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Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0172-7565

Date Available

6-8-2026

Year of Publication

2026

Document Type

Doctoral Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College

Arts and Sciences

Department/School/Program

Psychology

Faculty

Shannon Sauer-Zavala

Faculty

Michael Bardo

Abstract

Body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) are unnecessary, repetitive grooming behaviors linked to abnormalities in sensory and reward processing, as well as top-down inhibition. The left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) is implicated in these processes and plays a key role in cravings among individuals facing addiction. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting the left dlPFC shows promise in reducing craving for addictive substances. Despite phenomenological similarities between BFRBs and addictive disorders, no controlled studies have examined tDCS’s effect on BFRBs. This study used a randomized, double-blind design to examine whether a single session of anodal multifocal tDCS targeting the left dlPFC reduced urge, distress, and BFRB engagement Pre-, During-, and Post-tDCS. There were significant main effects of Timepoint, such that, compared to Pre-tDCS, individuals reported decreased urge and distress Post-tDCS. The Group (Sham vs. Active tDCS) effects and Group by Timepoint (Pre- vs. Post-tDCS) interactions were not significant for urge, distress, or BFRB engagement. These results suggest that the chosen tDCS parameters may not be sufficient for reducing urge, distress or behaviors associated with BFRBs. Future studies may consider targeting alternative regions, changing tDCS parameters, increasing measurement sensitivity, or utilizing online tDCS to enhance tDCS’s effects on BFRB-related urge and behavior.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2026.318

Archival?

Archival

Funding Information

This study was supported by Dr. Shannon Sauer-Zavala's startup fund.

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