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Meta-Analysis
. 2021 Jul:48:89-109.
doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.02.017. Epub 2021 Mar 24.

Transcranial direct current stimulation in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Sara García-González  1 , Jorge Lugo-Marín  1 , Imanol Setien-Ramos  2 , Laura Gisbert-Gustemps  3 , Gara Arteaga-Henríquez  4 , Emiliano Díez-Villoria  5 , Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga  6
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Transcranial direct current stimulation in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Sara García-González et al. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that has gained relevance in recent years as an alternative treatment for neuropsychiatric conditions. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the use of tDCS in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Both electronic and manual searches were conducted to identify studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals addressing the use of tDCS in ASD population. A total of 16 studies fulfilled the criteria to be included in the review. Studies were conducted both in child and adult population. Anodal stimulation on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was the most commonly chosen methodology. Outcomes addressed ASD symptoms and neuropsychological functions. Meta-analytic synthesis identified improvements in social, health, and behavioral problem domains of the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist. Limitations included high heterogeneity in the methodology and low-efficacy study designs (pre-post and single-case studies). Recent controlled trials shed promising results for the use of tDCS in ASD. A standardized stimulation protocol and a consensus in the measures used in the evaluation of the efficacy are imperative.

Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Systematic review; Transcranial direct current stimulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest Sara García-Gonzalez, Jorge Lugo-Marín, Imanol Setien-Ramos, and Emiliano Díez-Villoria: These authors have no conflicts of interest. Laura Gisbert-Gustemps: This author received travel awards for taking part in psychiatric meetings from Shire in the last 3 years. Gara Arteaga-Henríquez: This author was funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 728018. Josep Antoni Ramos-Quiroga: This author was on the speakers’ bureau and/or acted as consultant for Eli-Lilly, Janssen-Cilag, Novartis, Shire, Takeda, Lundbeck, Almirall, Braingaze, Sincrolab, Medice and Rubió in the last 5 years. He also received travel awards (air tickets + hotel) for taking part in psychiatric meetings from Janssen-Cilag, Rubió, Shire, Takeda, Medice and Eli- Lilly. The Department of Psychiatry chaired by him received unrestricted educational and research support from the following companies in the last 5 years: Eli-Lilly, Lundbeck, Janssen-Cilag, Actelion, Shire, Ferrer, Oryzon, Roche, Psious, and Rubió.