Effect of tDCS along with relaxation technique on anxiety level in students preparing for competitive exams: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

Anxiety is the most significant obstacle to academic success. Students with anxiety disorders have a passive approach to their studies. Therefore, the objective of the study is to determine whether Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) along with the Relaxation technique reduces the anxiety level in competitive exam students. We are conducting a pilot, randomized study on subjects n= 11. Subjects were randomly allocated into experimental tDCS (2mA, 20 min anode over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and cathode over the right supraorbital cortex) along with relaxation technique and control groups (Relaxation). The CSAI-2R scale was completed by samples before and after the intervention. In between-groups analysis, statistically non-significant result (p value> 0.05). In conclusion, the results of the present research showed that tDCS along with the relaxation technique proves to be an effective treatment for reducing anxiety levels in competitive exam students and improving their academic performance.焦虑是阻碍学业成就达成的最显著障碍。焦虑障碍患者在学习过程中多采取被动应对策略。有鉴于此，本研究旨在探讨经颅直流电刺激（Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, tDCS）联合放松疗法能否降低竞争性考试考生的焦虑水平。本研究针对11名受试者开展一项先导性随机对照试验。受试者被随机分配至两组：实验组接受经颅直流电刺激（参数设置为2mA、刺激时长20分钟，阳极放置于左侧背外侧前额叶皮层，阴极放置于右侧眶上皮层）联合放松疗法，对照组仅接受放松疗法。所有受试者在干预前后均完成了竞技情境焦虑量表第二版修订版（CSAI-2R）的测评。组间分析未获得具有统计学意义的结果（p值>0.05）。综上，本研究结果表明，经颅直流电刺激联合放松疗法可有效降低竞争性考试考生的焦虑水平，并改善其学业表现。