Recent advances in noninvasive brain stimulation for schizophrenia

Abstract

Purpose of review 

Noninvasive brain stimulation has emerged in the last three decades as a promising treatment for patients with antipsychotic-resistant symptoms of schizophrenia. This review updates the latest progress in the use of noninvasive brain stimulation to treat schizophrenia symptoms.

Recent findings 

Several recently published randomized-controlled trials support a long-lasting clinical effect of stimulation techniques on schizophrenia symptoms. In addition, efforts have been made in recent months to improve efficacy through several optimization strategies. Studies have tested new parameters of stimulation, such as theta burst stimulation, and alternative cortical or subcortical targets and have reported encouraging results. New forms of electrical stimulations such as alternating and random noise stimulation, have also been studied and have shown clinical and cognitive usefulness for patients. Accelerated stimulation protocols, and prospects could arise with deeper stimulation strategies.

Summary 

Using brain stimulation to treat symptoms of schizophrenia seems promising and the great flexibility of the stimulation parameters leaves much room for developing optimization strategies and improving its effectiveness. Further studies need to identify the optimal parameters to maximize response rate.