Comparison of the Effectiveness of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and Computer-based Cognitive Rehabilitation on Improving Impulsivity in Children with Attention Deficit- Hyperactivity Disorder

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Transcranial Direct Current Brain Stimulation (tDCS) and computer-based cognitive rehabilitation on improving impulsivity in children with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder.

The current research design was quasi-experimental with pre-test-post-test and control group. 60 children with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder were selected by purposeful sampling and randomly placed in three groups: experiment 1, experiment 2, and control (20 people in each group). Data were collected using Connors Parent Rating Scale (1978), Raven's Progressive Matrices Test (2000), and Barrett's impulsivity questionnaire (1995). The subjects of the first experimental group received Transcranial Direct Brain Stimulation and the second experimental group also received Captain Log's rehabilitation intervention. The control group did not receive any intervention. Data were analyzed with covariance analysis and Bonferroni's post hoc test.

The results showed that experimental groups had lower impulsivity compared with the control group. Also, by controlling the effect of the pre-test in the two experimental groups, there is a significant difference between the two methods of transcranial direct current brain stimulation and computer-based cognitive rehabilitation (P<0.05), and transcranial direct current brain stimulation is more effective in improving the impulsivity in children with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder.

According to the results, it can be said that the intervention of transcranial direct brain stimulation and cognitive rehabilitation was effective in improving impulsivity in children with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder. Therefore, both interventions can be used to improve impulsivity in these children.