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Central Executive Training (CET) for ADHD

Central Executive Training for ADHD: Efficacy Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03324464
Enrollment
251
Registered
2017-10-27
Start date
2018-01-01
Completion date
2024-01-05
Last updated
2025-03-07

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

Conditions

ADHD

Brief summary

The goal of the current project is to assess the efficacy of Central Executive Training (CET) for youth with ADHD. CET is a new, computerized training intervention that targets specific components of the working memory system. Two versions of CET were developed as part of our R34, each targeting a different combinations of executive functions. The final CET protocol reflects the contributions and feedback of a diverse group of caregivers, children with ADHD, and recognized experts in human cognition, ADHD treatment research, randomized control trial (RCT) intervention design methods, serious game theory and task design, cognitive training, and the role of executive dysfunction in ADHD.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALCentral Executive Training: Working Memory

Computerized working memory training

BEHAVIORALCentral Executive Training: Inhibitory Control

Computerized inhibitory control training

Sponsors

Florida State University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
8 Years to 12 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Children ages 8-12 with principal ADHD diagnoses (via Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders semi-structured clinical interviewing (K-SADS) * Parent AND teacher ratings in clinical/borderline range based on age and gender on ADHD-RS-5 or BASC-3 Attention Problems/Hyperactivity subscales * Below average or lower working memory on at least one pre-treatment WM test. All ADHD presentations will be eligible.

Exclusion criteria

* gross neurological, sensory, or motor impairment * history of seizure disorder, psychosis, bipolar, or severe dysregulation disorders that may interfere with study participation (substance use, disruptive mood dysregulation, intermittent explosive, reactive attachment) * intellectual disability or Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V) short-form intelligence quotient (FSIQ) \< 78 (1.5 standard deviations (SD) below mean) * conditions requiring acute intervention, e.g., active suicidality * non-English speaking child or parent.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
ADHD symptomsImmediate post-treatment (within 2 weeks of final treatment session)Average of T-scores on parent-report ADHD symptoms questionnaires (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale (ADHD-5) Inattention and Hyperactivity subscales, Behavioral Assessment System for Children (BASC-3) Inattention and Hyperactivity subscales)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Working MemoryImmediate post-treatment (within 2 weeks of final treatment session)Average of stimuli correct per trial on the Rapport phonological and visuospatial working memory tests
Inhibitory controlImmediate post-treatment (within 2 weeks of final treatment session)Average of performance on the stop-signal (stop-signal delay metric) and go/no-go tests (commission errors)
Actigraph-measured hyperactivity during working memory testingImmediate post-treatment (within 2 weeks of final treatment session)Proportional integrating measure (PIM) units from autographs worn on non dominant wrist, left ankle, and right ankle during Rapport working memory tests. PIM units from each actigraph will be aggregated by summing them to create a Total Hyperactivity Score.
Actigraph-measured hyperactivity during baselineImmediate post-treatment (within 2 weeks of final treatment session)Proportional integrating measure (PIM) units from autographs worn on non dominant wrist, left ankle, and right ankle. During beginning and end of session baseline painting tasks (described in Rapport et al., 2009). PIM units from each actigraph will be aggregated by summing them to create a Total Hyperactivity Score.

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
NIH List SortingFollow-up testing: 2-4 months after the post-treatment evaluation (variable time frame to account for school breaks)Standard scores on NIH List Sorting test
Teacher-reported ADHD symptomsImmediate post-treatment (within 2 weeks of final treatment session)Average of T-scores on teacher-report ADHD symptoms questionnaires (ADHD-5 Inattention and Hyperactivity subscales, BASC-3 Inattention and Hyperactivity subscales)
Academic performance rating scale (APRS)Immediate post-treatment (within 2 weeks of final treatment session)Total score (T-score) for academic performance (teacher ratings)
Social Skills: Teacher ReportImmediate post-treatment (within 2 weeks of final treatment session)Teacher-reported total score (standard score) on Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS)
Children's Organizational Skills Scale (COSS) Teacher ReportImmediate post-treatment (within 2 weeks of final treatment session)Teacher-reported total organizational problems (T-score)
Social Skills: Parent ReportImmediate post-treatment (within 2 weeks of final treatment session)Parent-reported total score (standard score) on Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS)
Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement Third Edition (KTEA-3) Math FluencyFollow-up testing: 2-4 months after the post-treatment evaluation (variable time frame to account for school breaks)Standard score on KTEA-3 Math Fluency subtest
Children's Organizational Skills Scale (COSS) Parent ReportImmediate post-treatment (within 2 weeks of final treatment session)Parent-reported total organizational problems (T-score)
Parent-child relationship qualityImmediate post-treatment (within 2 weeks of final treatment session)Parent-reported total score (T-score) on Parent Relationship Questionnaire (PRQ)
Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement Third Edition (KTEA-3) Reading ComprehensionFollow-up testing: 2-4 months after the post-treatment evaluation (variable time frame to account for school breaks)Standard score on KTEA-3 Reading Comprehension subtest
Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement Third Edition (KTEA-3) Listening ComprehensionFollow-up testing: 2-4 months after the post-treatment evaluation (variable time frame to account for school breaks)Standard score on KTEA-3 Listening Comprehension subtest
Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement Third Edition (KTEA-3) Reading FluencyFollow-up testing: 2-4 months after the post-treatment evaluation (variable time frame to account for school breaks)Standard score on KTEA-3 Reading Fluency subtest

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 10, 2026