Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder clinical trials at UC Irvine

This study is a pragmatic clinical trial examining the comparative effectiveness of two stimulant medications (methylphenidate and amphetamine) in the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents with autism. Using a sequential, multiple assignment randomization trial (SMART) design the study will not only assess these two medications but also the role of an increasingly popular class of ADHD medication, the alpha-2 agonists. Findings from this study will help improve clinicians' approach to medication selection and reduce the repeated trials of multiple medications that are current standard care.

To conduct an RCT to evaluate the efficacy of the system, we will recruit 60 children (ages 8-12) with ADHD who will be randomized to either immediate (n=30) or delayed (n=30) treatment (i.e., a wait-list control group). Among those randomized to immediate treatment, half will be assigned to DHI (delivered via a smartwatch and smartphone application) and half will be assigned to an active control treatment as usual (TAU) group who will receive the smartwatch with no assigned activities, applications, or interventions on the devices. The intervention period will last 16 weeks; after a participant has been in the delayed treatment group for 16 weeks and has completed the post-waiting period assessment, he or she will be assigned to either the intervention or active control group. Thus, 30 participants will complete the intervention and 30 will complete the active control, with half of the total sample also completing a wait-list period.