Effectiveness of tDCS augmentation for co-morbid obsessive compulsive disorder in chronic schizophrenia: A case report

Asian J Psychiatr. 2018 Dec:38:9-11. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2018.10.013. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Abstract

Management of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) remains a challenge, particularly in individuals having co-existing psychotic symptoms. Even in patients with schizophrenia having a fair to good response in psychotic symptoms, these obsessive-compulsive symptoms defy response to antipsychotic and anti-obsessive pharmaco-therapeutic approach to a great extent. Recently developed neuromodulation techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can serve a viable and effective approach to manage such cases. The present paper documents the first utilization of tDCS (cathode: supplementary motor area; anode: right occipital cortex) as an add-on approach to pharmacotherapy to manage co-morbid OCD in a case of chronic schizophrenia.

Keywords: Compulsive; Obsessive; Schizophrenia; Transcranial; tDCS.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Comorbidity
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motor Cortex*
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / epidemiology
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / therapy*
  • Schizophrenia* / epidemiology
  • Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome