Transcranial direct current stimulation in patients with depression: An electric field modeling meta-analysis
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The Academy of Brain Stimulation
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has shown potential in modulating cortical activity and treating depression.
Despite its promise, variability in electrode montage configurations and electric field strength across studies has resulted in inconsistent outcomes.
Traditional meta-analytic methods assessing the effect of tDCS in depression typically do not compare tDCS montage and the anatomical distribution of electric field, which is a major source of inter-experimental variability.
It is hypothesized that considering these parameters and anatomical variability in a meta-analysis might unravel brain regions associated with tDCS response in patients with depression.
The clinical outcome (effect size) is correlated with electric field intensities across 8 diverse head models, with data analyzed from 29 studies involving 1,766 patients between 2000 and 2023.
A significant effect of tDCS on depression was found, with a Hedge's g of 0.66 (95% CI: 0.565 to 0.767).
Although studies aimed to target the L-DLPFC, particularly Brodmann area (BA) 46, based on the Frontal Brain Asymmetry theory, the findings show that all the montages do not selectively target the L-DLPFC as intended.
Instead, the findings indicated that the electric field impact was dispersing broadly across the frontal lobes and exhibiting significant heterogeneity.
A correlation was found between electric field strength and clinical outcomes in BA 10, BA 11, and the anterior part of BA 46, despite tDCS montage heterogeneity and individual variability, suggesting that targeting frontopolar prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortices could be ideal for tDCS in treating depression.
This meta-analysis underscores brain regions associated with tDCS response and highlights the need for simulation-guided, personalized trials that consider individual anatomical differences.
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Read the full publication here.
Yachou Y, Bouaziz N, Makdah G, Senova YS, Januel D, Pelissolo A, Mallet L, Leboyer M, Houenou J, Opitz A, Wischnewski M, Laidi C. Transcranial direct current stimulation in patients with depression: An electric field modeling meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2025 Jan 6;374:540-552.
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Psychopathologist, Biofeedback Consultant and iTherapist. iTherapy emphasises an integrated neuro visceral approach to bodily dysfunction, optimal performance and heart brain coherence
1 周The Psychopathological basis for depression still remains allusive I believe ?. Even so the treatments for it still get rolled out. It does make me wonder, what part of the depressed feeling / experience is actually being treated in view of this? Notwithstanding this, the new technological led treatments, of which I am a strong advocate, do indeed in my view, add to the slow but certain departure of the seretonin hypothesis…one way or another. That’s certainly my view.