tDCS in child and adolescent psychiatry

TDCS is a promising method for altering cortical excitability with clinical implications. It has been increasingly used in children and adolescents especially in recent years. Yet, its potential target populations, developmental aspects, and efficacy parameters still require further investigation. In this chapter, we discuss the physiological mechanisms underlying acute and neuroplastic after-effects of tDCS in the developing brain. In the major part of this chapter, we provide an up-to-date overview of tDCS applications in child- and adolescent-related disorders, including neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders according to the DSM-5 classification of disorders. Moreover, we discuss developmental aspects of stimulation parameters that contribute to tDCS-induced acute and neuroplastic after-effects, which need to be adapted in the developing brain. Finally, we introduce other potentially interesting noninvasive electrical brain stimulation techniques suited for application in children and adolescents.