Role of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Patients With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre

Status: Completed

Conditions: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Treatments: Device: tDCS sham; Device: tDCS active

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02580890

13-0498

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is effective in the treatment attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Randomized, double-blind Controlled Clinical Trial

Subjects Adults (between 18 and 59 years of age) with ADHD who meet the inclusion criteria and who agree to participate in the study Will recruit from advertisements and clinical referrals to a PRODAH

Active tDCS Anode - right DLPFC Cathode - left DLPFC Electric current is 2mA - Current is applied for 20 min

Sham tDCS Same assembly is used Current is applied for 30 sec

Both groups 5 stimulation sessions on consecutive days

Following tools at Baseline, 1st week, 2 st week, 3st week and 4st week Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) SDS - Sheehan Disability Scale CGI - Clinical Global Impression

Full description

Randomized, double-blind Controlled Clinical Trial

Subjects Adults (between 18 and 59 years of age) with ADHD who meet the inclusion criteria and who agree to participate in the study Will recruit from advertisements and clinical referrals to a PRODAH

Active tDCS Anode - right DLPFC Cathode - left DLPFC Electric current is 2mA - Current is applied for 20 min

Sham tDCS Same assembly is used Current is applied for 30 sec

Both groups 5 stimulation sessions on consecutive days

Following tools at Baseline, 1st week, 2 st week, 3st week and 4st week Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) SDS - Sheehan Disability Scale CGI - Clinical Global Impression

Enrollment: 16 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age between 18 to 45 years
• Established diagnosis of ADHD according to DSM V through clinical interview and diagnostic criteria applied by trained physicians.
• ASRS greater than 21 in Part A or B
• Consent form signed
• Ability to read and interpret the self-applicable scales

Exclusion criteria

• Medication change in the last month

• The following comorbidities:

  1. Depressive episode with BDI greater than 9
  2. Anxiety Disorder with greater than 15 BAI
  3. Bipolar Disorder with depressive symptoms, manic or hypomanic in the last 6 months
  4. Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
  5. Autism
  6. dependence of substances
  7. Mental retardation or dementia

• Epilepsy or anticonvulsant use

• Clinically significant medical condition

• Contraindications for tDCS (metallic implants, cranioencefálica important anatomical change ...)

Exclusion criteria retrospectively: two fouls in a row dating to stimulation or three fouls in total days.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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16 participants in 2 patient groups

tDCS active

Experimental group

Description:

Stimulation will be performed with the anode placed over the right DLPFC, and the cathode placed on the left DLPFC. The applied electric current will be 2mA and is going to be applied for 20 minutes. The electrodes have a size of 35cm ² each and will be covered by sponges soaked with saline. The stimulator to be used will be the "Chattanooga Ionto ISO 13485". Stimulation will be performed for 5 days, one time per day.

Treatment:

Device: tDCS active

tDCS sham

Sham Comparator group

Description:

For the sham tDCS, the same setting will be used. However, the current is going to be applied for only 30 seconds, not being able to induce effects on neuronal excitability.

Treatment:

Device: tDCS sham