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Research progress on the application of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder
Received date: 2025-07-31
Online published: 2025-12-25
Generalized anxiety disorder （GAD） is a highly prevalent psychiatric condition that imposes a substantial burden on individuals and society. Although various treatments are available， their efficacy remains inconsistent and often limited. In recent years， the rapid advancement of non-invasive brain stimulation （NIBS） technologies has opened new avenues for individualized and precise interventions in GAD， demonstrating promising clinical potential. This article provides a systematic review of the clinical applications and progress of NIBS techniques-including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation （rTMS）， transcranial direct current stimulation （tDCS）， transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation （taVNS）， and cranial electrotherapy stimulation （CES）in the treatment of GAD. Furthermore， it examines the underlying mechanisms through which these techniques modulate key brain regions， neurotransmitter systems， inflammatory responses， and neuroendocrine processes， aiming to establish a theoretical foundation for future clinical research and practice.
Hua ZHANG , Xiuya LIANG , Ziyi ZHENG , Tong YIN , Sheng LI , Jianpeng. HUANG . Research progress on the application of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder[J]. The Journal of Practical Medicine, 2025 , 41(24) : 3808 -3815 . DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2025.24.003
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