tDCS for ADHD: Meta-Analysis of 28 RCTs with 1,864 Participants

A systematic review and meta-analysis by Jie Li, published on figshare in April 2026, evaluates transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for treating Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. The analysis synthesizes data from 28 randomized controlled trials involving 1,864 participants, assessing efficacy on core symptoms and executive functions, as well as safety profiles. The study follows PRISMA guidelines and is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024612055).

Use Cases

• Replicate or validate the meta-analysis results based on the reported statistical outcomes and subgroup analyses.
• Investigate moderating factors for tDCS efficacy in ADHD based on the protocol details and participant data described.
• Analyze safety profiles of non-invasive brain stimulation based on the reported adverse event rates.
• Inform the design of future clinical trials based on the synthesis of existing RCT methodologies and findings.

Strengths

• Analysis is based on 28 randomized controlled trials, a substantial number for a meta-analysis.
• Includes data from 1,864 participants, providing a meaningful sample size for aggregate effects.
• Follows PRISMA guidelines and is prospectively registered, suggesting a structured, transparent methodology.
• Reports specific statistical outcomes (e.g., SMD, Hedges' g) with confidence intervals for multiple cognitive domains.

Limitations

• The dataset is a 738.1 KB DOCX file, which is a small, text-based summary rather than the underlying raw trial data.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred from the manuscript text after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for computational analysis.

Provenance

Source

figshare, authored by Jie Li.

Collection Method

Systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials.

Time Range

The temporal coverage of the included primary studies is not specified in the provided description.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-10 05:58:14

Geography

The geographic coverage of the included primary studies is not specified in the provided description.