Comparing the Effectiveness of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment on Working Memory, Impulsivity and Self-Harm Behaviors in People with Borderline Personality

The present study was conducted with the aim of Comparing the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation and repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation treatment on working memory, impulsivity and self-harm behaviors in people with borderline personality. 

The current research is semi-experimental with pre-test-post-test and control groups. The statistical population of this research includes the clients of some counseling centers in Ardabil city in 1401. The sample of this study consisted of 45 people with borderline personality disorder who were selected by the available sampling method. This study included 3 groups and each group included 15 people. Each subject was randomly assigned to two treatment groups (tDCS and rTMS) and a control group. The tools of this research included N-back working memory test, Barratt Impulsivity questionnaire, self-harm questionnaire, tDCS and rTMS.

The results showed that the treatment of tDCS and rTMS has a significant effect on impulsivity, working memory and self-harm in borderline personality disorder patients. And the results show that after controlling the effect of the pre-test on the post-test to compare scores, working memory, impulsivity and self-harm among the three groups, there is a significant difference at the error level (0.05). The results of Bonferroni's post hoc test also showed that between the effectiveness of the two treatment methods, rTMS treatment was more effective than tDCS.

The results showed that tDCS and rTMS led to the improvement of working memory in people with borderline personality disorder and also reduced the level of impulsivity and self-harm behaviors.