background Substance dependence is a chronic disorder that is difficult to treat. Non-invasive stimulation techniques may have beneficial effects on the course of the illness.
aim To provide an overview of studies that evaluate the clinical effects that transcranial magnetic stimulation (tMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have on patients with substance use disorders.
method We performed an extensive search of the literature, using PubMed.
results Most studies showed that both tMS and tDCS have a beneficial effect on clinical outcomes. However, the effects seemed to wear off over time, even if tMS and tDCS had been administered to patients over several sessions.
conclusion In terms of efficacy, we award a level B qualification to both tMS and tDCS, which means that we regard both techniques as ‘very probably efficient’.