Effectiveness of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Depression, Anxiety and Rumination of Patients with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms (PTSD)

transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a potential non-invasive treatment for psychiatry disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of bilateral tDCS on depression, anxiety and rumination of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

This was a double-blind interventional study with pretest – posttest design and one month follow- up. This study was carried out in 2018 with statistical population of PTSD patients from Tehran, Iran. In present study 20 patients with PTSD symptoms were selected using convenience sampling and randomly divided to interventional (n=10) and control groups (n=10). The interventional group received real 2.0 mA tDCS over dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) lasted 20 min in 10 session and the control group received sham tDCS. In present study, Structured Clinical Interview, the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventory and Nolen-Hoeksema Ruminative Response Scale were used in pretest, posttest and follow- up. 

Patients demonstrated significant depression and anxiety symptoms reductions in the interventional group compared to the control group. There were significant differences between the two groups in rumination at post-test but there were no significant differences between the interventional and control groups in rumination at follow-up.

tDCS improve depressive and anxiety symptoms in patients with PTSD. However, there was no significant reduction in rumination at follow-up course. Further studies may determine optimal stimulation parameters for maximal mood benefit in patients with PTSD.