FindTrial
Sign In

Neurofeedback and Working Memory Training for Children and Adolescents With ADHD

Does Neurofeedback and Working Memory Training Improve Core Symptoms of ADHD in Children and Adolescents? A Comparative, Randomized and Controlled Study.

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01841151
Acronym
KITE
Enrollment
202
Registered
2013-04-26
Start date
2013-08-31
Completion date
2020-10-31
Last updated
2025-08-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Attention Deficit Disorder

Keywords

AD/HD in Children and Adolescents

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate if neurofeedback and working memory training improves core symptoms of ADHD in children and adolescents.

Detailed description

This study investigates two types of Neurofeedback (NF), one well-established and well-researched protocol called Slow Cortical Potential NF (SCP), and a newer and less researched, yet popular among private clinicians, the so-called live z-score training (LZT). These methods are compared to working memory training (WMT) and a passive control condition, treatment-as-usual only (TAU). The active conditions (SCP/LZT/WMT) are delivered high frequent, with 5 sessions/week, for a total of 25 sessions. Outcomes measures are taken at Preintervention and Postintervention, as well as at a 6-month follow-up assessment.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALSCP training
BEHAVIORALLive Z-score training
BEHAVIORALWM training

Sponsors

Region Stockholm
CollaboratorOTHER_GOV
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Stiftelsen Sunnerdahls Handikappfond
CollaboratorOTHER
Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research
CollaboratorOTHER
Karolinska Institutet
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
9 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Clinical AD/HD diagnose according to DSM-IV-TR and K-SADS interview, 9-17 years old, unmedicated or under stable medication with stimulants or corresponding since at least one month.

Exclusion criteria

* IQ \<70 (WISC-IV or WAIS-IV), clinically instable psychiatric state e.g. severe depression, OCD, self-injurious behaviour, bipolar disorder, severe somatic (neurologic) disease, very limited knowledge in the Swedish language.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Conners 3 ADHD-indexUp to seven monthsPresented below are the within-group differences from baseline to 6-month follow up, for the ADHD-index of the Conners-3. Positive numbers indicate symptom improvements. \*The ADHD-index raw score can range from 0-20, with higher score indicating greater symptom severity. The Reliable Change Index (RCI) is 2.88.

Countries

Sweden

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
SCP Training
Neurofeedback 1 (NF1) Slow Cortical Potential (SCP) training SCP training
51
Live Z-score Training
Neurofeedback 2 (NF2) Live Z-score training (LZT) Live Z-score training
50
WM Training
Working Memory training (WMt) WM training
51
Waiting-list
Treatment as usual only
50
Total202

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicTotalWaiting-listLive Z-score TrainingWM TrainingSCP Training
Age, Continuous
Range
12.40 years12.21 years12.41 years12.61 years12.35 years
Age, Customized
Mean (Sd)
12.40 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.51
12.21 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.41
12.41 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.3
12.61 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.74
12.35 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.65
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected0 Participants————
Sex: Female, Male
Female
49 Participants14 Participants13 Participants9 Participants13 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
153 Participants36 Participants37 Participants42 Participants38 Participants
Symptom Severity - Conners3 ADHD-index
Conners-3 Parent-rating
81.86 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.82
82.84 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.91
82.84 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.16
81.32 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.85
80.51 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.91
Symptom Severity - Conners3 ADHD-index
Conners-3 Self-rating
69.67 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 15.94
70.06 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 15.79
67.12 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 15.15
72.26 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 16.67
69.24 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 16.15
Symptom Severity - Conners3 ADHD-index
Conners-3 Teacher-rating
64.92 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 14.55
66.67 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 14.61
65.83 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 14.88
64.27 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 15.47
62.76 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.37
Symptom Severity (Range)
Parent-Rating
89 units on a scale89 units on a scale88.5 units on a scale89 units on a scale89 units on a scale
Symptom Severity (Range)
Self-Rating
69 units on a scale72 units on a scale62.5 units on a scale72.5 units on a scale67 units on a scale
Symptom Severity (Range)
Teacher-Rating
64 units on a scale67 units on a scale65 units on a scale65 units on a scale59 units on a scale

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
EG003
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 510 / 500 / 510 / 50
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 510 / 500 / 510 / 50
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 510 / 500 / 510 / 50

Outcome results

Primary

Conners 3 ADHD-index

Presented below are the within-group differences from baseline to 6-month follow up, for the ADHD-index of the Conners-3. Positive numbers indicate symptom improvements. \*The ADHD-index raw score can range from 0-20, with higher score indicating greater symptom severity. The Reliable Change Index (RCI) is 2.88.

Time frame: Up to seven months

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)
SCP TrainingConners 3 ADHD-indexConners3-ADHD-index Teacher-rating1.32 score on a scale
SCP TrainingConners 3 ADHD-indexConners3-ADHD-index Self-rating1.21 score on a scale
SCP TrainingConners 3 ADHD-indexConners3-ADHD-index Parent-rating1.81 score on a scale
Live Z-score TrainingConners 3 ADHD-indexConners3-ADHD-index Teacher-rating3.37 score on a scale
Live Z-score TrainingConners 3 ADHD-indexConners3-ADHD-index Parent-rating2.26 score on a scale
Live Z-score TrainingConners 3 ADHD-indexConners3-ADHD-index Self-rating1.37 score on a scale
WM TrainingConners 3 ADHD-indexConners3-ADHD-index Self-rating1.44 score on a scale
WM TrainingConners 3 ADHD-indexConners3-ADHD-index Parent-rating2.22 score on a scale
WM TrainingConners 3 ADHD-indexConners3-ADHD-index Teacher-rating2.80 score on a scale
Waiting-listConners 3 ADHD-indexConners3-ADHD-index Teacher-rating-0.66 score on a scale
Waiting-listConners 3 ADHD-indexConners3-ADHD-index Self-rating0.78 score on a scale
Waiting-listConners 3 ADHD-indexConners3-ADHD-index Parent-rating0.60 score on a scale

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026