ERIC Number: EJ1300591
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Jul
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-3613
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation over the Posterior Superior Temporal Sulcus for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A 4-Week Randomized Blinded Controlled Trial Followed by Another 4-Week Open-Label Intervention
Ni, Hsing-Chang; Chen, Yi-Lung; Chao, Yi-Ping; Wu, Chen-Te; Wu, Yu-Yu; Liang, Sophie Hsin-Yi; Chin, Wei-Chih; Chou, Tai-Li; Gau, Susan Shur-Fen; Huang, Ying-Zu; Lin, Hsiang-Yuan
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, v25 n5 p1279-1294 Jul 2021
The posterior superior temporal sulcus is a potential therapeutic target of brain stimulation for autism spectrum disorder. We conducted a 4-week randomized, single-blind parallel sham-controlled trial, followed by additional 4-week open-label intervention to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy regarding intermittent theta burst stimulation over the bilateral posterior superior temporal sulcus in autism spectrum disorder. In total, 78 intellectually able children and adolescents were randomized to the active (n = 40) and sham groups (n = 38). During the first 4 weeks, the active group received two-session/week intermittent theta burst stimulation, whereas the sham group received the same number of sham stimulation. After unblinding, both groups received eight-session real stimulation over the additional 4 weeks. In total, 91% participants completed the protocol with mild and transitory side-effects. There was no significant group-by-time interaction for active versus sham group on clinical symptoms and social cognitive performances in the first 4 weeks. The within-group analysis revealed 8 weeks (including a 4-week blind trial and a 4-week open-label intervention) of intermittent theta burst stimulation achieved greater efficacy than 4-week interventions. Participants with higher intelligence, better social cognitive performances, alongside less attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder severity at baseline, were more likely to be responders. Our study demonstrated the feasibility of long-term intermittent theta burst stimulation over the posterior superior temporal sulcus in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. However, the findings from the first 4-week blind trial do not support the therapeutic efficacy of intermittent theta burst stimulation over the posterior superior temporal sulcus on the clinical symptoms and cognitive performance of social impairment, given the current stimulation protocol. The exploratory analyses suggest that the therapeutic efficacy might be moderated by several individual characteristics and more intermittent theta burst stimulation sessions.
Descriptors: Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Children, Brain Hemisphere Functions, Adolescents, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Intelligence Quotient, Cognitive Ability, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Severity (of Disability), Program Effectiveness, Foreign Countries, Magnets, Stimulation, Intervention, Social Cognition
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Taiwan
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule; Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children; Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A