tDCS for auditory verbal hallucinations in a case of schizophrenia and left frontal lesion: efield simulation and clinical results

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been explored for treatment of several neuropsychiatric disorders. For tDCS use in structural brain lesions there is some evidence from motor stroke rehabilitation and post-stroke depression. Here we report the application of tDCS in a woman previously diagnosed with schizophrenia presenting refractory auditory verbal hallucinations and left prefrontal tissue lesion. Treatment with 20 left fronto-temporal tDCS had no effect on psychiatric symptoms and neuropsychological evaluation. An ex-post electric field simulation and calculation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation showed lower activation in this patient compared to a matched non-lesioned schizophrenia, and healthy control brain.

Keywords: current distribution; hemangioma; tDCS.