuable non-invasive treatment option for patients with GAD, especially those resistant to or unwilling to take pharmacotherapy. Further research with larger sample sizes is recommended to confirm these findings.

Link to the Original Paper

Effectiveness of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Worry, Anxiety, and Depression in Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized, Single-Blind Pharmacotherapy and Sham-Controlled Clinical Trial

Author Information

• Fariba Sadeghi Movahed: Department of Psychiatry, Ardabil University of Medical Science, Ardabil, Iran

• Jaber Alizadeh Goradel: University of Shahid Beheshti, Tehran, Iran

• Asghar Pouresmali: Young Researchers and Elite Club, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran

• Mehri Mowlaie: Young Researchers and Elite Club, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran

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