Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and impulsive aggression are linked to transdiagnostic neurocognitive deficits. This includes impaired inhibitory control over inappropriate responses. Prior studies showed that inhibitory control can be improved by modulating the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in combination with inhibitory control training. However, its clinical potential remains unclear. We therefore aimed to replicate a tDCS-enhanced inhibitory control training in a clinical sample and test whether this reduces stress-related mental health symptoms.

In a preregistered double-blind randomized-controlled trial, 100 active-duty military personnel and post-active veterans with PTSD, anxiety, or impulsive aggression symptoms underwent a 5-session intervention where a stop-signal response inhibition training was combined with anodal tDCS over the right IFG for 20 min at 1.25 mA. Inhibitory control was evaluated with the emotional go/no-go task and implicit association test. Stress-related symptoms were assessed by self-report at baseline, post-intervention, and after 3-months and 1-year follow-ups.

Active relative to sham tDCS neither influenced performance during inhibitory control training nor on assessment tasks, and did also not significantly influence self-reported symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, impulsive aggression, or depression at post-assessment or follow-up.

Our results do not support the idea that anodal tDCS over the right IFG at 1.25 mA enhances response inhibition training in a clinical sample, or that this tDCS-training combination can reduce stress-related symptoms. Applying different tDCS parameters or combining tDCS with more challenging tasks might provide better conditions to modulate cognitive functioning and stress-related symptoms.

创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）、焦虑和冲动攻击与跨诊断神经认知缺陷有关。这包括对不当反应的抑制控制受损。先前的研究表明，通过经颅直流电刺激（tDCS）结合抑制控制训练来调节右额下回（IFG）可以改善抑制控制。然而，其临床潜力仍不清楚。因此，我们的目标是在临床样本中复制 tDCS 增强的抑制控制训练，并测试这是否可以减少与压力相关的心理健康症状。

在一项预先注册的双盲随机对照试验中，100 名患有 PTSD、焦虑或冲动攻击症状的现役军人和退伍军人接受了为期 5 次的干预，其中停止信号反应抑制训练与阳极 tDCS 相结合在右侧 IFG 上以 1.25 mA 电流持续 20 分钟。通过情绪进行/不进行任务和内隐关联测试来评估抑制控制。通过基线、干预后以及 3 个月和 1 年随访后的自我报告来评估压力相关症状。

与假 tDCS 相比，主动 tDCS 既不影响抑制控制训练期间的表现，也不影响评估任务的表现，也不会显着影响评估后或随访时自我报告的 PTSD、焦虑、冲动攻击或抑郁症状。

我们的结果并不支持以下观点：1.25 mA 电流下的右侧 IFG 上的阳极 tDCS 可以增强临床样本中的反应抑制训练，或者这种 tDCS 训练组合可以减轻压力相关症状。应用不同的 tDCS 参数或将 tDCS 与更具挑战性的任务相结合可能会为调节认知功能和压力相关症状提供更好的条件。