Clinical trial NCT05162729: Working Memory and Social-emotional Training for Preschoolers at Risk of ADHD
Official title: Working Memory Training for Preschoolers at Risk of ADHD and Training Effects on Time Perception, ADHD Symptoms, and Academic Performance
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: ADHD
Time Perception Altered
Working Memory
Social Skills
Keywords: preschool
ADHD
working memory
Lead sponsor: The University of Hong Kong
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2021-12-17
Enrollment: 79
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 4
Maximum age (years): 6
Standard ages: CHILD
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Intervention group: receive 5 weeks working memory online training, three times per week, each lasts 15 minutes.

Active control group: receive 5 weeks social-emotional online training, three times per week, each lasts 15 minutes.

Control group: no training
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The study aims to explore the effectiveness of working memory training and social emotional training for young children with ADHD in Hong Kong. This study will contribute to the current understanding of the alternative treatments for ADHD, and hopefully help to mobilize more resources to be dedicated to the support of children with ADHD. The programme includes the following components:

Children participating in this study will be randomly allocated into experimental group - recieving working memory training, active control group - receiving social-emotional training, and waitlist control group. All participants will complete a 5-week online training using a digital device at home, three times a week, each training session lasts for about 15 minutes.

Moreover, children's cognitive abilities and academic performance will be assessed prior to the intervention, and immediately after the 5-week training. Each assessment session lasts for about 45 minutes. Parents will also be asked to fill out a questionnaire on children's behaviours at home and school prior to and after the 5-week program. It takes about no more than 10 minutes. All assessments will be conducted at the laboratory at the University of Hong Kong.

Children's working memory, time perception, ADHD symptoms, and early academic performance will be measured before and after training, and the between-group performance will be compared to examine the training effects.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* children aged 4-6 years old
* with psychiatrist or psychologist diagnosis of ADHD according to the DSM-5 manual or other clinical diagnosis criteria;
* or as indicated by the ratings of Swanson, Nolan and Pelham Parent Rating Scale (SNAP-IV; Chinese version);
* with normal IQ (above 80), which enable them to understand the materials delivered in the training program;
* children either not taking any medication or taking a stable dosage of medication for ADHD for at least 3 months prior to the study enrollment and will not be taking the medication during the training and post-assessment period.

Exclusion Criteria:

* inability to comprehend Cantonese, with comorbid disorders (i.e. autism, conduct/behavioural problems),
* with medical or other mental health condition
* with IQ below 80
* with physical and motor disabilities that restrain them from completing the tasks.

Primary outcomes:
measure: verbal working memory (CMS- digit span)
timeFrame: 5 weeks, immediately after the intervention
measure: verbal working memory(CMS-digit span)
timeFrame: before the intervention
measure: non-verbal working memory(CMS - picture location)
timeFrame: 5 weeks, immediately after the intervention
measure: nonverbal working memory(CMS - picture location)
timeFrame: before the intervention
measure: Time perception: time discrimination
timeFrame: before the intervention
measure: Time perception: time discrimination
timeFrame: 5 weeks, immediately after the intervention
measure: Time perception: time reproduction
timeFrame: before the intervention
measure: Time perception: time reproduction
timeFrame: 5 weeks, immediately after the intervention
measure: Time perception: time production
timeFrame: before the intervention
measure: Time perception: time production
timeFrame: 5 weeks, immediately after the intervention
measure: Emotion situation knowledge measures.
timeFrame: before the intervention
measure: Emotion situation knowledge measures.
timeFrame: 5 weeks, immediately after the intervention
measure: Theory of mind (ToM)
timeFrame: before intervention
measure: Theory of mind (ToM)
timeFrame: 5 weeks, immediately after the intervention
measure: Working Memory Behavioural Manisfetation
timeFrame: 5 weeks, immediately after the intervention
measure: Working Memory Behavioural Manisfetation
timeFrame: before the intervention
Secondary outcomes:
measure: ADHD symptoms(SNAP-IV)
timeFrame: before the intervention
measure: ADHD symptoms(SNAP-IV)
timeFrame: 5 weeks, immediately after the intervention
measure: Academic measures - Chinese word reading
timeFrame: before the intervention
measure: Academic measures - Chinese word reading
timeFrame: 5 weeks, immediately after the intervention
measure: Academic measures - English word reading
timeFrame: before the intervention
measure: Academic measures - English word reading
timeFrame: 5 weeks, immediately after the intervention
measure: Academic measures - Numeration
timeFrame: before the intervention
measure: Academic measures - Numeration
timeFrame: 5 weeks, immediately after the intervention
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Hong Kong
country: Hong Kong
facility: University of Hong Kong
Study officials:
References: