Effect of tDCS on Cognition, Symptoms in Chronic Schizophrenia Patients With Tardive Dyskinesia

Effect of tDCS on Cognition, Symptoms in Chronic Schizophrenia Patients With Tardive dyskinesia_a Randomized, Double-blind, Sham-controlled Trial

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and cognitive function of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in chronic schizophrenia patients with tardive dyskinesia (TD).

This study is a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial. 60 patients with TD were randomly allocated to active (n=30) or sham tDCS groups (n=30). All patients received 2-mA anodal left/cathodal right prefrontal tDCS treatment (fifteen 30-minutes sessions: Monday to Friday once daily, every other week to do a group of treatment). Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale (AIMS), Tardive Dyskinesia Rating Scale (TDRS), Assessment of Negative Symptoms(SANS), the Positive and Negative symptom scale(PANSS), and the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automatic Battery (CANTAB) were assessed in patients. All evaluations were scored at baseline, the end of 3rd weeks, 5th weeks, and 7th weeks. Side effects of tDCS were assessed with an experimenter-administered open-ended questionnaire during the whole experiment.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Right-handed;
2. meeting the diagnosis of schizophrania;
3. had been receiving antipsychotic drugs for at least 12 months;
4. at least one AIMS item rated(moderate) or at least two AIMS items rated ≥2(mild);
5. All patients volunteered to participate in this study.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. organic disorder that could cause movement disorders, mental retardation,and a history of substance dependence(except nicotine);
2. with serious physical illness(e.g.severe cardiovascular diseases);
3. with color blindness/weakness, stuttering, deafness.