Recruiting

tDCS

Sponsor:

Massachusetts General Hospital

Code:

NCT05354232

Conditions

Attention Deficit Disorder

Attention Deficit Disorder With Hyperactivity

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 65

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

2 mA transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

1 mA transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

Sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

Study Details

Brief summary:

The investigators are investigating whether home-based tDCS over the course of four weeks can improve ADHD symptom severity and improve dysexecutive functioning (cognitive control). Further, the investigators are investigating whether there is a dose-dependent response to tDCS.

Conditions

Attention Deficit Disorder

Attention Deficit Disorder With Hyperactivity

Study ID

NCT05354232

Start date

Jul 1, 2022

Status verified date

Dec, 2025

Completion date

May, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

May, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 65

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male and female outpatients 18-65 years of age
2. A diagnosis of ADD/ADHD or meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Contraindication to tDCS: history or epilepsy, metallic implants in the head and neck, brain stimulators, vagus nerve stimulators, VP shunt, pacemakers, pregnancy.
2. Active substance dependence (except for tobacco).
3. Pregnant or nursing females.
4. Inability to participate in testing procedures.
5. Premorbid neurological conditions (including neurovascular and neurodegenerative diseases such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, Parkinson's, AD and other dementias) and severe psychiatric disorders (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia).

Study Design

Enrollment

60 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: 2mA transcranial direct current stimulation

experimental: 1mA transcranial direct current stimulation

sham comparator: Sham transcranial direct current stimulation

Interventions

2 mA transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

tDCS is a non-invasive neuromodulatory technique that has previously demonstrated the ability to transiently modulate cognitive domains in both healthy and psychiatric populations. In the 2mA condition, the investigators will assist the administration of a 2mA current stimulation from the device.

1 mA transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

tDCS is a non-invasive neuromodulatory technique that has previously demonstrated the ability to transiently modulate cognitive domains in both healthy and psychiatric populations. In the 1mA condition, the investigators will assist the administration of a 1mA current stimulation from the device.

Sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

tDCS is a non-invasive neuromodulatory technique that has previously demonstrated the ability to transiently modulate cognitive domains in both healthy and psychiatric populations. In the sham condition, the investigators will assist the administration of a sham stimulation from the device.

Primary outcome measure

  • P300 Amplitude during Erickson Flanker Task [ Time Frame: Week 1 - Week 8 of Study ]
  • Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale [ Time Frame: Week 1 - Week 8 of Study ]
  • Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale [ Time Frame: Week 1 - Week 8 of Study ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

DNN Inbox

6177265348mghdnn@mgh.harvard.edu

Locations

Massachusetts General Hospital

Recruiting

Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States, 02129

Contacts

DNN Inbox

6177268780mghdnn@mgh.harvard.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Massachusetts General Hospital

Last update posted

Dec 12, 2025

Last verified

Dec, 2025

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Massachusetts General Hospital on 2025-12-12.