Integration of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Domenica Stelitano, Barbara Trimarco, Benedetto Farina, Chiara Massullo
Several psychiatric disorders are associated with alterations in the functional connectivity of brain networks. A network that is particularly involved in a dysfunctional way in psychopathology seems to be the default mode network (DMN), a network closely related to resting-state. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a neuro-modulation technique that seems to influence psychiatric symptoms and functional connectivity. At the same time, several studies have reported that cognitive behavioural psychotherapy (CBT) can influence functional connectivity. Starting from these premises, the aims of this paper are i) to explore the effects of tDCS and CBT, independently, on functional connectivity in the context of psychopathology and ii) to explore the possibilities of integrating tDCS into CBT, by reviewing studies considering both interventions in an integrated way. Given the strong involvement of DMN in various psychiatric disorders, a parallel objective was to investigate whether there were any functional connectivity studies on this network in literature regarding the integrated intervention of tDCS and CBT. Exploring scientific literature, as far as we know, few studies have emerged in which tDCS and CBT are administered concomitantly. Published studies have been carried out exclusively on depression, but available data do not allow, at the present time, consistent conclusions to be drawn. From a careful analysis of literature, no functional connectivity study (e.g. of the DMN) in relation to integrated interventions of tDCS and CBT has been published. Therefore, future studies of this kind will be needed. In general, future research on the possibility of integration between neurophysiology and psychotherapy could help to clarify certain psychopathogenetic mechanisms and individual differences in treatment response.
Keywords
Functional Connectivity, tDCS, CBT, Psychiatric disorders.
