A study to understand the benefit of using novel interventions such as transcranial direct current stimulation for treating restricted repetitive behaviours in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) as an add on treatment for Restricted Repetitive Behaviour Domain of Autism Spectrum Disorder - an open label prospective study - NIL

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Phase 3

Study type

Interventional

Source

CTRI

Registry ID

CTRI/2023/11/059721

Enrollment

Registered

2023-11-09

Start date

Unknown

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2024-12-09

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Health Condition 1: F84- Pervasive developmental disorders

Interventions

Intervention1: Transcranial direct current stimulation: Application of 2mA current- anodal stimulation of left Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and cathodal stimulation of Supplementary motor area- for

Eligibility

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Diagnosis of Autism spectrum disorder (DSM-5) and confirmed by INCLEN diagnostic tool; 2. Age 10-18 years; 3. Any sex; 4. Having clinically significant Restricted and repetitive behaviours, causing functional impairment; 5. Written informed consent of parents and informed assent from adolescents ( >12 years).

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Uncontrolled Seizure disorder/ Severe neurological illness/ structural brain disease; 2. Suicidal risk / any psychiatric emergency; 3. Exclusion of obsessive-compulsive disorder as aetiology for repetitive behaviours- via clinical evaluation. 4. Clinical diagnosis of severe - profound intellectual disability; 5. Acute mood / psychotic disorder (As RRBs could worsen during a symptomatic phase of comorbid psychiatric disorder); 6. Patients who are uncooperative for treatment due to aggression or severe behavioural issues. 7. Any Contraindication for Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation such as broken or abnormal skin at the site of electrode application, holes in the skull from trauma or surgery.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Reduction in Restricted repetitive behaviourseverity as measured on the Repetitive behaviour scale- revisedTimepoint: Baseline, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 13 weeks	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Improvement in executive functioning as a mediator of improvement in RRBsTimepoint: Baseline BRIEF tool assessment, followed by 2 weeks, 6 weeks & 13 weeks	—

Countries

India

Contacts

Public ContactDr Sakhardande Kasturi Atmaram

National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS)

sagarjohn@gmail.com08026995351

Outcome results

None listed

Source: CTRI (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026