Efficacy of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Adult Attention Deficit Disorder

An Open-lable Investigation of the Effect of rTMS on Attention in an Adult Sample Suffering From ADD

The purpose of the current open-lable study was to use low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to improve the attention deficits in a sample of adult patients suffering from attention deficit disorder. Participants received 10 sessions of rTMS over Fz (located using the EEG 10-20 international system) and underwent assessments of their attentional capacity using the gradCPT task in an fMRI scanner, before and after the intervention. Other behavioral assessments of their attention symptoms have also been conducted.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Normal intelligence level (>90)
• Diagnosis of ADD by a psychiatrist using the ADHD-RS-IV with Adult Prompts

Exclusion Criteria:

• Scores of 21 or more on BDI and/or BAI
• History of head trauma
• History of a major psychological or neurological condition
• Presence of metal in the head
• History of seizures
• Serious cardiovascular disease
• Use of medications with an impact on cognitive functions during the treatment window (patients with a constant and stable dose were included)
• Recent use of alcohol or substance abuse