Clinical Research Directory

Retail-Grade Weighted Blanket Effectiveness on ADHD-related Sleep Disturbances (BEAD)

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate if a commercially available (retail-grade) weighted blanket can improve sleep in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and sleep disturbances. 100 children will be enrolled in the study. The location of the intervention is at Frederiksberg Hospital and Odense University Hospital in Denmark. The main objectives are: * Does using a retail-grade weighted blanket increase total sleep time (TST)? * Does it help children fall asleep faster, wake up fewer times at night, and sleep more efficiently overall? * Does better sleep relate to changes in daily functioning, ADHD symptoms, parental stress, and child well-being? * Do adverse events occur while children use retail-grade weighted blankets? This is a single-group, open-label study. All participants receive a weighted blanket, and researchers compare each child's sleep before and after the 4-week blanket intervention period. Who can take part: Children aged 5 to 12 years who have a confirmed ADHD diagnosis, and also experience sleep disturbances. Children must have completed a usual-care sleep hygiene program within the last 6 months. if they use ADHD medicine or sleep medication the dosage must be stable for at least two weeks before enrolling. Children who used any type of weighted blanket within the last three months, or have health conditions that make blanket use unsafe, cannot take part in the trial. What will happen: Participation lasts about seven weeks, including measurements before and during the weighted blanket intervention period. Participants will: * Attend a baseline visit (in person or online) where a caregiver gives consent and receives instructions. * Wear a small sleep monitor (actigraphy) on the non-dominant wrist for 1 week before starting the blanket * Attend an intervention visit to try the weighted blanket options and choose the most fitting weighted blanket for their sensory needs. * Use the weighted blanket every night for four weeks. During the day, the child will also use the blanket for about 10 minutes while sitting and relaxing. * Wear the sleep monitor again during the last two weeks of the 4-week blanket intervention period. * Receive a short follow-up phone call about two weeks after starting the blanket intervention period to ask about blanket use and reminding the initiation of the second actigraphy period. * A caregiver will receive a daily text message to report whether the blanket was used (day and/or night). * Complete questionnaires that are sent to them at the end of trial. A final end of trial phone call is completed where the caregiver will be asked if the child has had other treatments or change in their medication usage in the trial period. 2 years follow-up: Researchers may contact families again two years after the blanket intervention period to repeat key questionnaires. Researchers will also look at selected long-term outcomes in health and education registers at two and five years after the end of the intervention period, if agreed upon. Outcome Measures: The primary outcome is the change in TST measured by actigraphy from baseline to the end of the 4-week intervention period. Secondary outcomes include other actigraphy sleep measures (time to fall asleep, number of awakenings, wake time after falling asleep, and sleep efficiency) and questionnaire scores on functioning, ADHD symptoms, parental stress, sensory processing, and child well-being/quality of life. Researchers will also record adverse events and serious adverse events during the enrollment period.

Biomarkers of ASD/ADHD and Factors Affecting Anxiety and Depression in Children and Young Adults

The PUREMIND OS1/OS2 study is a multinational, prospective, longitudinal observational study designed to identify early neurophysiological, biological, environmental, and psychosocial markers associated with neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions from infancy through young adulthood. Observational Study 1 (OS1) follows infants and toddlers at high risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to discover biomarkers predictive of later clinical diagnosis, using EEG, fNIRS, psychometric assessments, and biological samples. Observational Study 2 (OS2) includes children, adolescents, and young adults with ASD, ADHD, or Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) to identify environmental and biological factors causally linked to anxiety and depression symptoms, and to support the development of personalised criteria for evidence-based interventions. Approximately 800 participants will be recruited across 10 international clinical sites. The study aims to generate multi-domain data to support predictive modelling and inform future personalised mental-health prevention strategies across childhood and young adulthood.

Advancing Identification of Circadian Delay in ADHD Youth: Associations With Clinical Heterogeneity and Cognition

The purpose of this study is to better understand sleep and circadian functioning in children with ADHD using home-based measures, parent report, and a lab based melatonin assessment. Investigators will also examine how sleep relates to psychiatric health and cognition among children with ADHD. The investigator for this study is Dr. Jessica Lunsford-Avery from the Department of Psychiatry.

