Driving performance when adults with ADHD briefly stop stimulant medication
Official title: Exploring Parameters of Driving Simulation in Relation to Drug Holidays in ADHD Patients
Run by University of Zurich · NCT06910605 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This will see if short, self-chosen breaks from stimulant ADHD medication change driving-simulator performance in adult drivers with ADHD.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 10 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 26 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Zurich Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Zurich, ZRH) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 2, 2025 |
| Main results expected | October 31, 2026 |
| Study ends | October 31, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | June 5, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06910605 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adult licensed drivers with ADHD who currently take stimulant medication, have a history of self-initiated drug holidays, and can use contact lenses for eye tracking.
✕Probably not a fit
People on non-stimulant ADHD medications, professional drivers, those who cannot tolerate driving simulators due to motion sickness, or those unable to attend the Zurich site are unlikely to benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The study enrolls adult licensed drivers with diagnosed ADHD who are treated only with stimulant medication and who have a history of taking drug holidays. Participants complete driving-simulator sessions with simultaneous eye-tracking and EEG recordings while on medication and during a brief drug-holiday condition to compare attention and driving behavior. Key exclusions include non-stimulant treatment, intolerance to motion sickness in the simulator, professional drivers working during the study period, and pregnancy. The work is conducted at the Division of Traffic Medicine, University of Zurich, with collaboration from ETH Zurich and the Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could help patients and clinicians understand how short breaks from stimulants affect driving safety and guide safer medication schedules.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies indicate stimulants can improve attention and driving-related performance in ADHD, but combining driving simulation with eye-tracking and EEG specifically during real-world drug holidays is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: * adult drivers * ADHD-diagnosed, established ADHD-treatment only with stimulants * known history of drug holidays based on own decision, * at impaired eyesight with more than +/- 5 diopter or astigmatism * contact lenses are required (for eye tracking) Exclusion criteria: * sensibility to motion sickness (kinetosis, dizziness etc. in 5 min screening drive) * non-stimulant-treatment * inability to understand the study procedure for linguistic or cognitive reasons * professional drivers (if working during the study period) * for women: pregnancy
Where it's running
-
Division of Traffic Medicine, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich,
Zurich, Zrh, Switzerland Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Stefan Lakämper, Dr. rer. nat. — University of Zurich
- Study coordinator: Stefan Lakämper, Dr. rer. nat.
- Email: stefan.lakaemper@irm.uzh.ch
- Phone: +41793789984
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.