April 18, 2026 · Journal of addictive diseases · DOI: 10.1080/10550887.2026.2658662

Efficacy of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation on craving in substance use disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) in reducing cravings associated with substance use disorders. The analysis of three randomized controlled trials indicated a moderate and statistically significant reduction in craving compared to sham stimulation, although the authors noted that the limited number of studies and small sample sizes hinder the generalizability of the findings. They recommend further research with larger, substance-specific trials to better confirm HD-tDCS's efficacy and optimize its application.

Priyanka Saha, Jadeer K Muhammed, Pinki Sevda, Rohit Verma, Siddharth Sarkar

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