Non-invasive Brain Stimulation in Psychiatric Disorders: From Bench to Bedside

Over the past decades, studies regarding the application of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), cranial electrical stimulation (CES), or transcranial near-infrared radiation (NIR), in the treatment of psychiatric disorders have demonstrated promising results. Specifically, the US FDA has approved the application of rTMS in treating major depression, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. CES was also approved with the indication of depression, insomnia, and anxiety in the US. However, how these NIBS work on the basic processes, such as gene expression and other aspects of molecular biology, neurochemical regulation, functional brain activity, sensorimotor function, and cognitive and affective processes at the systems level remains inconclusive. Moreover, new stimulation protocols of NIBS to enhance the therapeutic effects or biomarkers for treatment response are warranted as the clinical effects remain unsatisfactory currently.

The goal of this Research Topic is to include molecular, genetics, neuroimaging, and neurophysiological studies of NIBS in patients with psychiatric disorders, to discuss the potential of these study results to translate into clinical practice. We will also discuss new stimulation protocols or new potential modalities of NIBS in treating mental disorder.

We welcome Original Research and Review articles addressing the above aims.

Specifically, this Research Topic will be centered on the following areas, to expand current knowledge:
• discovery of possible mechanisms for the therapeutic effects of NIBS, including molecular, genetics, neuroimaging, and neurophysiological aspects
• selection or innovation of stimulation protocols, including questions such as whether rTMS or tDCS is more efficacious in treating depression, or new rTMS protocols proving to be more efficient or efficacious than traditional protocols
• potential for the combination of different stimulation protocols with pharmacological therapy or psychotherapy
• the use of appropriate clinical, behavioral, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging biomarkers to monitor/predict treatment response.

This Research Topic will be important in identifying new avenues of clinical research for rapid advances in the field.