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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Evaluating the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on sleep difficulties in children with autism spectrum disorder: a randomized controlled trial
Sleep Advances, Vol.6(4), pp.1-14
12/2025
PMID: 41445722
Appears in Recent Faculty of Education Publications
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Abstract
Study Objectives: Evaluate the effect and safety of alpha rhythm-guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (alpha-rTMS) on sleep difficulties in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Methods: Twenty children (6-12 years old; 16 males; 4 females) with ASD level 2 were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to a treatment group (TG) or a waitlist control group (WLCG) (T1). The TG received ten alpha-rTMS sessions over two weeks, while the WLCG acted as control for that period (T2). Next, the WLCG received alpha-rTMS for two weeks (T3). All study participants were followed up at one (T4) and four (T5) months. Sleep difficulties were measured using the Children's Sleep Habit Questionnaire (CSHQ), Actigraphy, and Polysomnography (PSG).
Results: Group-by-time interactions indicated that the TG had greater improvements than the WLCG in total CSHQ score (p=.008) and, bedtime resistance (p=.003), sleep onset delay (p=.004), and sleep duration (p=.003) subdomain scores. When the WLCG received the alpha-rTMS, there were improvements in their sleep-disordered breathing (p=.001), parasomnia (p=.002) and sleep duration (p=.018) subdomain scores, while PSG data showed improved Waking After Sleep Onset (WASO) (p=.014), Sleep efficiency (p=.046), and N2 stage (p=.039). The improved CSHQ scores persisted, with actigraphy data showing significant improvement in WASO at T4 and T5. Side effects of alpha-rTMS were mild and transient.
Conclusions: This RCT study presents preliminary evidence on the effect and safety of alpha-rTMS in improving subjective sleep difficulties in children with ASD, with effects lasting up to four months post-intervention. Further studies using a larger sample size and sham-controlled group are warranted.
Clinical Trial Registration The trial was registered on July 11, 2023 within the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) https://www.anzctr.org.au/TrialSearch.aspx with registration number: ACTRN12623000757617.
Details
- Title
- Evaluating the effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on sleep difficulties in children with autism spectrum disorder: a randomized controlled trial
- Creators
- Uchenna Ezedinma - University of the Sunshine CoastScott Burgess - Queensland Children’s Lung and Sleep Specialists (Queensland)Evan Jones - University of the Sunshine CoastJyoti Singh - Brain Treatment Center Australia (Queensland)Andrew Ladhams - University of QueenslandGary Campbell - University of the Sunshine CoastShauna Fjaagesund - University of the Sunshine CoastPiotr Swierkowski - University of the Sunshine CoastAdewuyi A. Adeyinka - Southern Cross UniversityAlexandra P. Metse - University of the Sunshine CoastTerri Downer - University of the Sunshine CoastFlorin Oprescu - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication Details
- Sleep Advances, Vol.6(4), pp.1-14
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Number of pages
- 14
- Grant note
- The study received funding from TMS IP Pty, Queensland’s Children Sleep Specialist Clinic, Australia and the University of Sunshine Coast, Australia, with grant number 1.043.08529.
- Identifiers
- 991013337983902368
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2025.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Education
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article