Using mild electrical brain stimulation plus DBT skills training for adults with ADHD
Official title: Effects and Mechanisms of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training in Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Run by Nanjing Medical University · NCT07565402 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will try adding mild electrical brain stimulation (tDCS) to DBT skills training to see if it helps adults with ADHD improve attention, impulse control, and daily functioning.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 55 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Nanjing Medical University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Nanjing, Jiangsu) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 1, 2026 |
| Main results expected | June 21, 2028 |
| Study ends | September 1, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | May 4, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07565402 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults 18–55 years old with a DSM-5 diagnosis of ADHD confirmed by DIVA-5, who are right-handed, medically stable, willing to attend in-person sessions, and able to give informed consent are the ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals with other neurological or psychiatric disorders, intracranial metal or electronic implants, recent ECT, pregnancy or breastfeeding, planned ADHD medication changes, or who are not right-handed may not benefit or be eligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The study delivers transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) alongside Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training (DBT-ST) to right-handed adults aged 18–55 who meet DSM-5 criteria for ADHD as confirmed by the Chinese DIVA-5 diagnostic interview. Participants with neurological or other psychiatric disorders, cranial implants, recent ECT, pregnancy/breastfeeding, severe physical illness, or planned medication changes are excluded. Clinical symptom measures and executive-function tests, and possibly neurophysiological markers, are used to track outcomes and examine mechanisms. Treatment sessions and follow-ups are conducted on site at Nanjing Brain Hospital.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the combined approach could improve attention, impulse control, and everyday functioning more than DBT skills training alone.
How similar studies have gone: Separate small studies have reported modest benefits from tDCS on cognition and from DBT-ST on emotion and behavior, but combining these interventions for adult ADHD is relatively novel and has limited prior evidence.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Meet the diagnostic criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Diagnosis confirmed using the Chinese version of the Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults (DIVA-5). * Aged between 18 and 55 years. * Right-handed. * Voluntary participation with provision of written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of neurological disorders or other psychiatric disorders. * Severe physical illness. * Receipt of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or other physical treatments within 6 months prior to enrollment. * Planned changes in ADHD-related medication before the final follow-up assessment. * Contraindications to tDCS (e.g., intracranial metal or electronic implants, skull plates, or other cranial implants). * Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Where it's running
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Nanjing Brain Hospital
Nanjing, Jiangsu, China Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Chun Wang, PhD — Nanjing Brain Hospital
- Study coordinator: Chun Wang, PhD
- Email: wang_chun@nju.edu.cn
- Phone: 15850566376
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.