MOCHA: Embedded Inpatient Mental Health Care for High-Risk Perinatal Patients

Pregnant and postpartum patients hospitalized for medical complications experience high rates of depression, anxiety, and trauma-related symptoms, yet access to timely psychiatric care during obstetric hospitalization is limited. Project MOCHA integrates early mental health screening, trauma-informed psychotherapy, and structured follow-up into routine inpatient maternity care for individuals at elevated clinical risk. This single-arm implementation study examines the feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity of delivering a Collaborative Mental Health Care Program within a high-risk obstetric inpatient setting. The program includes brief inpatient psychotherapy, symptom monitoring, and post-discharge follow-up over three months. Preliminary changes in depression, anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and posttraumatic stress symptoms will be assessed to inform future effectiveness trials and broader health system integration.

Predictors of Improvements in Irritability and Aggression in Children With ADHD Treated With CNS Stimulants

Impulsive Aggression and chronic irritability (IACI) often occur together and are one of the most common reasons children present for behavioral health (BH) care. ADHD frequently associated with IACI as upwards of 50% of youth with ADHD manifest impairing IACI levels. IACI is the most common reason that children with ADHD are prescribed antipsychotics and admitted to inpatient BH units. Systematic dose optimization of CNS stimulants improves levels of IACI, reducing the need for these more intensive and burdensome treatments. However, response varies, with over half of children with ADHD showing meaningful improvement, upwards of 40% receiving minimal benefit and 3 to 10% exhibiting increased IACI levels. Symptom levels of ADHD or IACI and other demographic variables are of limited utility for predicting response, suggesting the need to move beyond symptoms in the search for treatment predictors. Youth with ADHD and IACI struggle with multiple aspects reinforcement learning (RL), defined as learning from interactions with the environment to reach a goal. Successful RL efforts tap multiple cognitive functions. In controlled laboratory tasks, youth with IACI and various BH disorders exhibit excessive behavioral and neural response to receiving reward (reward responsiveness), difficulty processing environmental cues to adapt behavior to meet a goal (set shifting/goal updating) and impaired ability to flexibly attend to relevant stimuli when blocked from a goal (frustrative nonreward). Event related potentials (ERP) are small electrical responses in the brain in response to specific events or stimuli measured by electroencephalogram (EEG) testing. ERPs exist that can serve as established neural measures of each of these cognitive functions offering a child friendly means to assess their contribution to observable levels of IACI. CNS stimulants improve functioning in these specific realms and impact associated ERPs to the degree that differences between ADHD and non-ADHD youth disappear. This study will examine the capacity of these ERPs to predict levels of IACI exhibited by children with ADHD when at home. Investigators will then assess if variability across children in the capacity of CNS stimulants to impact RL associated ERPs accounts for differences in the clinical effects of CNS stimulant medications to improve IACI at home using a multimethod battery integrating ERPs, parent report and task performance. Specifically, investigators will examine variance in the reward positivity (RewP) ERP when receiving reward feedback, the switch positivity (SwP) ERP measuring mental effort when cued to shift set and the change in P3b amplitude measuring attention allocation when transitioning from reward to nonreward on a go-no-go task. To achieve these aims, 136 children with ADHD and elevated IACI levels will have their CNS stimulant dose optimized over six weeks and then complete a two week within subjects crossover trial of placebo versus optimal dose. ERP collection will be completed within each blinded week. Parent ratings will be gathered 3 times per day including during peak and off-peak times of medication efficacy to capture the variance in IACI levels within the day and disentangle reports of worsening IACI related to loss of previously beneficial medication effects versus those most likely related to a direct adverse response to medication.

Impact of an Educational Program on Teachers' Knowledge and Classroom Performance Regarding ADHD

This interventional study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured teaching program designed to improve primary school teachers' knowledge and classroom performance regarding the management of children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The study focuses on teachers who work with students previously diagnosed with ADHD based on official medical reports to ensure diagnostic accuracy and strengthen the validity of the intervention outcomes. The structured teaching program includes evidence-based information about ADHD characteristics, classroom behavior management strategies, and educational support techniques to enhance teachers' competence in managing children with ADHD in regular classroom settings. The main research question of this study is whether participation in a structured teaching program can significantly improve primary school teachers' knowledge and classroom management performance when working with children diagnosed with ADHD.

EFFECT OF PERCEPTUAL-MOTOR TRAINING ON COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS, MOTOR ABILITIES AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN CHILDREN WITH ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVE DISORDER

This study aims to Determine the effect of perceptual-motor training on: cognitive functions, motor abilities, and quality of life in ADHD children.

Magnetoencephalography in Children

This study is a single-center observational clinical study, which evaluates the diagnostic value of magnetoencephalography (MEG) in the diagnosis of neurodevelopmental diseases in children, such as the localization of epileptic foci and brain functional areas, intracranial tumors, cerebrovascular diseases, autism, mental retardation, and neuropsychiatric disorders.

