Personalized Dose Selection for Neuropsychiatric Disorders Using tDCS
Author Information
Author(s): Bhattacharjee Sagarika, Kashyap Rajan, Sreeraj Vanteemar S., Sivakumar Palanimuthu T., Venkatasubramanian Ganesan, Desmond John E., Chen S. H. Annabel, Sathyaprabha T. N., Udupa Kaviraja
Primary Institution: National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, India
Hypothesis
Can individualizing transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) parameters improve treatment outcomes for patients with neuropsychiatric disorders?
Conclusion
The study found that conventional tDCS is more effective and safer than high-definition tDCS for patients with dementia, as it requires lower personalized dosages.
Supporting Evidence
- Conventional tDCS resulted in higher current intensity and less variability at target regions compared to HD-tDCS.
- 46% of dementia patients required dosages above the safety limit when using HD-tDCS.
- Personalized dosages varied significantly between dementia patients and healthy individuals.
Takeaway
This study shows that different types of brain stimulation can work better for different people, especially for those with brain issues like dementia.
Methodology
The study simulated tDCS administration using T1-weighted brain images from 50 dementia patients, 25 depression patients, and 25 healthy individuals to estimate electric fields and required dosages.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in patient selection and the reliance on simulations for dosage calculations.
Limitations
The study's findings may not generalize to all neuropsychiatric disorders, and the exact threshold for physiological response in dementia patients is unknown.
Participant Demographics
50 dementia patients (average age 66.38, 20 females, 30 males), 25 depression patients (average age 67.52, 10 females, 15 males), and 25 healthy volunteers (average age 65.85, 11 females, 14 males).
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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