Theta-transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to enhance sleep and mood symptoms in insomnia disorder: A randomized, single-blind, parallel-group, sham-controlled study

Peyafarin, Parisa; Alizadehgoradel, Jaber

doi:10.22098/jrp.2026.18327.1333

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	Theta-transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to enhance sleep and mood symptoms in insomnia disorder: A randomized, single-blind, parallel-group, sham-controlled study
Journal of Research in Psychopathology
مقاله 5، دوره 7، شماره 3 - شماره پیاپی 25، آبان 2026، صفحه 39-46 اصل مقاله (1.14 M)
نوع مقاله: Original Article
شناسه دیجیتال (DOI): 10.22098/jrp.2026.18327.1333
نویسندگان
Parisa Peyafarin¹؛ Jaber Alizadehgoradel^* ²
¹Department of Psychology, Ard.C., Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran
²Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran
چکیده
This research investigated whether transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) could help reduce symptoms of insomnia. Thirty individuals diagnosed with insomnia were recruited from various psychiatric clinics in Ahvaz, Iran, and assigned to two groups: 15 in the real stimulation group and 15 in the sham stimulation group. Participants received tACS at theta frequency targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) with the anode placed at F3 and the cathode at F4 for 10 consecutive days. All participants were evaluated before and after the intervention using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The results of the mixed-model ANOVA indicated a significant difference between the active tACS group and the sham tACS group regarding the reduction of insomnia severity (p < 0.001). Additionally, a significant difference in the reduction of depression was observed between the two groups (p < 0.006), while no significant difference in anxiety was found (p > 0.419). Real tACS demonstrated greater efficacy compared to sham tACS in improving symptoms of insomnia as well as depression. The results indicate that tACS targeting the DLPFC has the potential to serve as an effective and safe intervention for chronic insomnia over the course of 10 sessions.
کلیدواژه‌ها
Insomnia؛ Mood symptoms؛ Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS)

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Theta-transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) to enhance sleep and mood symptoms in insomnia disorder: A randomized, single-blind, parallel-group, sham-controlled study