Neurostimulation modalities in psychiatric practice and research efforts use magnetic and electric fields to modulate neuronal functioning. Physicians have used these modalities since ancient history, but most modern brain stimulation treatments developed after the inception electroconvulsive therapy in 1937. Noninvasive brain stimulation generally refers to treatments that do not require surgery, such as electroconvulsive therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, and transcranial current stimulation. Conversely, deep brain stimulation and vagal nerve stimulation are the two most researched invasive brain stimulation modalities for psychiatric disorders. Treatment with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has been shown to be effective for the treatment of resistant major depressive disorders but is less rapid acting and may be optimal for a different patient population as compared to electroconvulsive therapy. Research focused on transcranial direct current stimulation continues to expand, but its role in clinical psychiatric practice is currently not well defined. Despite mixed and, in some cases, disappointing results, invasive brain stimulation techniques such as deep brain stimulation and vagal nerve stimulation will likely continue to have an important role for certain treatment-resistant populations in psychiatric practice. This review examines the development, basic physiologic mechanisms, and evidence base of neurostimulation modalities in psychiatry.
This review contains 4 figures, 6 tables and 38 references
Key Words: deep brain stimulation, invasive, neurostimulation, noninvasive, transcranial direct current stimulation, transcranial electrical stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, treatment-resistant depression, vagal nerve stimulation
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