Cited by 111Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation StudiesAttention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderObsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders

Transcranial direct current stimulation improves clinical symptoms in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Soff, Cornelia, Sotnikova, Anna, Christiansen, Hanna, Becker, Katja, Siniatchkin, Michael·2017·Journal of Neural Transmission

Abstract

Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the prefrontal cortex has repeatedly been shown to improve working memory. As patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are characterized by both underactivation of the prefrontal cortex and deficits in working memory that correlate with clinical symptoms, it is hypothesized that the modulation of prefrontal activity with tDCS in patients with ADHD increases performance in working memory and reduces symptoms of ADHD. To test this hypothesis, fifteen adolescents with ADHD (12-16 years old, three girls and 12 boys) were treated according to the randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled, crossover design with either 1 mA anodal tDCS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or with the sham protocol 5 days each with a 2 weeks pause between these conditions. Anodal tDCS caused a significant reduction in clinical symptoms of inattention and impulsivity in adolescents with ADHD compared to sham stimulation. The clinical effects were supported by a significant reduction in inattention and hyperactivity in a standardized working memory test (QbTest). The described effects were more pronounced 7 days after the end of stimulation, a fact which emphasizes the long-lasting clinical and neuropsychological changes after tDCS. This study provides the first evidence that tDCS may reduce symptoms of ADHD and improve neuropsychological functioning in adolescents and points on the potential of tDCS as a form of treatment for ADHD.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s00702-016-1646-y

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  • In a randomized double-blinded sham-controlled crossover study in 15 ADHD adolescents, five sessions of 1 mA tDCS over 5 days produced significant improvements in inattention symptoms only, which were stronger 7 days later.

    “The other study tested five sessions of 1 mA tDCS sessions of 20 min over 5 days in 15 ADHD adolescents in a randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled crossover study with 2 weeks break between conditions and found significant improvements in inattention symptoms only, which were stronger 7 days later.”
  • In the same study, improvements were found in a WM/sustained attention task of motor activity immediately after stimulation and 7 days later and in attention measures (reaction time and its variability) after 7 days only, but no effects on impulsiveness measures such as commission errors or premature responses.

    “Furthermore, in cognition, they also found improvements in a WM/sustained attention task of motor activity immediately after stimulation and 7 days later and in attention measures (reaction time and its variability) after 7 days only, but no effects on impulsiveness measures such as commission errors or premature responses (Soff et al., 2017).”

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Authors
Soff, C., Sotnikova, A., Christiansen, H., Becker, K., & Siniatchkin, M.
Affiliations
  • Philipps University of Marburg (DE)
  • Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (DE)
Corresponding author
Siniatchkin, Michael
Venue
Journal of Neural Transmission
Published
2016-11-16
Volume
124
Issue
1
Pages
133-144
ISSN
  • 0300-9564 (ISSN-L)
  • 1435-1463
OpenAlex
W2554499747
Cited by
111
References
81
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 4
FWCI
3.65
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Neural Transmission (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
Keywords
transcranial direct current stimulation, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, adolescents, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anodal tDCS, working memory, inattention, impulsivity, hyperactivity, non-invasive brain stimulation
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Attention, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Impulsive Behavior, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Neuropsychological Tests, Treatment Outcome, Prefrontal Cortex, Cross-Over Studies, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

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