tDCS for the treatment of negative symptoms in youth at clinical-high-risk for psychosis: A feasibility study

• DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2024.111879
• Publication Date: 2024-08-30T16:52:08Z
• Authors: Paul D. Metzak; Marilena M. DeMayo; Kali Brummitt; Signe Bray; Frank MacMaster; Ashley Harris; Alexander McGirr; Jean Addington
• Keywords: Male; Risk; Young Adult; Treatment Outcome; Psychotic Disorders; Adolescent; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Humans; Feasibility Studies; Female; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Negative symptoms are often found in youth at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis. The present study explored the feasibility of using tDCS in conjunction with CBT in the treatment of negative symptoms in 5 youths at CHR. We sought to determine whether the protocol was feasible given the requirement for repeated visits over a three-week period, and to determine if measures of neurobiological change could be included, both acutely and following three weeks of stimulation. The results from this study suggest that the protocol is feasible for these youth, and the inclusion of MRI scanning sessions yielded good quality data.