Cathodal tDCS (rDLPFC): Current intensity: 2.0 mA. Duration: 25 minutes. Cathode placed over F4 (10-20 system), Anode over contralateral deltoid.
Anodal tDCS (vmPFC): Current intensity: 2.0 mA. Duration: 25 minutes. Anode placed over Fpz (10-20 system), Cathode over Oz.
Sham tDCS: Current ramps up for 30 seconds and then fades to zero to mimic skin sensation, with no sustained current for the rest of the 25 minutes.
Anodal tDCS (lDLPFC): Current intensity: 2.0 mA. Duration: 25 minutes. Anode placed over F3 (10-20 system), Cathode over contralateral deltoid.
Study summary
This study evaluates the effects of single-session Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on fear reversal learning in patients with anxiety disorders. Participants will be randomized into four groups to receive either active stimulation targeting specific brain regions (right DLPFC or vmPFC), an active control stimulation, or sham stimulation. The main goal is to determine if modulating these brain areas can improve the ability to update safety and threat associations.
Eligibility
Sex
ALL
Min age
18 Years
Max age
65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Inclusion Criteria:
Age between 18 and 60 years old. Right-handed. Meeting the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Gambling Disorder (GD). South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) score ≥ 5. Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing. Willingness to provide written informed consent and participate in the study.
Exclusion Criteria:
History of other severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression) or neurological diseases (e.g., epilepsy, stroke, brain tumor).
History of substance abuse or dependence (excluding nicotine) in the past 6 months.
Current use of psychotropic medications that may affect cortical excitability (e.g., antidepressants, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants).
Presence of metallic implants in the head or neck area (e.g., cochlear implants, aneurysm clips) or cardiac pacemakers.
Skin lesions or sensitivity at the stimulation sites on the scalp. Pregnancy or lactation. Participation in other neuromodulation studies within the last 3 months.
Primary outcome measure(s)
Mean Accuracy Rate in the Reversal Phase of the Fear Reversal Task — During the intervention (Day 1, approximately 25 minutes) The percentage of correct responses during the reversal phase of the computerized task, where participants must inhibit previous fear associations and learn new safety signals. Higher scores indicate better cognitive flexibility.
This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.
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