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IJPCP 2025, 31(1): 0-0 |
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Jalili Khiavi P, Rasouli A, Ghafari F, Shabani M, Saed O. Effects of tDCS on Positive, Negative, and Depressive Symptoms in Schizophrenic Patients With Predominant Negative Symptoms: A Sham-controlled Clinical Trial. IJPCP 2025; 31 (1)
URL: http://ijpcp.iums.ac.ir/article-1-4474-en.html
URL: http://ijpcp.iums.ac.ir/article-1-4474-en.html
1- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
2- Department of Clinical Psychology, Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3- Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
4- Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran. ,o.saed@zums.ac.ir
2- Department of Clinical Psychology, Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3- Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
4- Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran. ,
Abstract: (83 Views)
Objectives Negative symptoms of schizophrenia respond poorly to conventional pharmacological treatments despite their profound impact on functioning and quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in improving positive, negative, and depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia exhibiting predominant negative symptoms.
Methods In this double-blind, sham-controlled randomized clinical trial, 40 patients (aged 18-65) with schizophrenia and predominant negative symptoms were randomly assigned to active tDCS (n=20) or sham (n=20) groups. The active group received 15 daily sessions of tDCS (2mA, 20 min) with the anode over left DLPFC (F3) and cathode over right orbitofrontal region (Fp3). Assessments using the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), scale for the assessment of negative symptoms (SANS), and the calgary depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up.
Results The active tDCS group showed significant reductions in positive (F=6.59, P=0.004, η²=0.207), negative (F=5.22, P=0.028, η²=0.124), and depressive symptoms (F=17.71, P<0.001, η²=0.324) at post-intervention compared to sham. Effects for positive (F=7.85, P=0.008, η²=0.175) and negative symptoms (F=16.80, P<0.001, η²=0.312) persisted at one-month follow-up, but no significant difference in depression was observed (F=0.15, P=0.700, η²=0.004).
Conclusion The tDCS is an effective method for improving positive, and negative, and depressive symptoms in schizophrenia patients with predominant negative symptoms. The therapeutic effects on positive and negative symptoms persisted for one month, suggesting that tDCS has potential as an adjunctive treatment along with antipsychotic medications.
Methods In this double-blind, sham-controlled randomized clinical trial, 40 patients (aged 18-65) with schizophrenia and predominant negative symptoms were randomly assigned to active tDCS (n=20) or sham (n=20) groups. The active group received 15 daily sessions of tDCS (2mA, 20 min) with the anode over left DLPFC (F3) and cathode over right orbitofrontal region (Fp3). Assessments using the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), scale for the assessment of negative symptoms (SANS), and the calgary depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up.
Results The active tDCS group showed significant reductions in positive (F=6.59, P=0.004, η²=0.207), negative (F=5.22, P=0.028, η²=0.124), and depressive symptoms (F=17.71, P<0.001, η²=0.324) at post-intervention compared to sham. Effects for positive (F=7.85, P=0.008, η²=0.175) and negative symptoms (F=16.80, P<0.001, η²=0.312) persisted at one-month follow-up, but no significant difference in depression was observed (F=0.15, P=0.700, η²=0.004).
Conclusion The tDCS is an effective method for improving positive, and negative, and depressive symptoms in schizophrenia patients with predominant negative symptoms. The therapeutic effects on positive and negative symptoms persisted for one month, suggesting that tDCS has potential as an adjunctive treatment along with antipsychotic medications.
Keywords: Schizophrenia, Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), Depression
Type of Study: Original Research |
Subject:
Psychiatry and Psychology
Received: 2025/03/18 | Accepted: 2025/10/2 | Published: 2025/10/28
Received: 2025/03/18 | Accepted: 2025/10/2 | Published: 2025/10/28
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