ADRIS Driving Simulator for Adolescents With Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder

This study aims to evaluate a new driving simulator, called ADRIS 2.1, developed for adolescents aged 13-18 years with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that can affect attention, self-control, and decision-making. These challenges may impact daily activities, including driving. The ADRIS simulator allows participants to "drive" in a virtual environment while their performance is monitored. The system measures driving errors (such as not stopping at red lights), head and body movements, and heart rate, helping researchers understand how ADHD may affect driving-related behavior. Participants in the study will include both adolescents with ADHD and typically developing adolescents. All participants will complete standardized cognitive and behavioral assessments and take part in at least one driving simulation session. Adolescents with ADHD will return for follow-up visits and a subgroup will participate in a 6-week training program using the simulator. The main goal of the study is to measure differences in driving performance and attention between adolescents with and without ADHD. The study will also explore whether the simulator can detect improvements over time and in response to clinical treatment or simulator-based training. The results may help inform future clinical evaluations and support tools for adolescents with ADHD, with the potential to improve safety and quality of life.

External Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Feasibility Trial

The investigators will assess the use of the Monarch eTNS device as a non-pharmacological treatment for patients aged 7 to 17 years with ADHD. The investigators will compare the eTNS device to a sham device. Participants will use the device for four weeks during night time. During the trial, participants will receive different questionaires to assess symptoms and will also keep a logbook to record their experience with the device. At the end of trial, the investigators will assess what the families thought of the device, and whether it is indeed feasible to further explore the effect of the device in a larger clinical trial.

Effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria in Patients With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

The study aims to evaluate whether postbiotics supplementation can improve ADHD symptoms, such as mood and sleep, in children. Furthermore, salivary biochemical profiles will be analyzed and dietary habits will be recorded to further explore the effects and mechanisms of action of postbiotics. Research process: 80 subjects who meet the admission conditions will be recruited within three years after IRB approval. They will take the research capsules (postbiotics) in an open label design study and complete the 8-week intervention plus 4 weeks follow up trial period.

Psychophysiological Responses to Six Single-Session Self-Regulation Interventions in a Female Adult With ADHD and Stabilized Bipolar Disorder

This study aims to explore how six short, 15-minute self-regulation techniques affect the body and brain in a female adult with ADHD and stabilized bipolar disorder. The techniques being tested include: * Aerobic exercise * Controlled breathing (cyclic sighing) * Aromatherapy with lavender essential oil * Listening to specific music (Solfeggio 528 Hz) * Virtual reality relaxation with forest imagery * Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tapping One session of quiet sitting with eyes open serves as a comparison. The participant will attend one 15-minute session per week for each technique. Before and after each session, the researchers will measure: * Heart rate and heart rate variability * Stress levels using Subjective Units of Distress Scale * Mood using a questionnaire * Blood pressure * Brain activity using EEG * Memory performance with a simple test (N-back) * Pain sensitivity The goal is to understand how these short, non-invasive techniques influence both physiological and psychological responses. Sessions are safe, short, and designed to involve minimal risk. The findings may help guide future research on relaxation and exercise strategies for people with ADHD and bipolar disorder.

Virtual Reality-assisted Cognitive Rehabilitation in Autistic Youth With ADHD

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual reality-based intervention using the Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System (VRRS) to improve executive functions in autistic and ADHD youth aged 8 to 18 years. Executive functions, such as working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control, are frequently impaired in individuals with autism and/or ADHD and significantly affect daily functioning. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group that receives VRRS-assisted cognitive training or a control group that receives treatment as usual. The intervention includes gamified tasks within immersive virtual environments specifically designed to stimulate executive skills. The primary outcome is the change in executive function scores from baseline to post-intervention, assessed using validated neuropsychological instruments. The study adopts a randomized controlled design.

