NCT07092787

Reducing Smartphone Overuse for Adolescents With Attention-Deficit Hyperactive Disorder

Reducing Smartphone Overuse for Adolescents With Attention-Deficit Hyperactive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 120 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Education University of Hong Kong · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 12 Years – 17 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study will develop and evaluate a smartphone-based behavioral intervention for adolescents with Attention-Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and smartphone overuse in Hong Kong. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Can a smartphone-based intervention lower self-reported smartphone dependence and objective smartphone usage? * Can a smartphone-based intervention lower parent-rated and self-rated ADHD symptoms? * Are there differences in electroencephalogram (EEG) in the smartphone salient vs smartphone non-salient conditions after intervention? Adolescent participants will: * report weekly smartphone use patterns based on app screencap for 12 weeks * complete online surveys on smartphone dependency and ADHD symptoms for 3 times * receive 10-minute EEG recordings to gather resting-state EEG data in a natural and relaxing state for 3 times Parent participants will: * provide a valid clinical report to confirm the adolescent's diagnosis of ADHD * complete online surveys to report on the adolescent's smartphone usage and ADHD symptoms for 3 times

Conditions

• Attention Deficit Hyerpactivity Disorder
• Smartphone Addiction

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Smartphone-based behavioral intervention	The proposed study will use a behavioral smartphone-based intervention in a 12-week RCT among clinically diagnosed ADHD adolescents in Hong Kong. Guided by a conceptual framework on SO in ADHD, we will implement specific strategies that counter the potentially addictive qualities of smartphones using built-in smartphone functions that have been previously shown to be effective.
OTHER	Self-monitoring of smartphone use	Participants will receive information about the known benefits and risks of SO and activate their smartphones' screentime monitoring setting. They will receive weekly reminders to submit their smartphone usage data.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-09-01
• Primary completion: 2028-03-01
• Completion: 2028-06-01
• First posted: 2025-07-30
• Last updated: 2025-07-30