Samuel J Westwood1, Joaquim Radua1, Katya Rubia1. 1. From the Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom (Westwood, Rubia); the Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain (Radua); the Mental Health Research Networking Centre (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain (Radua); the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatric Research and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Tomtebodavägen 18A, Stockholm, Sweden (Radua); and the Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, United Kingdom (Radua).
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) or transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) could provide treatment alternatives to stimulant medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), given some evidence for improvements in cognition and clinical symptoms. However, despite a lack of solid evidence for their use, rTMS and tDCS are already offered clinically and commercially in ADHD. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to critically appraise rTMS and tDCS studies in ADHD to inform good research and clinical practice. METHODS: A systematic search (up to February 2019) identified 18 studies (rTMS 4, tDCS 14; 311 children and adults with ADHD) stimulating mainly the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). We included 12 anodal tDCS studies (232 children and adults with ADHD) in 3 random-effects meta-analyses of cognitive measures of attention, inhibition and processing speed. RESULTS: The review of rTMS and tDCS showed positive effects in some functions but not others, and little evidence for clinical improvement. The meta-analyses of 1 to 5 sessions of anodal tDCS over mainly the left or bilateral dlPFC showed trend-level improvements in inhibition and processing speed, but not in attention. LIMITATIONS: Heterogeneity in stimulation parameters, patient age and outcome measures limited the interpretation of findings. CONCLUSION: The review and meta-analysis showed limited evidence that 1 to 5 sessions of rTMS and tDCS, mostly of the dlPFC, improved clinical or cognitive measures of ADHD. These findings did not support using rTMS or tDCS of the dlPFC as an alternative neurotherapy for ADHD as yet. Larger, multi-session stimulation studies identifying more optimal sites and stimulation parameters in combination with cognitive training could achieve larger effects.
BACKGROUND: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) or transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) could provide treatment alternatives to stimulant medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), given some evidence for improvements in cognition and clinical symptoms. However, despite a lack of solid evidence for their use, rTMS and tDCS are already offered clinically and commercially in ADHD. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to critically appraise rTMS and tDCS studies in ADHD to inform good research and clinical practice. METHODS: A systematic search (up to February 2019) identified 18 studies (rTMS 4, tDCS 14; 311 children and adults with ADHD) stimulating mainly the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). We included 12 anodal tDCS studies (232 children and adults with ADHD) in 3 random-effects meta-analyses of cognitive measures of attention, inhibition and processing speed. RESULTS: The review of rTMS and tDCS showed positive effects in some functions but not others, and little evidence for clinical improvement. The meta-analyses of 1 to 5 sessions of anodal tDCS over mainly the left or bilateral dlPFC showed trend-level improvements in inhibition and processing speed, but not in attention. LIMITATIONS: Heterogeneity in stimulation parameters, patientage and outcome measures limited the interpretation of findings. CONCLUSION: The review and meta-analysis showed limited evidence that 1 to 5 sessions of rTMS and tDCS, mostly of the dlPFC, improved clinical or cognitive measures of ADHD. These findings did not support using rTMS or tDCS of the dlPFC as an alternative neurotherapy for ADHD as yet. Larger, multi-session stimulation studies identifying more optimal sites and stimulation parameters in combination with cognitive training could achieve larger effects.
Authors: Samuel J Westwood; Natali Bozhilova; Marion Criaud; Sheut-Ling Lam; Steve Lukito; Sophie Wallace-Hanlon; Olivia S Kowalczyk; Afroditi Kostara; Joseph Mathew; Bruce E Wexler; Roi Cohen Kadosh; Philip Asherson; Katya Rubia Journal: IBRO Neurosci Rep Date: 2021-12-24
Authors: Barbara D'Aiello; Andrea Battisti; Giulia Lazzaro; Pierpaolo Pani; Pietro De Rossi; Silvia Di Vara; Italo Pretelli; Floriana Costanzo; Stefano Vicari; Deny Menghini Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-11 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Joshua B Ewen; Nicolaas A Puts; Stewart H Mostofsky; Paul S Horn; Donald L Gilbert Journal: Cereb Cortex Date: 2021-10-22 Impact factor: 4.861