Menu
Not yet recruiting NCT07092787

Reducing Smartphone Overuse for Adolescents With Attention-Deficit Hyperactive Disorder

No phase Interventional Attention Deficit Hyerpactivity Disorder Smartphone Addiction

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: Smartphone-based behavioral intervention, Self-monitoring of smartphone use.
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Attention Deficit Hyerpactivity Disorder, Smartphone Addiction. Basic parameters: 12 years — 17 years · All.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →

Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →

Official title

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

Overview

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

Interventions

  • 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.

Primary outcome measures

  • Minutes of smartphone use [Time frame: Baseline, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 weeks, and 12 months]
  • Categories of smartphone use [Time frame: Baseline, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 weeks, and 12 months]
  • Number of screen unlocks or "pickups" [Time frame: Baseline, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 weeks, and 12 months]
  • Number of notifications [Time frame: Baseline, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 weeks, and 12 months]
  • Smartphone dependence [Time frame: Baseline, 13 weeks, and 12 months]
Secondary outcome measures (2)
  • ADHD symptoms [Time frame: Baseline, 13 weeks, and 12 months]
  • Resting-state EEG frequency [Time frame: Baseline, 13 weeks, and 12 months]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • full-scale IQ above 85
  • right-handedness to control for hemispheric dominance
  • a confirmed diagnosis of ADHD
  • ratings of current symptoms of ADHD on the Strengths and Weaknesses of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms and Normal Behaviour Scale
  • on a stable dose of ADHD medication for at least 4 weeks prior to trial entry or was taking no medication, with no plan to start or change medication type or dosage for the duration of the study
  • over 2 hours of daily smartphone use within the last 4 weeks excluding educational apps
  • a total score on the Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SAS-SV) above 31 and 33 for male and female adolescents, respectively

Exclusion criteria

  • severe physical or sensory disabilities that may alter the participation in the intervention
  • major depressive episode, bipolar disorder, substance abuse/dependence within the last 6 months
  • significant neurological conditions (e.g., epilepsy, traumatic brain injury) that could affect cognitive and behavioral functioning
  • concurrent participation in other ADHD interventions (e.g., clinical trials) excluding standard care

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation
Randomized
Model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single blind
Primary purpose
Treatment

Study locations

Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.

Publications

  • Yum YN, Li X, Poon KY, Leung CH. Reducing smartphone overuse for adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactive disorder: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry. 2025 Oct 31;25(1):1043. doi: 10.1186/s12888-025-07493-w. PMID 41174591

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07092787 · 2023-2024-0412 · HHB/H/41/208

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