Clinical trial NCT06272669: Cumulative and Booster Effects of Multisession Prefrontal TDCS in ASD Adolescents
Official title: Cumulative and Booster Effects of Multisession Prefrontal TDCS on Cognitive and Social Impairments in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Electroencephalography
Lead sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2024-02-22
Enrollment: 90
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 12
Maximum age (years): 21
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Intervention model description: This study comprises 3 phases: Phase 1 will be a randomized controlled trial in which 90 participants will be randomly assigned to receive either active or sham-tDCS combined with computerized executive function training for 10 consecutive working days over 2 weeks period. The other 2 phases will be an open-label, crossover phase, in which for Phase 2, participants in the sham-tDCS group will receive 10-day active tDCS and assessments will be performed before and after the 10-tDCS session. Whereas bimonthly booster tDCS sessions will be provided to all tDCS responders for the first 3 months and monthly booster tDCS in the subsequent 3 months (Total 9 sessions in phase 3), and with assessments performed every month in Phase 3.
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by disturbances in communication, poor social skills, and aberrant behavior. To date, ASD has no known cure, and the disorder remains a highly disabling condition. Recently, transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, has shown great promise as a potentially effective and cost-effective tool for reducing the core symptoms in patients with autism, such as anxiety, aggression, impulsivity, and inattention. Although the preliminary findings in patients with ASD are encouraging, it remains to be determined whether this experimental data can translate into benefits in real life. Further studies are needed to determine the factors that can lengthen the therapeutic effects or cognitive benefits of tDCS, and to determine possible risk factors associated with relapse in patients with ASD. Booster sessions of tDCS is an important component of treatment planning and prognosis and may promote better outcomes to control for resurgence of symptoms. This study has three aims. First, the investigators aim to evaluate the therapeutic effects of tDCS on improving cognitive function in patients with ASD. Second, the investigators aim to better understand the neural mechanisms underlying the neuro-enhancing effects of tDCS in patients with ASD. Third, the investigators aim to assess the effectiveness of booster treatment cycles of tDCS for enhancing cognitive and social functions in individuals with ASD.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Individuals who are confirmed by a clinical psychologist based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5th Ed (DSM-V) criteria of Autism spectrum disorder and structured interview with their parents or primary caregivers on their developmental history using the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Individuals without a confirmed diagnosis from the clinical psychologist, with a history of other neurological and psychiatric disorders and head trauma, or on psychiatric medication will be excluded from the study.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in social responsiveness - Social Responsiveness Scale-2nd edition (SRS-2)
timeFrame: Phase 1 (RCT): Week 0, week 2, week 4, and week 6 of the study (4 time points); Phase 2 (crossover): Week 0 and week 2 (2 time points); Phase 3 (follow-up): Week 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26 (6 time points)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Clinical response in tDCS outcome
timeFrame: Phase 1 (RCT): Week 0, week 2, week 4, and week 6 of the study (4 time points); Phase 2 (crossover): Week 0 and week 2 (2 time points)
measure: Change in neuropsychological measures - CANTAB® cognitive tests
timeFrame: Phase 1 (RCT): Week 0, week 2, week 4, and week 6 of the study (4 time points); Phase 2 (crossover): Week 0 and week 2 (2 time points); Phase 3 (follow-up): Week 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26 (6 time points)
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Hung Hom
country: Hong Kong
facility: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
state: Kowloon
Study officials:
References: