A Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Background Current standardized treatments for cognitive impairment in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder remain limited and their efficacy restricted. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising tool for enhancing cognitive performance in several neuropsychiatric disorders....

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Cosmo, Camila, Fontes Baptista, Abrahao, Nogueira de Araujo, Arao, Silva do Rosario, Raphael, Garcia Vivas Miranda, Jose, Montoya, Pedro, Ponde de Sena, Eduardo
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2015
País:España
Institución:Conselleria de Salut i Consum del Govern de les Illes Balears
Repositorio:Docusalut
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docusalut.com:20.500.13003/10752
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13003/10752
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Double-Blind Method
Middle Aged
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Humans
Female
Adult
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Prefrontal Cortex
Male
Masculino
Método Doble Ciego
Estimulación Transcraneal de Corriente Directa
Trastorno por Déficit de Atención con Hiperactividad
Humanos
Persona de Mediana Edad
Femenino
Adulto
Corteza Prefrontal
Descripción
Sumario:Background Current standardized treatments for cognitive impairment in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder remain limited and their efficacy restricted. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising tool for enhancing cognitive performance in several neuropsychiatric disorders. Nevertheless, the effects of tDCS in reducing cognitive impairment in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have not yet been investigated. Methods A parallel, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial was conducted to examine the efficacy of tDCS on the modulation of inhibitory control in adults with ADHD. Thirty patients were randomly allocated to each group and performed a go/no-go task before and after a single session of either anodal stimulation (1 mA) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or sham stimulation. Results A nonparametric two-sample Wilcoxon rank-sum (Mann-Whitney) test revealed no significant differences between the two groups of individuals with ADHD (tDCS vs. sham) in regard to behavioral performance in the go/no go tasks. Furthermore, the effect sizes of group differences after treatment for the primary outcome measures-correct responses, impulsivity and omission errors-were small. No adverse events resulting from stimulation were reported. Conclusion According to these findings, there is no evidence in support of the use of anodal stimulation over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex as an approach for improving inhibitory control in ADHD patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first clinical study to assess the cognitive effects of tDCS in individuals with ADHD. Further research is needed to assess the clinical efficacy of tDCS in this population.