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 type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 23 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 145 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Wisconsin, Madison Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Madison, Wisconsin) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 2016 |
| Main results expected | December 2028 |
| Study ends | December 2028 |
| Registry record updated | June 1, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT02688959 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
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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.