The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with cognitive training on EEG spectral power in adolescent boys with ADHD: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial

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

IBRO Neuroscience Reports (Jun 2022)

The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with cognitive training on EEG spectral power in adolescent boys with ADHD: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial

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

Affiliations

Samuel J. Westwood: Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AB, UK; School of Psychology, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY UK; Department of Psychology, School of Social Science, University of Westminster, London W1W 6UW, UK; Correspondence to: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - PO85 Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience King’s College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK.
Natali Bozhilova: Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AB, UK; School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK; Correspondence to: School of Psychology Elizabeth Fry Building, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK.
Marion Criaud: Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AB, UK
Sheut-Ling Lam: Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AB, UK
Steve Lukito: Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AB, UK
Sophie Wallace-Hanlon: Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AB, UK; School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
Olivia S. Kowalczyk: Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AB, UK; Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AB, UK
Afroditi Kostara: Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AB, UK
Joseph Mathew: Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AB, UK
Bruce E. Wexler: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 06520–8096, USA
Roi Cohen Kadosh: School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
Philip Asherson: Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AB, UK
Katya Rubia: Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AB, UK

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12
pp. 55 – 64

Abstract

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Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a possible alternative to psychostimulants in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but its mechanisms of action in children and adolescents with ADHD are poorly understood. We conducted the first 15-session, sham-controlled study of anodal tDCS over right inferior frontal cortex (rIFC) combined with cognitive training (CT) in 50 children/adolescents with ADHD. We investigated the mechanisms of action on resting and Go/No-Go Task-based QEEG measures in a subgroup of 23 participants with ADHD (n, sham = 10; anodal tDCS = 13). We failed to find a significant sham versus anodal tDCS group differences in QEEG spectral power during rest and Go/No-Go Task performance, a correlation between QEEG and Go/No-Go Task performance, and changes in clinical and cognitive measures. These findings extend the non-significant clinical and cognitive effects in our sample of 50 children/adolescents with ADHD. Given that the subgroup of 23 participants would have been underpowered, the interpretation of our findings is limited and should be used as a foundation for future investigations. Larger, adequately powered randomized controlled trials should explore different protocols titrated to the individual and using comprehensive measures to assess cognitive, clinical, and neural effects of tDCS and its underlying mechanisms of action in ADHD.

Published in IBRO Neuroscience Reports

ISSN: 2667-2421 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/ibro-neuroscience-reports

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