Study of the Nutritional, Inflammatory, and Metabolic Endophenotypes of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

This study aims to better understand the biological mechanisms involved in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and to clarify why some children and adolescents respond well to methylphenidate (MPH)-the most commonly prescribed medication-while others do not. Although MPH is effective for many patients, a significant number experience limited benefits or problematic side effects such as appetite loss and sleep difficulties. Recent research suggests that inflammation and oxidative stress in the body may play an important role in ADHD. Some animal studies also indicate that MPH itself might trigger inflammatory processes, but this has never been examined directly in humans. The main goal of this research is to determine whether children with ADHD show differences in their nutritional, immune, and inflammatory profiles compared to children without ADHD, and whether these biological factors influence symptom severity, digestive problems, and response to treatment. The study also seeks to understand whether MPH has a measurable inflammatory effect in young patients and whether this could be linked to treatment tolerability. To answer these questions, the study combines several approaches. First, a case-control comparison will examine differences between children/adolescents with ADHD and age- and sex-matched controls. Second, a one-year follow-up of the ADHD group will evaluate changes over time and help identify biological predictors of treatment response and side effects. Finally, a cross-sectional analysis will investigate the role of polyphenols-natural antioxidant compounds found in food-in relation to inflammation, treatment outcomes, and gender differences. The primary focus is on comparing levels of the inflammatory marker IL-6 between children with ADHD and controls. Secondary objectives include assessing additional inflammatory and immune indicators, nutritional status, gastrointestinal symptoms, ADHD severity, irritability, and MPH tolerability. By identifying specific inflammatory and immune markers associated with ADHD and treatment response, this study hopes to improve understanding of the disorder and guide more personalized and effective treatment strategies for young patients. It will also provide the first human data on whether psychostimulant medications may have inflammatory effects.

How Virtual Reality Can Help Neurodivergent Children Improve Their Attention

The goal of this study is to determine whether playing a virtual reality (VR) game can help neurodivergent children pay attention for extended periods. The study includes children ages 9 to 18 who have autism, ADHD, learning differences, or movement coordination challenges. The program lasts for 6 weeks. During this period, children will play a VR game twice per week, with each session lasting 25 minutes.

Danish Access to Support and Help (DASH): Increasing Access to an Evidence-based Intervention for Children With ADHD and Their Parents

The aim of this study is to devise implementation strategies for the New Forest Parenting Programme (NFPP) to support a community implementation model (NFPP-CIM) and test its feasibility and acceptability for parents and stakeholders.

Acupuncture for ADHD: Acupoint Data Mining, Clinical Effectiveness, and Interviews to Explore Treatment Outcomes.

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture as a treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children aged 6-12 years. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research will triangulate data from acupoint data mining, treatment outcomes assessment, and patient perspectives to provide a comprehensive analysis of acupuncture's potential therapeutic benefits for ADHD. This prospective cohort study will recruit children diagnosed with ADHD, assigning them to receive either acupuncture combined with traditional Chinese herbal treatment or herbal treatment alone. Quantitative assessments using the the SNAP-IV, Conners 3-P, BRIEF-2, PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales, PSQI and CGI that will be complemented by qualitative interviews to capture nuanced patient experiences and treatment outcomes. The study will span 12 months, commencing on March 1st, 2025 with an expected completion by February 28th, 2026. By integrating quantitative assessments with qualitative insights, it aims to provide comprehensive evidence on acupuncture's role in ADHD management. Findings may inform clinical guidelines and enhance patient-centered care approaches.

Comparative Efficacy of Organizational Skills Training (OST) and Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI)

This randomized control trial comparing Organizational Skills Training (OST) and Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI) among adolescents with a pre-existing ADHD diagnosis presenting to the Duke ADHD Program. Both treatments are eight 90 minute sessions. The research component will involve a pre-treatment assessment and post-treatment assessment. Both assessments will involve adolescents and one caregiver to complete questionnaires over REDCap. Rating scales will include ADHD symptom severity (Conners 3: self and parent report), functional impairment (IRS: self and parent report), executive functioning (BRIEF-2: parent report), emotion dysregulation (DERS: self and parent report), trait mindfulness (FFMQ: self report), organizational skills (BRIEF-2: parent report), treatment satisfaction (self report and parent report) and credibility (self report and parent report). Post-treatment assessments for feasibility will include attendance (measured over the course of treatment) and homework completion rates on a scale of 1 to 5 in which 5 indicates higher homework completion. We will also assess acceptability via individual items on a Likert scale (self report): overall satisfaction, how much was learned about ADHD, usefulness of information learned, content relevance to individual experience, comprehension of strategies, confidence about using strategies, likelihood of using strategies, helpfulness to share with the group, benefits from hearing from other group members, willingness to recommend the same treatment to others, and whether or not treatment was beneficial.

