Proof-of-concept study of an at-home, engaging, digital intervention for pediatric ADHD

Pharmacological and behavioral therapies have limited impact on the distinct neurocognitive impairments associated with ADHD, and existing cognitive training programs have shown limited efficacy. This proof-of-concept study assessed treatment acceptability and explored outcomes for a novel digital t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2018-01, Vol.13 (1), p.e0189749-e0189749
Main Authors: Davis, Naomi O, Bower, Jeffrey, Kollins, Scott H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Attention task
Behavior modification
Behavior therapy
Behavioral sciences
Biology and Life Sciences
Care and treatment
Children
Children & youth
Cognition
Cognition & reasoning
Cognitive ability
Cognitive tasks
Computer & video games
Diagnosis
Health screening
Hyperactivity
Impulsivity
Intervention
Medicine and Health Sciences
Memory
Neuropsychology
Pediatrics
Pharmacology
Population
Psychiatry
Ratings
Research and Analysis Methods
Short term memory
Spatial memory
Studies
Systematic review
Technology application
Teenagers
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Summary:Pharmacological and behavioral therapies have limited impact on the distinct neurocognitive impairments associated with ADHD, and existing cognitive training programs have shown limited efficacy. This proof-of-concept study assessed treatment acceptability and explored outcomes for a novel digital treatment targeting cognitive processes implicated in ADHD. Participants included 40 children with ADHD and 40 children without ADHD. Following psychiatric screening, ADHD ratings, and baseline neuropsychological measures, participants completed 28-days of at-home treatment. Neuropsychological assessment was repeated at end-of-study along with treatment satisfaction measures. Eighty-four percent of treatment sessions were completed and ratings showed strong intervention appeal. Significant improvements were observed on a computerized attention task for the ADHD group and a highly impaired ADHD High Severity subgroup. There was no change for the non-ADHD group. Spatial working memory also improved for the ADHD group and the ADHD High Severity subgroup. Findings provide preliminary support that this treatment may improve attention, working memory, and inhibition in children with ADHD. Future research requires larger-scale randomized controlled trials that also evaluate treatment impact on functional impairments. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01943539.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0189749