title: Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex improves anorexia nervosa: A pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Existing treatments for adults with anorexia nervosa (AN) have limited proven efficacy. New treatments that have been suggested involve targeted, brain-directed interventions such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). We describe findings from seven individuals with treatment-resistant AN who received 10 sessions of anodal tDCS, over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this open-label, single-arm study, seven patients received anodal tDCS (2mA) for 25 minutes over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex daily for ten days. Assessments pre-tDCS, post-tDCS and one month later included the Eating Attitude Test (EAT), Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three patients improved in all three rating scales immediately after the treatment sessions and one month later. Two patients showed improvement at the end of treatment but returned to the baseline after one month. One subject improved only on the BDI scale but not eating scales. The scores in the three rating scales were unaffected by treatment in the remaining patient. There was a significant effect of time (pre, post and 1 month later) on the three rating scores; BDI (P = 0.016), EDI (P = 0.018) and EAT (P = 0.016) and a significant correlation between the percent improvement of BDI and EAT (p = 0.01), and between BDI and EDI (P = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that tDCS has potential as an adjuvant treatment for AN and deserves further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt.
authors.forename: Eman M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Khedr
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt.
authors.forename: Noha Abo
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Elfetoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt.
authors.forename: Anwer M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noamany
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anorexia nervosa; beck depression inventory; eating attitude test; eating disorder inventory; transcranial direct current stimulation