Neurosurgery for mental disorders (NMS) antedates pharmacotherapy and brain stimulation and arguably informed the development of modern physical treatments for psychiatric disorders, in particular depression (Malhi et al. Neuropsychiatric Dis Treatment 2006, 2 165–179). We describe a study of direct current stimulation for the clinical treatment of depression and its neurobiological effects as measured electrophysiologically, in a pilot study conducted at the Black Dog Institute. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive technique in which a weak direct current is applied across the scalp to alter the excitability of juxtaposed cortical tissue. The effects on neuronal membranes and neurotransmission persist beyond the periods of stimulation and can be measured using quantitative EEG. Preliminary findings from seven subjects will be presented and the putative mechanism of action discussed. In addition, the literature pertaining to this field will be reviewed with reference to current research in tDCS and emergent findings from modern deep brain stimulation and neurosurgical interventions (Dalgleish et al. Am J Psychiatry 2004, 161 1913–1916).
No CrossRef data available.