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Outcomes from Individual Alpha Frequency Guided Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder - A Retrospective Chart Review
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Outcomes from Individual Alpha Frequency Guided Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder - A Retrospective Chart Review

Uchenna Ezedinma, Piotr Swierkowski and Shauna Fjaagesund
Child Psychiatry and Human Development, Vol.55(4), pp.1010-1019
2024
PMCID: PMC11245416
PMID: 36367616
Appears in  UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection
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Outcomes from Individual Alpha Frequency Guided Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder - A Retrospective Chart Review1.50 MBDownloadView
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https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-022-01461-1View
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Abstract

autism spectrum disorder children electroencephalogram/electrocardiogram repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation neuromodulation UniSC Diversity Area - Disability and Inclusion UniSC Diversity Area - Life Stages
Aims and objectives: Individual alpha frequency (IAF) is a biomarker of neurophysiological functioning. The IAF-guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (alpha-rTMS) is increasingly explored in diverse neurological conditions. However, there is limited data on the efficacy and safety of alpha-rTMS in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Materials and methods: The IAF, childhood autism rating scale (CARS), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQLTM 4.0), and semi-structured interview data of patients that received 19 alpha-rTMS sessions (4 weeks) were aggregated and analysed using paired student t-test and descriptive method. Results: Data were retrieved from 28 patients (26 males, aged 3-9years (mean +/- SD age: 6.1 +/- 1.8years)). The post-alpha-rTMS data shows a significant improvement in IAF (9.4 Hz; p <= 0.025) towards 10 Hz. The CARS and PedsQLTM 4.0 surveys indicate that patients' ASD symptoms and quality of life improved significantly. Specifically, reports from semi-structured interviews suggest improved sleep trouble - the most significant comorbidity. The experiences of minor side effects such as hyperactivity resolved within two hours following alpha-rTMS sessions. Conclusion: This study presents evidence on the efficacy and safety of alpha-rTMS in improving ASD symptoms, quality of life and comorbid sleep troubles in children. However, these findings should be interpreted as preliminary pending the presentation of double-blind, randomised clinical trials.

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Pediatrics
Psychiatry
Psychology, Developmental

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