Multi-target combination treatment with rTMS and tDCS for Tourette syndrome: a case report

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by chronic motor and phonic tics, with a higher prevalence among boys. This condition can significantly impact patients’ learning and daily life. Due to the limited efficacy and potential side effects of pharmacological treatments f...

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Main Authors: Shuang Zhao, Qizu Jin, Qi Yang, Jing Liu, Yun Lu, Haibo Ai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2024.1441019/full
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author Shuang Zhao
Shuang Zhao
Qizu Jin
Qi Yang
Jing Liu
Yun Lu
Yun Lu
Haibo Ai
author_facet Shuang Zhao
Shuang Zhao
Qizu Jin
Qi Yang
Jing Liu
Yun Lu
Yun Lu
Haibo Ai
author_sort Shuang Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by chronic motor and phonic tics, with a higher prevalence among boys. This condition can significantly impact patients’ learning and daily life. Due to the limited efficacy and potential side effects of pharmacological treatments for TS, there is a critical need to develop novel, tailored therapeutic strategies. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have been proposed as potential treatments for TS, and have shown promising results. Here, we report a case of refractory TS, in which low-frequency rTMS was delivered to the left supplementary motor area (SMA), combined with tDCS targeting the primary motor cortex (M1) and the cerebellum, with the cathode positioned over the right M1 and the anode over the left cerebellum. This is the first reported case using a multi-target combination therapy for TS. This treatment yielded favorable outcomes and maintained good efficacy during a three-month follow-up period. Although larger-scale trials are needed, our findings pave the way for the application of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques in TS, offering a transformative path to improve treatment outcomes and quality of life for those with TS.
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issn 1662-5161
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publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
spelling doaj-art-d6bab3eef404438caa2b4ffc5a19794f2025-08-20T02:26:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612025-01-011810.3389/fnhum.2024.14410191441019Multi-target combination treatment with rTMS and tDCS for Tourette syndrome: a case reportShuang Zhao0Shuang Zhao1Qizu Jin2Qi Yang3Jing Liu4Yun Lu5Yun Lu6Haibo Ai7Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaClinical Medical School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaThe Third Hospital of Mianyang, Sichuan Mental Health Center, Mianyang, ChinaThe Third Hospital of Mianyang, Sichuan Mental Health Center, Mianyang, ChinaThe Third Hospital of Mianyang, Sichuan Mental Health Center, Mianyang, ChinaHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaClinical Medical School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaThe Third Hospital of Mianyang, Sichuan Mental Health Center, Mianyang, ChinaTourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by chronic motor and phonic tics, with a higher prevalence among boys. This condition can significantly impact patients’ learning and daily life. Due to the limited efficacy and potential side effects of pharmacological treatments for TS, there is a critical need to develop novel, tailored therapeutic strategies. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have been proposed as potential treatments for TS, and have shown promising results. Here, we report a case of refractory TS, in which low-frequency rTMS was delivered to the left supplementary motor area (SMA), combined with tDCS targeting the primary motor cortex (M1) and the cerebellum, with the cathode positioned over the right M1 and the anode over the left cerebellum. This is the first reported case using a multi-target combination therapy for TS. This treatment yielded favorable outcomes and maintained good efficacy during a three-month follow-up period. Although larger-scale trials are needed, our findings pave the way for the application of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques in TS, offering a transformative path to improve treatment outcomes and quality of life for those with TS.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2024.1441019/fullTourette syndromerepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulationrTMStranscranial direct current stimulationtDCS
spellingShingle Shuang Zhao
Shuang Zhao
Qizu Jin
Qi Yang
Jing Liu
Yun Lu
Yun Lu
Haibo Ai
Multi-target combination treatment with rTMS and tDCS for Tourette syndrome: a case report
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
Tourette syndrome
repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
rTMS
transcranial direct current stimulation
tDCS
title Multi-target combination treatment with rTMS and tDCS for Tourette syndrome: a case report
title_full Multi-target combination treatment with rTMS and tDCS for Tourette syndrome: a case report
title_fullStr Multi-target combination treatment with rTMS and tDCS for Tourette syndrome: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Multi-target combination treatment with rTMS and tDCS for Tourette syndrome: a case report
title_short Multi-target combination treatment with rTMS and tDCS for Tourette syndrome: a case report
title_sort multi target combination treatment with rtms and tdcs for tourette syndrome a case report
topic Tourette syndrome
repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation
rTMS
transcranial direct current stimulation
tDCS
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2024.1441019/full
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