Efeito da estimulação transcraniana por corrente contínua (ETCC) sobre o córtex pré-frontal combinada a treinamento cognitivo para o tratamento da esquizofrenia: Ensaio clínico randomizado simulação controlado

TY - JOUR

T1 - Efeito da estimulação transcraniana por corrente contínua (ETCC) sobre o córtex pré-frontal combinada a treinamento cognitivo para o tratamento da esquizofrenia

T2 - Ensaio clínico randomizado simulação controlado

AU - Shiozawa, Pedro

AU - Gomes, July Silveira

AU - Ducos, Daniella Valverde

AU - Akiba, Henrique Teruo

AU - Dias, Álvaro Machado

AU - Trevizol, Alisson Paulino

AU - Uchida, Ricardo R.

AU - Orlov, Natasza

AU - Cordeiro, Quirino

PY - 2016/7/1

Y1 - 2016/7/1

N2 - Introduction: We report a transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) protocol over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) combined with cognitive training in schizophrenia. Method: We assessed psychotic symptoms in nine patients using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). All evaluations were scored at baseline, at the end of the intervention protocol, and during a 4-week follow-up. The tDCS protocol consisted of 10 consecutive sessions over 5-day periods. We placed the cathode over the right and the anode over the left DLPFC. For sham stimulation, we turned the device off after 60 seconds. Cognitive training consisted of the administration of N-back and sequence learning tasks. Results: We performed an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to adjust for the dependent variable PANSS, considering the interaction with baseline severity scores (p = 0.619). Mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no statistical significance between the groups regarding final PANSS scores. Conclusion: The results failed to demonstrate that the concomitant use of tDCS and cognitive training is effective to improve clinical outcomes in patients with schizophrenia. The present findings should be analyzed with care, considering the small sample size. Larger controlled trials on electric/cognitive stimulation should be produced in order to enhance therapeutic strategies in schizophrenia.

AB - Introduction: We report a transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) protocol over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) combined with cognitive training in schizophrenia. Method: We assessed psychotic symptoms in nine patients using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). All evaluations were scored at baseline, at the end of the intervention protocol, and during a 4-week follow-up. The tDCS protocol consisted of 10 consecutive sessions over 5-day periods. We placed the cathode over the right and the anode over the left DLPFC. For sham stimulation, we turned the device off after 60 seconds. Cognitive training consisted of the administration of N-back and sequence learning tasks. Results: We performed an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to adjust for the dependent variable PANSS, considering the interaction with baseline severity scores (p = 0.619). Mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed no statistical significance between the groups regarding final PANSS scores. Conclusion: The results failed to demonstrate that the concomitant use of tDCS and cognitive training is effective to improve clinical outcomes in patients with schizophrenia. The present findings should be analyzed with care, considering the small sample size. Larger controlled trials on electric/cognitive stimulation should be produced in order to enhance therapeutic strategies in schizophrenia.

KW - Cognition

KW - Schizophrenia

KW - Transcranial direct current stimulation

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84991110599&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1590/2237-6089-2015-0043

DO - 10.1590/2237-6089-2015-0043

M3 - Article

C2 - 27737311

AN - SCOPUS:84991110599

SN - 2237-6089

VL - 38

SP - 175

EP - 177

JO - Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

JF - Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

IS - 3

ER -