Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 18 to 23

Motor attention training for ADHD in college students

Official title: A Feasibility/Pilot Trial of a Motor Attention Training Intervention for College Students With ADHD

Run by University of Wisconsin, Madison · NCT02688959 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study tests if adding tai chi or an exercise class to standard care can help college students with ADHD feel less distracted and improve their focus.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 23 Years
SexAll
Enrollment145 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Madison, Wisconsin)
StatusRecruiting
StartedFebruary 2016
Main results expectedDecember 2028
Study endsDecember 2028
Registry record updatedJune 1, 2026
Trial IDNCT02688959 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a documented diagnosis of ADHD.

Probably not a fit

Patients who are unable or unwilling to participate in the interventions will not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This trial investigates the feasibility of two non-pharmacological interventions for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in college students. Participants will be randomized into three groups: one receiving standard care plus tai chi, another receiving standard care plus an exercise class, and a control group receiving standard care alone. The study aims to assess recruitment and retention rates, adherence to interventions, and changes in ADHD symptoms using various outcome measures over an 8-week period. The primary focus is on the reduction of inattention symptoms as measured by the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide effective non-pharmacological treatment options for managing ADHD symptoms in college students.

How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies on exercise and ADHD, this specific approach combining tai chi and exercise in a college population is relatively novel.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* University of Wisconsin-Madison enrolled undergraduate
* Documented ADHD diagnosis

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unable or unwilling to participate in the interventions

Where it's running

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison, Waisman Center
    Madison, Wisconsin, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Alexander K Converse, PhD — University of Wisconsin, Madison
  • Study coordinator: Alexander K Converse, PhD
  • Email: adhd@bi.wisc.edu
  • Phone: 608 265 6604

Similar studies

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.