Trigeminal stimulation
Initial positive results have been found for trigeminal stimulation.1 The Effect size is said to have been 0.5.2 Trigeminal stimulation is said to improve executive dysfunction (organizational problems) in children with ADHD.3
A first device for trigeminal stimulation (Monarch eTNS System) has been approved by the FDA. In a double-blind placebo study, the device significantly improved ADHD symptoms in children between the ages of 8 and 12 within 4 weeks.4
However, it remains to be seen whether neurostimulation can be reliably used as a treatment tool for ADHD and whether the improvements continue after treatment has ended.5
McGough, Sturm, Cowen, Tung, Salgari, Leuchter, Cook, Sugar, Loo (2019): Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled, Pilot Study of Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation for ADHD. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2019 Jan 28. pii: S0890-8567(19)30045-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2018.11.013. ↥
Grigolon, Blumberger, Daskalakis, Trevizol (2019): Editorial: Transcutaneous Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation for Children With ADHD. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2019 Feb 7. pii: S0890-8567(19)30095-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2019.01.006. ↥
Loo SK, Salgari GC, Ellis A, Cowen J, Dillon A, McGough JJ (2021): Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Cognitive and Electroencephalographic Predictors of Treatment Response. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2021 Jul;60(7):856-864.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2020.09.021. PMID: 33068751; PMCID: PMC9714960. ↥
Voelker (2019): Trigeminal Nerve Stimulator for ADHD. JAMA. 2019;321(21):2066. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.6992 n = 68 ↥
Wong, Zaman (2019): Neurostimulation in Treating ADHD. Psychiatr Danub. 2019 Sep;31(Suppl 3):265-275. ↥