Non-invasive brain stimulation to treat intractable anxiety in young autistic individuals

The proposed study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new non-invasive transcranial stimulation, temporal interference (TI) stimulation, for treating intractable anxiety in autistic youth aged 14 to 18.

Autism often leads to anxiety disorders, which severely impact activities of daily living, school/work participation, and quality of life outcomes. Pharmacological treatments are not ideal due to potential side effects and variability in response.

Previous studies suggest the benefits of deep brain stimulation (DBS), but intervention is reserved for extreme cases due to the invasive nature of the procedure. TI offers a safe alternative to modulate neural pathways implicated in anxiety conditions.

The planning study will be co-created with autistic individuals and their families to ensure the design aligns with their needs. It will be structured into phases: initial design and co-creation, recruitment, pilot intervention, and evaluation.

The project team includes experts in neuroscience and clinical autism research, including Kajsa Igelström and Adam Williamson at Linköping University, and Sven Bölte at Karolinska Institute.

This study aims to develop an accessible treatment for anxiety in autistic youth, potentially offering significant improvement to their well-being.

Findings could lay the groundwork for a complete clinical trial, significantly contributing to autism research and therapy.