Central Executive Training and Parent Training for ADHD

Florida State University200 enrolled

Overview

The goal of the current project is to combine two evidence- based treatments for school-aged children with ADHD: Central Executive Training (CET) and Behavioral Parent Training (BPT). CET is a computerized training intervention that improves ADHD symptoms and academic functioning by improving children's working memory abilities. BPT is a therapeutic intervention that improves family functioning and child oppositional-defiant (ODD) symptoms by changing parenting behaviors. Their combined use is expected to provide complementary and additive benefits, particularly if CET is delivered before BPT.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

200

Conditions

ADHD

Interventions

Central Executive Training (CET)

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 8 YearsMax age: 12 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion: 1. Children ages 8-12 with principal ADHD diagnoses (via K-SADS); and 2. parent AND teacher ratings in clinical/borderline range based on age and sex on ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-5) or Behavior Assessment Scale for Children (BASC-3) Attention Problems/Hyperactivity subscales (i.e., 90th percentile or higher based on both informants). All DSM-5 ADHD presentations will be eligible. Exclusion: 1. gross neurological, sensory, or motor impairment; 2. history of seizure disorder, psychosis, bipolar, or severe dysregulation disorders that may interfere with participation (e.g., disruptive mood dysregulation, intermittent explosive, reactive attachment, substance use); 3. intellectual disability or Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V) short-form standard score \<70; 4. conditions requiring acute intervention, e.g., active suicidality; and 5. non-English speaking child or parent.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Rapport visuospatial/phonological working memory test

Time frame: Administered during a 3 hour post-treatment testing session occurring within 2 weeks of last intervention session

Alabama parenting scale

Time frame: Parent questionnaire requiring approximately 15 minutes to complete, administered to parent while child is completing the 3 hour post-treatment testing session occurring within 2 weeks of last intervention session

Parenting sense of competence scale

Parent stress index

Secondary Outcomes

Behavior Assessment System for Children

Time frame: Parent and teacher questionnaire requiring approximately 15 minutes to complete, administered to parent and mailed to teacher while child is completing the 3 hour post-treatment testing session occurring within 2 weeks of last intervention session

ADHD Rating Scale

ODD symptoms (DSM-based checklist)