Transcranial direct current stimulation for auditory hallucinations in a 66-year-old male patient with schizophrenia
Patients with schizophrenia may sometimes have refractory symptoms that do not respond to medical treatments. One such symptom commonly seen in schizophrenia is refractory and distressing auditory hallucinations that do not respond to medication and psychotherapy. Transcranial direct current stimula...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2017-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Geriatric Mental Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.jgmh.org/article.asp?issn=2348-9995;year=2017;volume=4;issue=2;spage=150;epage=152;aulast=Desousa |
| Summary: | Patients with schizophrenia may sometimes have refractory symptoms that do not respond to medical treatments. One such symptom commonly seen in schizophrenia is refractory and distressing auditory hallucinations that do not respond to medication and psychotherapy. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used successfully in adult patients in the management of refractory auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia. We report here a case of severe distressing refractory auditory hallucinations in a 66-year-old male with schizophrenia that responded to once daily tDCS which was then continued over a 3-month period. More than 80% improvement was reported in a month of treatment which was then continued over 3 months to yield 95% improvement. The patient had a better quality of life and relief from a distressing symptom. No side effects were noted due to the tDCS treatment. This case report supports the view that tDCS is an effective treatment for resistant and refractory auditory hallucinations in geriatric patients with schizophrenia. |
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| ISSN: | 2348-9995 2395-3322 |