title: Effect of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation on autism: a randomized double-blind crossover trial.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC), and Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) after anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in individuals with autism. Twenty patients with autism received 5 consecutive days of both sham and active tDCS stimulation (1 mA) in a randomized double-blind crossover trial over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (F3) for 20 minutes in different orders. Measures of CARS, ATEC, and CGAS were administered before treatment and at 7 days posttreatment. The result showed statistical decrease in CARS score (P < 0.001). ATEC total was decreased from 67.25 to 58 (P < 0.001). CGAS was increased at 7 days posttreatment (P = 0.042). Our study suggests that anodal tDCS over the F3 may be a useful clinical tool in autism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Anuwat
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8629-5799
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amatachaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Narong
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6967-8600
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Auvichayapat
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Niramol
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patjanasoontorn
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Chanyut
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6170-0332
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Suphakunpinyo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Niran
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1387-9432
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ngernyam
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Benchaporn
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6966-3211
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aree-Uea
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Keattichai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Keeratitanont
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
authors.forename: Paradee
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1829-2753
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Auvichayapat
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D065908:Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation