NCT02732496

Computerized Working Memory Training in Children With ADHD and Comorbid Tourette Syndrome

Computerized Working Memory Training in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Comorbid Tourette Syndrome

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (actual)
• Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 7 Years – 13 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The investigators will conduct a randomized placebo-controlled trial of a computerized intervention targeting working memory in 30 children with comorbid Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Tourette Syndrome (TS).

Detailed description

Because impairments in executive functions (EFs), such as working memory, are associated with functional impairments in youth with neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, strategies that target EFs are critical. Neuroplasticity-based cognitive training has been found to improve cognition in youth with ADHD and in adults with schizophrenia. In this trial, the investigators seek to extend the relevance of computerized cognitive training to youth with comorbid ADHD and Tourette Syndrome. Given the literature, the investigators hypothesize that computerized working memory training will produce gains in untrained cognitive tasks and behavioral ratings of executive functions in youth with ADHD+TS. The investigators will assess aspects of attention and executive functions in 30 affected youth and randomize them 1:1 to either neuroplasticity-based cognitive training or enjoyable age-appropriate computer games not intended to improve cognition. Cognition will be assessed again after 30 training sessions over 6 weeks and then again at a one-month follow-up.

Conditions

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
• Tourette Syndrome

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Targeted Cognitive Training (TCT)	The instructors have selected a set of computer exercises designed to specifically target working memory, which is a cognitive construct relevant to ADHD and Tourette Syndrome. The tasks were designed to benefit subjects through principles of learning-dependent plasticity.
OTHER	Youth Appropriate Online Games	Engaging games not designed to improve cognition.

Timeline

• Start date: 2016-06-01
• Primary completion: 2017-11-03
• Completion: 2017-11-03
• First posted: 2016-04-08
• Last updated: 2018-08-03