Effects of the combination of neurostimulation techniques in patients with mental disorders: A systematic review

Background: despite years of development, response to neurostimulation remains partial and variable. Combining techniques could improve clinical efficacy and tolerance.Objective: to examine the literature on the effects of combining several neurostimulation techniques in patients with mental disorders.Methods: this systematic review follows the PRISMA guidelinesResults: 23 studies were included. The most studied combination was electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) along with another neurostimulation technique in depression. The RCTs that showed a significant effect targeted the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, before ECT. Combining neurostimulation techniques is a promising field of research.