Accelerated Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation as an Adjunctive Treatment for Rapid Symptom Relief in Bodily Distress Disorder: A Case Series

Jithin Thekkelkuthiyathottil Joseph; Rashmi Vishwanath; Ashok Jammigumpula; Abhiram N. Purohith; Sonia Shenoy; Samir Kumar Praharaj

doi:10.1177/02537176261442676

Accelerated Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation as an Adjunctive Treatment for Rapid Symptom Relief in Bodily Distress Disorder: A Case Series

Jithin Thekkelkuthiyathottil Joseph
, Rashmi Vishwanath
, Ashok Jammigumpula
, Abhiram N. Purohith
, Sonia Shenoy
, Samir Kumar Praharaj^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Bodily distress disorder (BDD) is a challenging condition often unresponsive to pharmacotherapy. This case series explores accelerated transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS) as an adjunctive treatment in five patients with treatment-resistant BDD. Patients received 2–5 daily sessions over approximately 10 days, targeting the left motor cortex or dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Four patients showed significant pain reduction (Visual Analogue Scale [VAS] scores reduced from 9.0 ± 1.4 to 3.8 ± 2.2) and overall symptom improvement, with minimal adverse effects. These findings suggest that atDCS is a safe, feasible and potentially effective intervention for BDD.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	335-338
Number of pages	4
Journal	Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine
Volume	48
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/02537176261442676
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Clinical Psychology
Psychiatry and Mental health

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10.1177/02537176261442676

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title = "Accelerated Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation as an Adjunctive Treatment for Rapid Symptom Relief in Bodily Distress Disorder: A Case Series",

abstract = "Bodily distress disorder (BDD) is a challenging condition often unresponsive to pharmacotherapy. This case series explores accelerated transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS) as an adjunctive treatment in five patients with treatment-resistant BDD. Patients received 2–5 daily sessions over approximately 10 days, targeting the left motor cortex or dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Four patients showed significant pain reduction (Visual Analogue Scale [VAS] scores reduced from 9.0 ± 1.4 to 3.8 ± 2.2) and overall symptom improvement, with minimal adverse effects. These findings suggest that atDCS is a safe, feasible and potentially effective intervention for BDD.",

author = "Joseph, \{Jithin Thekkelkuthiyathottil\} and Rashmi Vishwanath and Ashok Jammigumpula and Purohith, \{Abhiram N.\} and Sonia Shenoy and Praharaj, \{Samir Kumar\}",

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year = "2026",

doi = "10.1177/02537176261442676",

language = "English",

volume = "48",

pages = "335--338",

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Accelerated Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation as an Adjunctive Treatment for Rapid Symptom Relief in Bodily Distress Disorder: A Case Series. / Joseph, Jithin Thekkelkuthiyathottil; Vishwanath, Rashmi; Jammigumpula, Ashok et al.
In: Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, Vol. 48, No. 3, 2026, p. 335-338.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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AU - Joseph, Jithin Thekkelkuthiyathottil

AU - Vishwanath, Rashmi

AU - Jammigumpula, Ashok

AU - Purohith, Abhiram N.

AU - Shenoy, Sonia

AU - Praharaj, Samir Kumar

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2026 The Author(s). This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - Bodily distress disorder (BDD) is a challenging condition often unresponsive to pharmacotherapy. This case series explores accelerated transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS) as an adjunctive treatment in five patients with treatment-resistant BDD. Patients received 2–5 daily sessions over approximately 10 days, targeting the left motor cortex or dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Four patients showed significant pain reduction (Visual Analogue Scale [VAS] scores reduced from 9.0 ± 1.4 to 3.8 ± 2.2) and overall symptom improvement, with minimal adverse effects. These findings suggest that atDCS is a safe, feasible and potentially effective intervention for BDD.

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Accelerated Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation as an Adjunctive Treatment for Rapid Symptom Relief in Bodily Distress Disorder: A Case Series

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