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INTERSTAARS: Attention training for infants with elevated likelihood of developing ADHD: A proof-of-concept randomised controlled trial.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Change log

Authors

Salomone, Simona 
Mason, Luke 
Holman, Rebecca 

Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is first diagnosed during middle childhood, when patterns of difficulty are often established. Pre-emptive approaches that strengthen developing cognitive systems could offer an alternative to post-diagnostic interventions. This proof-of-concept randomised controlled trial (RCT) tested whether computerised gaze-based attention training is feasible and improves attention in infants liable to develop ADHD. Forty-three 9- to 16-month-old infants with a first-degree relative with ADHD were recruited (11/2015-11/2018) at two UK sites and randomised with minimisation by site and sex to receive 9 weekly sessions of either (a) gaze-contingent attention training (intervention; n = 20); or (b) infant-friendly passive viewing of videos (control, n = 23). Sessions were delivered at home with blinded outcome assessments. The primary outcome was a composite of attention measures jointly analysed via a multivariate ANCOVA with a combined effect size (ES) from coefficients at baseline, midpoint and endpoint (Registration: ISRCTN37683928 ). Uptake and compliance was good but intention-to-treat analysis showed no significant differences between 20 intervention and 23 control infants on primary (ES -0.4, 95% CI -0.9 to 0.2; Complier-Average-Causal Effect ES -0.6, 95% CI -1.6 to 0.5) or secondary outcomes (behavioural attention). There were no adverse effects on sleep but a small increase in post-intervention session fussiness. Although feasible, there was no support for short-term effects of gaze-based attention training on attention skills in early ADHD. Longer-term outcomes remain to be assessed. The study highlights challenges and opportunities for pre-emptive intervention approaches to the management of ADHD.

Description

Funder: MQ: Transforming Mental Health (MQ); doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100008162; Grant(s): MQ14PP83, MQ14PP83, MQ14PP83, MQ14PP83, MQ14PP83, MQ14PP83, MQ14PP83, MQ14PP83, MQ14PP83, MQ14PP83, MQ14PP83, MQ14PP83, MQ14PP83, MQ14PP83, MQ14PP83, MQ14PP83, MQ14PP83, MQ14PP83, MQ14PP83


Funder: NIHR KCL/South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Biomedical Research Centre and Senior Investigator Award NF-SI-0617-10120

Keywords

Article, /631/477, /692/699/476/1311, article

Journal Title

Transl Psychiatry

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2158-3188
2158-3188

Volume Title

11

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
RCUK | Medical Research Council (MRC) (MR/K021389/1, MR/K021389/1, MR/K021389/1, MR/K021389/1, MR/K021389/1, MR/K021389/1, MR/K021389/1, MR/K021389/1, MR/K021389/1, MR/K021389/1, MR/K021389/1, MR/K021389/1, MR/K021389/1, MR/K021389/1, MR/K021389/1, MR/K021389/1, MR/K021389/1, MR/K021389/1, MR/K021389/1)