EEG Biomarkers for ADHD Stimulant Treatment

Study Summary

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 laborator

Primary Outcome

Clinician rating of participant ADHD symptom improvement on medication A. The Clinical Global Impressions - Improvement Scale (CGI-I) is rated by a trained study clinician on a scale of 1-7, with scores of 1 ("very much improved") and 2 ("much improved") corresponding to clinically significant symptom improvement. Scores of 3-7 will indicate no improvement or worsening of symptoms.

Interventions

• DRUG Mixed amphetamine salts extended release
• DRUG methylphenidate HCl