SynthesisNeuroscience and biobehavioral reviews2026
Noninvasive brain stimulation combined with evidence-based psychotherapy for psychiatric disorders: A meta-analysis of optimal implementation parameters.
Synthesis in Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Patients with Exposure Therapy Resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (TETRO): Study Protocol for a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR research protocols · 2026Trial
- An exploratory study of glycemic biomarkers and rTMS treatment outcomes in treatment-resistant depression.BMC psychiatry · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
- Update of
Authors and funding
14 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Evidence-based psychotherapies are first-line treatments for psychiatric disorders, yet response rates remain suboptimal. Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) may augment psychotherapy by modulating treatment-engaged circuits. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing active NIBS plus evidence-based psychotherapy versus sham NIBS plus psychotherapy. We searched six databases through February 2025, screening 1017 records. Twenty-eight trials (31 treatment arms; 1506 participants) met inclusion criteria. Active NIBS combined with psychotherapy produced significantly greater symptom improvement than sham NIBS with psychotherapy (SMD = -0.38, 95% CI [-0.68, -0.08]), with substantial heterogeneity. Moderator analyses revealed critical implementation parameters: repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) showed significant benefit while transcranial direct current stimulation did not. Non-concurrent delivery showed significant effects; concurrent delivery did not. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) combined with NIBS showed significant benefit; other psychotherapy modalities did not. Human-delivered psychotherapy significantly enhanced outcomes; computerized formats did not. Significant effects were observed only for anxiety disorders (SMD = -0.70, 95% CI [-1.26, -0.14]). While there was a null finding for depression, it likely reflects insufficient statistical power rather than true ineffectiveness. Secondary analyses found no significant effects on executive functioning or quality of life. Treatment integrity was under-reported: only 39.3% of studies used fully manualized protocols and 10.7% documented therapist adherence. Timing and modality are largely confounded in the current evidence base, and priming versus consolidation effects cannot be distinguished. These findings provide an evidence-based framework for optimizing combined treatment protocols and highlight the need for standardized psychotherapy fidelity monitoring.
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What Socratic holds
Registered trials
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.