A NEW meta-analysis has found that transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) may significantly reduce symptoms of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), highlighting the potential of non-invasive brain stimulation as a future treatment approach.
OCD is a chronic psychiatric condition characterised by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours that can substantially impair quality of life. Although treatments such as pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy are widely used, many patients with OCD continue to experience persistent symptoms. Growing interest in neuromodulation has therefore driven research into techniques that directly influence neural circuits involved in OCD.
In a comprehensive analysis led by Mohammad Ali Salehinejad and colleagues, researchers evaluated the therapeutic potential of tES using three complementary meta-analytic approaches. The investigation included pair-wise meta-analysis, network meta-analysis, and computational modelling to assess both clinical outcomes and the predicted electrical fields generated within targeted brain regions.
Transcranial Electrical Stimulation Reduces OCD Severity
The study analysed 16 randomised controlled trials examining tES for OCD. Most studies investigated transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), while one assessed transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS).
Across the pooled analysis, tES demonstrated a significant moderate therapeutic effect in reducing OCD severity (standardised mean difference: 0.61; 95% confidence interval: 0.37–0.85; p<0.001). The findings also indicated that treatment delivered twice daily was associated with larger clinical improvements, suggesting that stimulation frequency may influence outcomes.
Specific Targets Show Greater Benefits for OCD
Using network meta-analysis, the researchers compared different stimulation targets and protocols to identify approaches with the strongest therapeutic signals. Several strategies emerged as particularly promising.
These included alpha-frequency alternating stimulation applied to the medial prefrontal cortex, cathodal stimulation designed to reduce excitability in the supplementary motor area and orbitofrontal cortex, and anodal stimulation aimed at enhancing activity in the lateral prefrontal cortex. Each of these targets aligns with brain networks known to be involved in the cognitive control and emotional regulation processes disrupted in OCD.
Longer Stimulation Linked to Greater OCD Improvement
To further explore the relationship between stimulation parameters and treatment response, the researchers conducted computational modelling to estimate the distribution of electrical fields in the brain.
These analyses suggested that longer stimulation protocols targeting the medial prefrontal and frontopolar cortices were associated with greater therapeutic effects. Based on these findings, the authors proposed an optimised stimulation strategy that could potentially enhance clinical outcomes.
Together, the results provide new insights into how tES may be refined as a treatment for OCD. The researchers emphasised that future clinical studies will be important to further evaluate and optimise stimulation protocols based on emerging neurobiological models of OCD.
Reference
Salehinejad MA et al. Transcranial electrical stimulation for the treatment of obsessive–compulsive disorder: a triple meta-analysis. Nat Mental Health. 2026; DOI:10.1038/s44220-026-00590-z.
Featured image: Viktor on Adobe Stock
