Psychiatry Investig.  2019 Mar;16(3):244-248. 10.30773/pi.2018.11.18.

Effect of tDCS on Aberrant Functional Network Connectivity in Refractory Hallucinatory Schizophrenia: A Pilot Study

• Yoon YB
• Kim M
• Lee J
• Cho KI
• Kwak S
• Lee TY
• Kwon JS

• KMID: 2447264
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2018.11.18

Abstract

We aim to investigate the effect of fronto-temporal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the interactions among functional networks and its association with psychotic symptoms. In this pilot study, we will determine possible candidate functional networks and an adequate sample size for future research. Seven schizophrenia patients with treatment-refractory auditory hallucinations underwent tDCS twice daily for 5 days. Resting-state fMRI data and measures of the severity of psychotic symptoms were acquired at baseline and after completion of the tDCS sessions. At baseline, decreased functional network interaction was negatively correlated with increased hallucinatory behavior. After tDCS, the previously reduced functional network connectivity significantly increased. Our results showed that fronto-temporal tDCS could possibly remediate aberrant hallucination-related functional network interactions in patients with schizophrenia.

Keyword

Neuroimaging; Schizophrenia and psychotic disorder; Transcranial direct current stimulation; Auditory hallucinations; Resting-state fMRI

MeSH Terms

Hallucinations
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Neuroimaging
Pilot Projects*
Sample Size
Schizophrenia*
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation*