OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of inhibitory transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for the treatment of behavioural abnormalities of autistic patients. METHODS: Twelve young adult patients with autistic disorder were enrolled. All subjects presented intellectual disability and most of them had speech impairment. The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) was administered as the primary outcome measure before and after a 2-week tDCS course. All subjects received 10 daily applications of 20 min/1.5 mA/cathodal (inhibitory) tDCS over the left dorso-lateral pre-frontal cortex. RESULTS: Eight out of 10 study completers improved in their abnormal behaviours, reaching an average reduction of 26.7% of the total ABC score. The remaining two patients showed no changes. In the whole group of completers, among the five subscales contributing to the significant reduction of the total score, the most remarkable and statistically significant change was seen in the subscale assessing hyperactivity and non-compliance (-35.9%, P = 0.002). No adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibitory tDCS improved the ABC rating scores for autistic behaviours. Owing to its ease of use, cost-effectiveness and the limited availability of specific treatment strategies, tDCS might be a valid therapeutic option to be tested in autistic patients.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of inhibitory transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for the treatment of behavioural abnormalities of autisticpatients. METHODS: Twelve young adult patients with autistic disorder were enrolled. All subjects presented intellectual disability and most of them had speech impairment. The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) was administered as the primary outcome measure before and after a 2-week tDCS course. All subjects received 10 daily applications of 20 min/1.5 mA/cathodal (inhibitory) tDCS over the left dorso-lateral pre-frontal cortex. RESULTS: Eight out of 10 study completers improved in their abnormal behaviours, reaching an average reduction of 26.7% of the total ABC score. The remaining two patients showed no changes. In the whole group of completers, among the five subscales contributing to the significant reduction of the total score, the most remarkable and statistically significant change was seen in the subscale assessing hyperactivity and non-compliance (-35.9%, P = 0.002). No adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibitory tDCS improved the ABC rating scores for autistic behaviours. Owing to its ease of use, cost-effectiveness and the limited availability of specific treatment strategies, tDCS might be a valid therapeutic option to be tested in autisticpatients.
Authors: Emanuela Zappulo; Maria Pia Riccio; Sandro Binda; Laura Pellegrinelli; Fabrizio Pregliasco; Antonio Riccardo Buonomo; Biagio Pinchera; Giordano D'Urso; Carmela Bravaccio; Guglielmo Borgia; Ivan Gentile Journal: In Vivo Date: 2018 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 2.155
Authors: Ivan Gentile; Emanuela Zappulo; Maria Pia Riccio; Sandro Binda; Laura Bubba; Laura Pellegrinelli; Domenico Scognamiglio; Francesca Operto; Lucia Margari; Guglielmo Borgia; Carmela Bravaccio Journal: In Vivo Date: 2017 May-Jun Impact factor: 2.155
Authors: Paulo S Boggio; Manish K Asthana; Thiago L Costa; Cláudia A Valasek; Ana A C Osório Journal: Front Neurosci Date: 2015-09-01 Impact factor: 4.677