Transcranial alternating current stimulation for schizophrenia: a systematic review of randomized controlled studies

作者：Xin Wei, Zhan-Ming Shi, Xian-Jun Lan, Zhen-Juan Qin, Yu Mo, Huawang Wu, Xingbing Huang, Qing-Bin Zeng, Lixia Luo, Xin-Hu Yang, Wei Zheng · 发表于：Frontiers in Psychiatry · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1308437 · 被引用次数：12 · 研究领域：Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies、Planarian Biology and Electrostimulation、Neuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations

Background In randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating the application of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in schizophrenia, inconsistent results have been reported. The purpose of this exploratory systematic review of RCTs was to evaluate tACS as an adjunct treatment for patients with schizophrenia based on its therapeutic effects, tolerability, and safety. Methods Our analysis included RCTs that evaluated adjunctive tACS’ effectiveness, tolerability, and safety in schizophrenia patients. Three independent authors extracted data and synthesized it using RevMan 5.3 software. Results Three RCTs involving 76 patients with schizophrenia were encompassed in the analysis, with 40 participants receiving active tACS and 36 receiving sham tACS. Our study revealed a significant superiority of active tACS over sham tACS in improving total psychopathology (standardized mean difference [SMD] = −0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −1.12, −0.10; I 2 = 16%, p = 0.02) and negative psychopathology (SMD = −0.65, 95% CI: −1.11, −0.18; I 2 = 0%, p = 0.007) in schizophrenia. The two groups, however, showed no significant differences in positive psychopathology, general psychopathology, or auditory hallucinations (all p > 0.05). Two RCTs examined the neurocognitive effects of tACS, yielding varied findings. Both groups demonstrated similar rates of discontinuation due to any reason and adverse events (all p > 0.05). Conclusion Adjunctive tACS is promising as...