Comparative Efficacy of Organizational Skills Training (OST) and Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI)

This randomized control trial comparing Organizational Skills Training (OST) and Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI) among adolescents with a pre-existing ADHD diagnosis presenting to the Duke ADHD Program. Both treatments are eight 90 minute sessions. The research component will involve a pre-treatment assessment and post-treatment assessment. Both assessments will involve adolescents and one caregiver to complete questionnaires over REDCap. Rating scales will include ADHD symptom severity (Conners 3: self and parent report), functional impairment (IRS: self and parent report), executive functioning (BRIEF-2: parent report), emotion dysregulation (DERS: self and parent report), trait mindfulness (FFMQ: self report), organizational skills (BRIEF-2: parent report), treatment satisfaction (self report and parent report) and credibility (self report and parent report). Post-treatment assessments for feasibility will include attendance (measured over the course of treatment) and homework completion rates on a scale of 1 to 5 in which 5 indicates higher homework completion. We will also assess acceptability via individual items on a Likert scale (self report): overall satisfaction, how much was learned about ADHD, usefulness of information learned, content relevance to individual experience, comprehension of strategies, confidence about using strategies, likelihood of using strategies, helpfulness to share with the group, benefits from hearing from other group members, willingness to recommend the same treatment to others, and whether or not treatment was beneficial.

Where Wild Things Grow: Nature- and Activity-based Group Interventions for Neurodivergent Children and Youth

The goal of this action research project is to develop and implement nature- and activity-based group interventions across health care, school and leisure settings in Southern Norway. The interventions are tailored to support the mental health, self-efficacy and daily life functioning of children and youth in the Agder region, with a particular focus on youngsters who struggle due to neurodivergence, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Tourette's syndrome. The main questions we aim to answer are: 1. To what extent does nature- and activity-based outdoor education contribute to improvements in children's quality of life? 2. To what extent does nature- and activity-based interventions in a health care setting improve children's self-efficacy, self-esteem and quality of life? 3. Is there a difference in physiological reactions between nature-based provision of education or therapy and traditional indoor provision of education or therapy? Participants will take part in a 12-week school-based or health care intervention.

Brain Stimulation and Attention Control in Children With ADHD

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if brain stimulation can help children ages 6 to 12 with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) improve their attention and self-control. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) improve performance on a task that tests attention and reaction times? Can brain activity and genetics help predict who benefits most from this treatment? Researchers will compare randomly assigned active iTBS to sham (inactive) stimulation groups to see if the treatment helps. Participants will: Receive 10 sessions of either active or sham iTBS over 2 weeks Complete a computer task measuring attention before and after stimulation Wear a brain cap during the task to record EEG signals, also take part in resting-state brain scans, namely magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and provide a saliva sample for genetic testing

Speech of Kids After Neonatal Encephalopathy

The goal of this ambispective cohort study is to reveal the early indicators of delayed language development in children born with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). We will examine the prognostic accuracy of different biomarkers, with a special focus on the ADC values of the corpus callosum. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. To what extent does hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in infancy affect intellectual development (IQ), receptive and expressive language abilities at different levels of the language system, and memory capacities related to language development? 2. What is the relationship between early biomarkers of brain injury-such as blood gas levels, lactate, aEEG, and MRI findings (Weeke scoring system, ADC values of the corpus callosum)-and long-term cognitive developmental outcomes? 3. What is the incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in this high-risk population of infants with HIE? 4. Is there an association between the Weeke Total Score and long-term language developmental outcomes? 5. Can restricted diffusion (ADC values) of the splenium of the corpus callosum serve as an early neuroradiological marker of developmental language disorder (DLD)? Our participants are children born between 2017 and 2023 with moderate to severe HIE, treated with therapeutic hypothermia at Semmelwies University Children's Hospital. During their first days of life, several neonatal measurements were taken (blood gas markers, aEEG etc.), and at day 4-5, they had an MRI scan of their brain. The MRI scans will be reanalyzed, using the Weeke MRI scoring system. These children underwent a neurodevelopmental follow-up at the age of 2 years and currently, they will have another follow-up at the age of 4-7 years.

Hand Tendon Injuries: An Investigation Of Attention Deficit Disorder

Tendon injuries cause significant disability, loss of work capacity, and economic burden. The injury itself and its consequences impact individuals not only in terms of their ability to work but also socially and psychologically. Identifying the characteristics of these injuries, many of which occur through preventable mechanisms, is crucial for guiding preventive measures.

An Intervention Study on Transcranial Photobiomodulation in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

This study aims to intervene in children and adolescents with ADHD using transcranial photobiomodulation, comparing its effects on executive function at the levels of electroencephalography (EEG), eye tracking, and cognitive behavior. The goal is to identify the most effective clinical treatment strategy for ADHD patients.