Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40717779›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in psychiatry2025

Adjunctive transcranial direct current stimulation for cognitive improvement in schizophrenia: insights from a systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis.

Gaolei Yao, Yuan Huang, Junjiao Ping, Yixuan Han, Liming Lu, Xinxia Liu, Huipeng Lu

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in psychiatry, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Gaolei Yao *Clinical Research and Big Data Laboratory, South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Yuan Huang *Department of Acupuncture, Shaoguan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaoguan, China.
Junjiao PingDepartment of Psychiatry, The Third People's Hospital of Zhongshan, Zhongshan, China.
Yixuan HanEuropean Languages and Cultures, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing, China.
Liming LuClinical Research and Big Data Laboratory, South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Xinxia LiuDepartment of Psychiatry, The Third People's Hospital of Zhongshan, Zhongshan, China.
Huipeng LuDepartment of Psychiatry, The Third People's Hospital of Zhongshan, Zhongshan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: To objectively and accurately evaluate the clinical efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for schizophrenia, we conducted this systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD420251002632). Methods: Firstly, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to the adjunctive use of tDCS for schizophrenia were searched on PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases according to search strategies developed in advance. Secondly, the eligible articles were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, the data were extracted and a complete meta-analysis was performed. Meanwhile, we also completed publication bias analysis and sensitivity analysis. Statistical analysis was conducted using RevMan software (version 5.4). Results: We ultimately included 11 eligible RCTs. The results of the exploratory meta-analysis indicated that the adjunctive use of tDCS seems to be able to enhance the cognitive function of patients (the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task: standardized mean deviation ( Discussion: This exploratory meta-analysis revealed that tDCS in the treatment of schizophrenia appears capable of improving cognitive function and effectively reducing the severity of the disease. What's more, tDCS has great development potential in schizophrenia, and it may be written into the guidelines for non-drug treatment of schizophrenia in the future. As a matter of fact, this exploratory study points out the direction for future scientific research and clinical practice. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD420251002632.

Indexed as

cognitive functionmeta-analysisschizophreniasystematic reviewtranscranial direct current stimulation

Identifiers

PMID40717779
PMCPMC12289641

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.