The Feasibility of a Brief Attention Training Technique in Improving Behaviour and Attention in Children With ADHD

NCT ID: NCT02516917

Last Updated: 2016-10-25

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

13 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2015-08-31

Study Completion Date

2016-05-31

Brief Summary

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This study aims to investigate the application of the Attention Training Technique in children with ADHD aged 7-11 years old. The research aims to investigate both the feasibility of this technique in this population as well as whether it can improve symptoms, behaviour and executive functioning.

Detailed Description

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioural disorder characterised by core symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. Its prevalence ranges between 3-9% of school-aged children, making it one of the most common presentations in child and adolescent mental health services.

In the last 10 years, research into the effectiveness of attention training as an intervention for children with ADHD has been increasing. This has tended to follow assumptions that children with the disorder either lack skills in focusing and maintaining their attention and/or have neurological deficits in areas responsible for attention functions. Results have been encouraging, with study participants demonstrating improvements in symptoms and behaviour following a course of attention training. However, the method and length of training has varied across studies.

This study aims to investigate a treatment called the Attention Training Technique (ATT) that approaches attention difficulties in this disorder from a different perspective. Instead of viewing inattention as a result of structural or skills deficits, it posits that children with ADHD have these skills, but are perhaps unaware of the flexibility and control they have over them. This treatment aims to increase this awareness and subsequently improve ratings of attention, behaviour and other areas of executive functioning.

Conditions

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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Attention Training Technique (ATT)

Participants will receive 3-5 sessions of the ATT over a period of 3-5 weeks. A set of standardised instructions will be read to each participant and then they will engage in the procedure for a period of 12 minutes. Participants will listen to a set of auditory stimuli and follow the directions of the recording. This will ask them to focus their attention on selected sounds or spatial locations, switch attention between different sounds and locations, before allocating their attention to all sounds simultaneously. Participants will be given a recording of the ATT on a C.D and asked to practice this at least once before the second session.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Attention Training Technique

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Interventions

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Attention Training Technique

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Children with a formal diagnosis of ADHD as given by a psychiatrist or community paediatrician
* Children between the ages of 7 and 11. This age group was selected as previous research on attention training in this population has used this age group
* Children who are currently on a waiting list at a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) or a child psychology service, or being seen by a CAMHS or psychology service for medication review only
* Children who speak fluent English which will ensure they are able to comprehend the tasks instructions adequately.

Exclusion Criteria

* Children who are not stabilised on stimulant medication and/or willing to maintain their medication type/dose
* Children with a major neurological illness or acquired central nervous system injury
* Children who at the point of referral have a co-existing diagnosis of an Autistic Spectrum Disorder
* Children who are currently in receipt of another non-pharmacological intervention for ADHD or who are currently taking part in another research trial
Minimum Eligible Age

7 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

11 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Manchester

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Adrian Wells

Professor of Clinical and Experimental Psychopathology

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Adrian Wells

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Manchester

Locations

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University of Manchester

Manchester, , United Kingdom

Site Status

Countries

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United Kingdom

Other Identifiers

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163562

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id