Tolerability of transcranial direct current stimulation in childhood-onset schizophrenia

Abstract

Background In recent years, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used to study and treat many neuropsychiatric conditions. However, information regarding its tolerability in the pediatric population is lacking. Objective This study aims to investigate the tolerability aspects of tDCS in the childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS) population. Methods Twelve participants with COS completed this inpatient study. Participants were assigned to one of two groups: bilateral anodal dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) stimulation (n= 8) or bilateral cathodal superior temporal gyrus (STG) stimulation (n=5). Patients received either 2 mA of active treatment or sham treatment (with possibility of open active treatment) for 20 minutes, for a total of 10 sessions (2 weeks). Results tDCS was well tolerated in the COS population with no serious adverse events occurring during the study. Conclusions This is the first study to demonstrate that a 20 minute duration of 2 mA of bilateral anodal and bilateral cathodal DC polarization to the DLPFC and STG was well tolerated in a pediatric population.

Applications of transcranial direct current stimulation in children and pediatrics

“…Symptoms of other psychiatric disorders such as depression and schizophrenia in adult populations are also susceptible to neuromodulation. Data on application of tDCS in child and adolescent psychiatry are however scarce (Stagg and Nitsche, 2011;David et al, 2013 childhood-onset schizophrenia (a rare version of schizophrenia with onset of psychotic symptoms before the age of 13), 10 sessions of bilateral anodal or cathodal tDCS (2 mA for 20 min) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and superior temporal gyrus, respectively, induced no clinically significant alterations of mood, arousal, cognitive, and verbal performance in children between 10 and 17 years old (Mattai et al, 2011). The results of this study do also not show significant changes in autonomous functions, nor general adverse effects.…”

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Refractory Auditory Hallucinations in Schizophrenia

“…As an additional note: a tDCS trial has been performed in pediatric schizophrenia 37 ; however, this was a safety study, auditory hallucinations were not an indication for treatment, and efficacy outcomes were not reported. Other reports of tDCS in schizophrenia and in patients with auditory hallucinations have also been published.…”

Transcranial direct current stimulation in psychiatric disorders

“…One double-blind, sham-controlled trial with 12 youths (age range from 10 to 17 years) with schizophrenia evaluated the tolerability of tDCS. The patients were assigned to anodal or cathodal stimulation and both groups were stimulated for 20 min per day during 10 d. Although no clinical improvement was observed, this protocol was well tolerated, without reports of serious side effects Mattai [105] . No study has assessed so far the effect of tDCS for the treatment of major depression in children and adolescents.…”