Background: Substance dependence is a chronic disorder that is difficult to treat. Non-invasive stimulation techniques may have beneficial effects on the course of the illness.
Aim: To provide an overview of studies that evaluate the clinical effects that transcranial magnetic stimulation (tMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have on patients with substance use disorders.
Method: We performed an extensive search of the literature, using PubMed.
Results: Most studies showed that both tMS and tDCS have a beneficial effect on clinical outcomes. However, the effects seemed to wear off over time, even if tMS and tDCS had been administered to patients over several sessions.
Conclusion: In terms of efficacy, we award a level B qualification to both tMS and tDCS, which means that we regard both techniques as 'very probably efficient'.