Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderNCT02688959
Motor Attention Training for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
A study testing Tai Chi and Exercise in people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The investigators will perform a feasibility/pilot trial of two non-pharmacological interventions for ADHD in college students. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 23 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Tai Chi and Exercise
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 145 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Feb 2016to Dec 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 23 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- University of Wisconsin-Madison enrolled undergraduate
- Documented ADHD diagnosis
Who cannot join
- Unable or unwilling to participate in the interventions
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Waisman Center
Madison, Wisconsin, 53705
Alexander K Converse, PhD, 608 265 6604, adhd@bi.wisc.edu
About this study
Official title: A Feasibility/Pilot Trial of a Motor Attention Training Intervention for College Students With ADHD
The investigators will perform a feasibility/pilot trial of two non-pharmacological interventions for ADHD in college students.
Read the detailed description
College students diagnosed with ADHD will be randomized to three arms of approximately 8 weeks duration: (1) standard care plus a tai chi class, (2) standard care plus an exercise class, and (3) standard care alone. The exercise class will control for the social and motor components of tai chi training. The investigators will determine methodological parameters relevant to a subsequent full scale trial including recruitment and retention rates, acceptance of randomization, adherence to the interventions, and variance in outcome measures. The primary clinical outcome measure of this pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be pre- to post-intervention change in inattention, i.e. the Inattentive Symptoms subscale of the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale self-report long form (CAARS-S:L, see Interviews etc. "Converse_S_L"). Secondary measures to be explored will include self- and informant-report, neurocognitive measures, psychophysiological measures, and academic performance. Practice time will be assessed daily and follow-up self-report of ADHD symptoms will be gathered monthly for 3 months beyond the end of the intervention.
- Conditions
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Being tested
- Tai Chi, Exercise
- Keywords
- motor attention training, exercise, tai chi, ADHD
- Medical subject headings
- Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Tai ChiBehavioural
ExerciseBehavioural
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Tai Chi | Experimental | Participants in this arm will attend 50-minute classes 2 times per week for 8 weeks. The course will emphasize experiential learning with 2 weeks of introductory sessions on gait, posture, and tai chi principles followed by instruction in the 24-form Yang style sequence. Students will be given a video to aid learning outside of class, and maintenance of practice post-intervention. Receives: Behavioral: Tai Chi |
| Exercise | Active comparator | Participants in the exercise arm will attend 50-minute classes 2 times per week for 8 weeks. The course will emphasize cardio-aerobic fitness training. Students will be given a video to aid practice outside of class, and maintenance of practice post-intervention. Receives: Behavioral: Exercise |
| Control | No intervention | Participants in the control arm will not attend a class and not be given a video. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in symptoms of inattention
Inattentive Symptoms subscale of the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale self-report long form (CAARS-S:L). The total range of scores is 0-27 with higher scores indicating more severe symptom levels.
Measured: 8 weeks
Secondary outcomes (1)
Feasibility of implementing wireless Electroencephalogram(EEG) to measure the theta beta ratio during performance of tai chi.
Feasibility of implementing wireless EEG will be assessed by the quality of EEG data. Acceptable data should have satisfactory signal to noise characteristics. Satisfactory signal to noise ratio will be evaluated by the variance within individual across trials of the ratio of occipital alpha power between the eyes closed and eyes open conditions. Feasibility will be judged by the criterion that the coefficient of variance (CV = s.d./mean) be less than 1/3.
Measured: up to 90 minute
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Feb 2016 (estimated)
- Study startFeb 2016
- Primary completionDec 2028 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 145 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Wisconsin, Madison
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Alexander K Converse, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Wisconsin, Madison
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02688959
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2015-0807
- Other IDs
- A348700, VCRGE\WAISMAN CENTER\WAISMAN, Protocol version 15 July 2024
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Feb 2016
- Last updated
- 1 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Publications
Converse AK, Ahlers EO, Travers BG, Davidson RJ. Tai chi training reduces self-report of inattention in healthy young adults. Front Hum Neurosci. 2014 Jan 27;8:13. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00013. eCollection 2014.
