Efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in tobacco use: a PRISMA systematic review

Introduction: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is an emerging, non-invasive, and safe brain neuromodulation technique intended to relieve symptoms associated with psychiatric disorders, including addiction. Research on tobacco consumption offers promising results; however, at the same time, a lack of replicability is evident among current studies. Objective: To offer an overview of the effectiveness of the tDCS intervention in tobacco consumption over the last 10 years (2014-2024). Method: Systematic review of controlled, double-blind, and randomized empirical studies registered in Science Direct, Scopus, and PubMed between 2014 and 2024. Results: Thirteen empirical studies have been examined that aim to investigate the effects of tDCS stimulation associated with tobacco consumption, highlighting a heterogeneity between the results, since depending on the variable evaluated and the parameters of the stimulation protocol, its effectiveness may vary. Conclusion: The present systematic review shows that tDCS continues to be a promising technique as an alternative for the treatment of tobacco consumption, showing effective results in reducing craving and consumption patterns.