Virtual Reality Attention Management

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: ADHD

In brief

Problems with distraction are widespread in the 21st century, but for people with developmental delays or behavioral challenges they can have more damaging effects. For example, susceptibility to distraction is associated with worse school and social performance, lower high school graduation rates, and increased incidence of serious accidents. The investigators' goal is to improve understanding of distractibility and develop a targeted treatment. The proposed intervention is based on models of habituation, which is a term that means reduced physiological and emotional response to a stimulus (e.g. moving object, or loud noise, etc.) as it is seen repeatedly. The investigators use virtual reality technology to show study participants distracting stimuli repeatedly in a virtual classroom setting, and their hypothesis states that participants will improve attention in the face of distraction by training with this technology intervention. The virtual classroom setting is especially relevant for children who have significant challenges with distractibility, such as children with ADHD. This intervention will likely be effective in helping individuals with other clinical disorders and perhaps the general population as well.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT03221244

Run by

University of California, Davis

People needed

50

Starts

2016-06-02

Expected to finish

2027-07-02

Last updated by the study team

2026-08-07

Who can join

Age: 8 and older, up to 12. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Significant (T score >= 60) ratings of Cognitive Problems/Inattention or DSM Inattention scale scores on the Conners' Parent or Teacher Rating Scale-3 or Parent ADHD Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS)
• Endorsement of 4 or more symptoms of inattention on a clinical psychiatric interview (e.g. Parent DISC, DICA, Kiddie-SADS, Mini-KID)
• Comfortable using a computer
• Full Scale IQ > 80

You may not qualify if…

• Psychosis (by parent report at phone screen), significant depression, autism (15 or > on Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ)), psychotic disorders, visual or hearing impairment or any other disorder that may interfere with task performance
• It is in the investigator's opinion that it is not in the subject's best interest to continue
• Subject is non-compliant with training schedule
• Subjects on pharmacotherapy for ADHD at the time of enrollment will be excluded from Aims 3 and 4.
• Subjects starting behavioral or psychological treatment for ADHD during the training phase of the study will be excluded

Where it is running

• UC Davis MIND Institute — Sacramento, California, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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