High Intensity Training for Adults With ADHD in Specialised Mental Health Care

Official title

High-intensity Training for Adults With ADHD in Specialised Mental Health Care: A Mixed Methods Feasibility Study

Overview

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by persistent symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. According to the DSM-5, these symptoms must be present for at least six months, have an onset in childhood, and result in significant impairment in multiple life domains. Although ADHD may be limited to childhood in some cases, most individuals continue to have symptoms and impairments in varying degrees in adult life. The prevalence of persistent ADHD among adults is estimated to be approximately 2.58%, depending on diagnostic criteria and sample selection. The increasing awareness of ADHD has led to a marked increase in referrals to mental health services, which places greater demands on the development of effective and accessible treatment options for this group. Pharmacological treatment, particularly the use of stimulants, is a common intervention for adults with ADHD and has been shown to be effective for many. However, there are also side effects associated with drug treatment, and there is a need for more evidence-based non-drug alternatives. In addition, discontinuation of medication is common in ADHD treatment. Psychological interventions include psychoeducation and cognitive behaviour therapy, as well as more specialised approaches based on Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Goal Management Training, which aim to improve executive functions. Whilst pharmacotherapy and psychotherapeutic interventions help some people with ADHD, not all people experience favourable outcomes, which calls for alternative treatment approaches. Interventions targeting the core symptoms of ADHD, executive functions, and behaviour are particularly relevant to treatment provision. One approach to improving executive functioning that has received increasing attention is physical exercise. Studies have shown that physical activity can have a positive effect on cognitive function, executive control, and behaviour in children and adolescents with ADHD. Physical exercise may also be applied as treatment for comorbid factors common in ADHD, such as mood disorders and multiple long-term physical conditions. Despite increasing interest in physical activity as a treatment modality, research on physical exercise for adults with ADHD is still limited. The findings from studies on younger age groups point to the potential for similar effects in adults, but more research is needed to examine the effects of physical exercise as a targeted intervention in the adult population with ADHD. Among the different types of physical activity, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has gained promise for mental health. Due to its rapid, alternating, and fast-paced style, it could prove useful for those with ADHD. However, research on high-intensity interval training interventions (HIIT) in this population is scarce. To address these unanswered questions, this project will conduct a feasibility trial for a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to assess the feasibility and acceptability of HIIT among people with ADHD.

Interventions

• Behavioral High intensity training
  14 weeks of high intensity training of strenght and endurace.

Primary outcome measures

• Feasibility of the intervention: Recruitment rate [Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year]
• Feasibility measure: Retention rate [Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year]
• Feasibility measure: Dropout rate [Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year]
• Feasibility measure: Compliance [Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year]
• Feasibility measure: Adherence to protocol [Time frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year]

Secondary outcome measures (12)

• In depth interview [Time frame: Participants are inviteted within two weeks after ending their participation]
• General Ability - WAIS-IV [Time frame: Within two weeks before initating intervention.]
• The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale [Time frame: Within two weeks before initating intervention. Within two weeks after ending intervention.]
• The Working Memory Questionnaire [Time frame: Within two weeks before first intervention session and within two weeks after completion of the last session.]
• The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 [Time frame: Within two weeks before first intervention session and within two weeks after completion of the last session.]
• The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [Time frame: Within two weeks before first intervention session and within two weeks after completion of the last session.]
• The Bergen Insomnia Scale [Time frame: Within two weeks before first intervention session and within two weeks after completion of the last session.]
• The International Physical Activity Questionnaire [Time frame: Within two weeks before first intervention session and within two weeks after completion of the last session.]
• The Work and Social Adjustment Scale [Time frame: Within two weeks before first intervention session and within two weeks after completion of the last session.]
• The Adult ADHD Quality of Life [Time frame: Within two weeks before first intervention session and within two weeks after completion of the last session.]
• Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire [Time frame: Within two weeks before first intervention session and within two weeks after completion of the last session.]
• The Negative Effects Questionnaire - Short Form [Time frame: Within two weeks after completion of the last session.]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Above 18 years
• An ADHD diagnosis (F90.0 in the ICD-10)

Exclusion criteria

• Psychiatric conditions not compatible with participation incl. ongoing psychotic episode, mania, acute suicidality etc.,
• Physical conditions precluding participation in physical testing and/or exercise
• Comprehensive ongoing substance use determined by the Alcohol Use Disorders IdentificationTest (AUDIT; Babor et al., 2001) and the Drug Use Disorder Identification Test (DUDIT; Berman et al., 2003). An AUDIT cut-off score of 16 (high risk), and/or DUDIT score of 20 (high risk) will lead to screening with MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (Lecrubier etal., 1997; Sheehan et al., 1998).

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

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

N/A

Model

Single group

Masking

Open label

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

Norway · 1 center

• Solli DPS and Kronstad DPS — Bergen

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07675538 · 938442

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