PubMed 24478679Converse AK, Barrett BP, Chewning BA, Wayne PM. Tai Chi training for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A feasibility trial in college students. Complement Ther Med. 2020 Sep;53:102538. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102538. Epub 2020 Aug 14.
PubMed 33066865
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Feasibility/Pilot Trial of a Motor Attention Training Intervention for College Students With ADHD
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02688959
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2015-0807
- Conditions
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Keywords
- motor attention training, exercise, tai chi, ADHD
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 145 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Wisconsin, MadisonUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Feb 2016
- Primary completion
- Dec 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 23 Feb 2016 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The investigators will perform a feasibility/pilot trial of two non-pharmacological interventions for ADHD in college students.
Detailed description
College students diagnosed with ADHD will be randomized to three arms of approximately 8 weeks duration: (1) standard care plus a tai chi class, (2) standard care plus an exercise class, and (3) standard care alone. The exercise class will control for the social and motor components of tai chi training. The investigators will determine methodological parameters relevant to a subsequent full scale trial including recruitment and retention rates, acceptance of randomization, adherence to the interventions, and variance in outcome measures. The primary clinical outcome measure of this pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be pre- to post-intervention change in inattention, i.e. the Inattentive Symptoms subscale of the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale self-report long form (CAARS-S:L, see Interviews etc. "Converse_S_L"). Secondary measures to be explored will include self- and informant-report, neurocognitive measures, psychophysiological measures, and academic performance. Practice time will be assessed daily and follow-up self-report of ADHD symptoms will be gathered monthly for 3 months beyond the end of the intervention.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Tai Chi | Experimental | Behavioral: Tai ChiParticipants in this arm will attend 50-minute classes 2 times per week for 8 weeks. The course will emphasize experiential learning with 2 weeks of introductory sessions on gait, posture, and tai chi principles followed by instruction in the 24-form Yang style sequence. Students will be given a video to aid learning outside of class, and maintenance of practice post-intervention. |
| Exercise | Active comparator | Behavioral: ExerciseParticipants in the exercise arm will attend 50-minute classes 2 times per week for 8 weeks. The course will emphasize cardio-aerobic fitness training. Students will be given a video to aid practice outside of class, and maintenance of practice post-intervention. |
| Control | No intervention | –Participants in the control arm will not attend a class and not be given a video. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 23 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison enrolled undergraduate
- Documented ADHD diagnosis
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Unable or unwilling to participate in the interventions
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Tai Chi | Behavioural | Tai Chi |
| Exercise | Behavioural | Exercise |
Primary outcome
Change in symptoms of inattention
Time frame: 8 weeks
Inattentive Symptoms subscale of the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale self-report long form (CAARS-S:L). The total range of scores is 0-27 with higher scores indicating more severe symptom levels.
1 secondary outcome
Feasibility of implementing wireless Electroencephalogram(EEG) to measure the theta beta ratio during performance of tai chi.
Time frame: up to 90 minute
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 Jun 2026.
- Background: PubMed 24478679Converse AK, Ahlers EO, Travers BG, Davidson RJ. Tai chi training reduces self-report of inattention in healthy young adults. Front Hum Neurosci. 2014 Jan 27;8:13. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00013. eCollection 2014.
- Results publication: PubMed 33066865Converse AK, Barrett BP, Chewning BA, Wayne PM. Tai Chi training for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A feasibility trial in college students. Complement Ther Med. 2020 Sep;53:102538. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102538. Epub 2020 Aug 14.
- Converse personal siteLink provided by the sponsor.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Alexander K Converse, PhD principal investigator
University of Wisconsin, Madison
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Tai Chi and Exercise in people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Alexander K Converse, PhD (608 265 6604, adhd@bi.wisc.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in symptoms of inattention (time frame: 8 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02688959, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Jun 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 26 Oct 2026.