EEG Biomarkers for ADHD Stimulant Treatment

Conditions

• ADHD

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

7 Years - 11 Years

Healthy Volunteers

Not accepted

Interventions

• methylphenidate HCl — DRUG
  3-week titration of liquid Quillivant XR
• Mixed amphetamine salts extended release — DRUG
  3-week titration of liquid Dyanavel XR

Study Details

Pediatric attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects up to 10% of children in the U.S. and more than 90% are prescribed stimulant medications according to clinical guidelines. The standard of care for pharmacological treatment of ADHD is a "trial-and-error" approach that requires frequent dose adjustments, side effects management, and communication among doctors, parents, and school personnel over weeks, months, and years. In the first year following prescription of stimulant medications, \>50% of doctors are not able to conduct the recommended follow-up with their patients. Many patients stop taking medications or keep taking medications that do not work well, as a result. This investigation will use a non-invasive brain imaging technique called EEG to look for activity in the brain that can predict which children with ADHD will respond well to two commonly prescribed stimulant medication groups, methylphenidate and amphetamines. Based on a previous study, it is expected that EEG signals can differentiate among children whose ADHD symptoms will get better on methylphenidate, and those whose ADHD symptoms will get better on amphetamines. 220 participants ages 7-11 with ADHD will be enrolled. Participants will not have autism or intellectual disabiltiy. They will not currently be taking psychiatric medications. Participants will not have not taken stimulant medications before or have tried stimulant medications \>6 months or experienced an improvement in their ADHD symptoms by taking a stimulant medication before. Study Participation Includes: 1. Participant and caregiver complete a 3-hour visit at the Arnett Laboratory at 2 Brookline Place. During this visit, participants complete a brief IQ test and an EEG while their caregiver completes questionnaires and a clinical interview. The caregiver will give permission to request survey responses from the participant's teacher. 2. The next day, the participant and caregiver will come back to the laboratory for a 1-hour visit. The participant will do another EEG while the caregiver fills out more surveys. The doctor will take the participant's vital signs and prescribe the medication. 3. The participant will be randomly assigned to take either methylphenidate HCl or amphetamines every morning for 3 weeks. At the end of each week, the caregiver and teacher will fill out a questionnaire about the participant's behaviors and symptoms, including side effects. 4. For one week, the participant will not take medications. They will come back into the lab for another EEG at the end of that week. 5. The participant will then take the other medication every morning for 3 weeks. At the end of each week, the caregiver and teacher will fill out a questionnaire about the participant's behaviors and symptoms, including side effects. 6. It will take participants about 7 weeks to complete this study. During this time, they will complete 3 in-person and 6 virtual study visits. 7. The research funds will cover cost associated with the study. The participant's health insurer will not be billed for the medications or treatment. Medications will be provided through the research pharmacy. 8. Participants will be given a report at the end of the study with details about the medication trials, symptom response, and any other findings. They will receive up to $270 for the completion of the study. Some travel-related costs will be covered by the study.

Key Dates

Start date

Sep 15, 2026

Status verified

Jun 2026

Primary completion

May 30, 2031

Completion

Aug 31, 2031

Study Design

Enrollment

220 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

CROSSOVER

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Arms

• Experimental: Methylphenidate HCl then Mixed Amphetamines
  Participants in the first Arm will complete a 3-week titration of Methylphenidate HCl (Quillivant XR, 25mg/5mL). Doses will be increased at the end of each week using the following schedule: week 1 2mL; week 2 4mL; week 3 6mL. If intolerable side effects develop, the dose will be reduced to the previously tolerated level or the medication will be discontinued if no tolerable therapeutic dose can be identified. Next, participants will complete a 1-week no-medication washout (range = 5-14 days allowed to accomodate participant schedules). Lastly, participants will complete a 3-week titration of Mixed Amphetamines (Dyanavel XR, 2.5mg/1mL). Doses will be increased at the end of each week using the following schedule: week 1 2mL; week 2 3mL; week 3 4mL. If intolerable side effects develop, the dose will be reduced to the previously tolerated level or the medication will be discontinued if no tolerable therapeutic dose can be identified.
• Experimental: Mixed Amphetamines then Methylphenidate HCl
  Participants in the second Arm will complete a 3-week titration of Mixed Amphetamines (Dyanavel XR, 2.5mg/1mL). Doses will be increased at the end of each week using the following schedule: week 1 2mL; week 2 3mL; week 3 4mL. If intolerable side effects develop, the dose will be reduced to the previously tolerated level or the medication will be discontinued if no tolerable therapeutic dose can be identified. Next, participants will complete a 1-week no-medication washout (range = 5-14 days allowed to accomodate participant schedules). Lastly, participants will complete a 3-week titration of Methylphenidate HCl (Quillivant XR, 25mg/5mL). Doses will be increased at the end of each week using the following schedule: week 1 2mL; week 2 4mL; week 3 6mL. If intolerable side effects develop, the dose will be reduced to the previously tolerated level or the medication will be discontinued if no tolerable therapeutic dose can be identified.

Primary Outcome Measure

Medication A Clinical Global Impressions - Improvement Scale (CGI-I) [ Time Frame: Week 3 Virtual Visit (Day 22) ]

Central Contacts

• Anne B Arnett, PhD
  617-919-7771
  [email protected]

Locations (1)

Find similar trials in Brookline, MA

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