Development of Virtual Reality-based Interventions to Strengthen Cognitive Skillsets Related to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Development of Virtual Reality-based Interventions to Strengthen Cognitive Skillsets Related to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05608434
Sponsor: National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Information provided by: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) (National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)) (Responsible Party)
Last Update Posted: 2023-10-10

Brief Summary:

Background:
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often have cognitive problems. It may be hard for them to control their behaviors, concentrate for long periods, or make decisions. This can affect their education, friendships, and daily life. A virtual reality-based game may help improve cognitive skills in children with ADHD. It may also help change how the brain functions.

Objective:
To see if a virtual reality-based game helps improve thinking skills and brain function in children with ADHD.

Eligibility:
Children aged 7 to 14 years with ADHD.

Design:
Participants will be screened. Their physical and mental health, medical and family history, and intellectual and emotional development will be evaluated. They will have tests of their mood, memory, attention, thinking, and behavior. Blood or saliva may be collected. Participants may have an MRI scan of the brain.

Participants will receive a set of virtual reality games. The set includes 6 different games played by placing a smartphone inside a virtual reality headset. The participant will play a game for 20 minutes at least 3 days a week for 4 to 6 weeks.

The parent or caregiver will start each game using a tablet. Each of the 6 games is designed to help the participant practice specific cognitive skills. These include inhibition control, processing speed, and sustained attention.

Participants will have interviews each week. They will answer questions about motion sickness, eye strain, or headache.

Blood or saliva tests and the MRI may be repeated after the last game. A 6-month follow-up visit can be by phone or telehealth.

Detailed Description:
Study Description: This study will be a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial examining the efficacy of a novel virtual reality (VR) adaptive cognitive training intervention for youth with ADHD in improving symptoms of inattention relative to a non-adaptive training control intervention. Prior to the main randomized trial, a proof-of concept open-label pilot study will assess the safety, tolerability, usability, feasibility, credibility and treatment expectancy of the intervention. It will also provide an initial assessment of the efficacy on the intervention in improving inattention symptoms and neuropsychological performance.

Objectives:
- Primary Objective: Examine the efficacy of the Floreo VR intervention in improving symptoms of inattention in children/adolescents with ADHD.
- Secondary Objectives: Examine the efficacy of the VR intervention in improving neuropsychological performance in five cognitive domains pertinent to ADHD.
- Pilot Study Objective: Assess the safety, tolerability, usability, feasibility, credibility and treatment expectancy of the VR intervention. Provide an initial open-label assessment of the efficacy of the intervention.

Endpoints:
Primary Endpoint: The primary endpoint of the main trial is to investigate whether the intervention decreases symptoms of inattention as assessed using the ADHD Rating Scale-5 for Children and Adolescents (ADHD-RS-5).

A secondary aim of the main study is to investigate whether the intervention brings about improvements in performance on five neuropsychological performance indices. These are parameter A on the Rapid Visual Information Processing task (sustained attention), stop signal reaction time on the Stop Signal task (inhibitory control), visuospatial working memory as determined using number of correct responses on the Dot Matrix task, discounting steepness (parameter k) on the Delay Discounting task, a composite measure of temporal deviation on a Temporal Reproduction task, and the number of correct responses on the NIH Toolbox Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test. Pilot interventions Endpoints: Responses to structured interview items on safety, tolerability, usability, credibility and treatment expectancy of the intervention. Reports of adverse events will be used to assess safety. Feasibility will be assessed using participation and compliance rates. Usability will also be assessed using a System Usability Scale. Open-label assessments of efficacy will also be performed, using the ADHD-RS-5 inattention subscale. Secondary endpoints for the pilot study are the same as for the main study.

Official Title:
Development of Virtual Reality-based Interventions to Strengthen Cognitive Skillsets Related to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Randomized Controlled Phase II Trial

Intervention / Treatment:
- Behavioral: Floreo Virtual Reality application
- Behavioral: Floreo Virtual Reality application - non-adaptive

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