No impact of tDCS on stress-induced state rumination and no influence of executive control and trait rumination: A double-blind sham-controlled within-subjects study

Hoebeke, Yorgo;Vanderhasselt, Marie-Anne;Carême, Marion;Maurage, Pierre;Heeren, Alexandre
(2024) Clinical Neuropsychiatry : journal of treatments evaluation — Vol. 21, n° 1, p. 99-109 (2024)

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Abstract
Objective: Rumination is conceptualized as a critical transdiagnostic vulnerability and maintenance factor for affective dysregulation and related emotional disorders. Recent research has pointed to transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a novel therapeutic tool for alleviating rumination, especially stress-induced rumination. However, the mechanisms of action underlying this effect remain unclear, particularly regarding the potential moderating role of executive control and trait-like rumination. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the impact of anodal tDCS on stress-induced rumination and the potential moderating influence of executive control and trait-like rumination on this effect. Method: Forty participants from the general community (i.e., unselected sample) took part in a double-blind within-subjects design study wherein we compared anodal stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(dlPFC) with a sham-stimulation procedure. Participants completed an N-back task, reflecting executive control, during tDCS stimulation, followed by a stress-induction protocol wherein we assessed stress- induced state rumination. Results: We found no significant effect of tDCS on stress-induced state rumination and no modulation by executive control or trait rumination. Post-hoc Bayesian analyses corroborated these results and even supported the hypothesis that anodal tDCS does not impact stress-induced rumination. Conclusions: From a clinical perspective, our results are at odds with the current outlook that tDCS is a viable tool for reducing rumination, particularly stress-induced rumination. However, we firmly believe that the results of null-finding studies, such as those from this study, are particularly valuable for future iterations and meta-research on tDCS as a potential tool for targeting transdiagnostic processes, such as rumination. We also addressed methodological limitations and directions for future research in this area.
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Hoebeke, Y., Vanderhasselt, M.-A., Carême, M., Maurage, P., & Heeren, A. (2024). No impact of tDCS on stress-induced state rumination and no influence of executive control and trait rumination: A double-blind sham-controlled within-subjects study. Clinical Neuropsychiatry : journal of treatments evaluation, 21(1), 99-109. https://doi.org/10.36131/cnfioritieditore20240107 (Original work published 2024)