Effectiveness of non-invasive brain stimulation for Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of non-invasive brain stimulation on core symptoms and executive function in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Methods: A search was conducted in CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Library for RCTs on non-invasive brain stimulation for children with ADHD from database inception to 7 March 2025. The control group received sham stimulation or conventional rehabilitation, while the observation group received non-invasive brain stimulation techniques. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews, and meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4. Results: Twelve studies were included, covering 336 patients and 3 interventions: rTMS, tDCS and tRNS. Meta-analysis showed non-invasive brain stimulation could significantly lower hyperactivity/impulsivity scores (SMD=-1.20, 95%CI: -1.81~-0.59, P<0.05), and increase nogo trial accuracy and N-back test accuracy. Subgroup analysis found rTMS and ≥4 weeks was effective for attention deficits. Conclusion: Non-invasive brain stimulation can effectively improve hyperactivity, impulsivity, response inhibition and working memory in children with ADHD. The improvement of attention deficits is influenced by treatment methods and treatment duration.