ADHD treatment has long centered on stimulant medications, which work for most people, but research is now expanding to non-stimulant options, longer-acting formulations, and digital therapies. Adult ADHD recognition has grown, and trials increasingly include adults, women, and people with co-occurring conditions.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing new non-stimulant medications, longer-acting stimulant formulations, digital therapeutics including FDA-cleared video games, behavioral therapy programs, and treatments for ADHD with co-existing anxiety or depression. Researchers are also studying ADHD in adults, in girls and women, and approaches to reduce diversion of stimulants.
Non-stimulant medications
New non-stimulants like viloxazine and updated formulations of atomoxetine and guanfacine are giving alternatives to people who cannot tolerate or use stimulants.
Digital therapeutics
FDA-cleared video games and apps are helping children and adults improve attention, often alongside medication or therapy. Trials are extending these approaches.
Adult ADHD
Trials increasingly focus on adults, including those diagnosed later in life, women whose symptoms shift with hormones, and people with co-existing anxiety or depression.
What to know before you search
Eligibility often depends on age, ADHD subtype, prior medications tried, and co-existing conditions like anxiety, depression, or substance use.
What types of trials are currently open
- New medication trials — Testing stimulants and non-stimulants for ADHD, including longer-acting formulations.
- Therapy trials — Testing cognitive behavioral therapy and coaching programs for ADHD.
- Digital therapeutic trials — Studies of FDA-cleared video games and apps designed to improve attention.
- Pediatric trials — Testing treatments specifically in children and adolescents with ADHD.
- Observational studies — Following people with ADHD to understand long-term outcomes and treatment response.
Recently added ADHD trials
Effects and Mechanisms of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training in Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Effects and Mechanisms of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined with Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training in Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Abstract Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that frequently persists into adulthood and is associated with substantial impairments in academic, occupational, and social functioning. Although pharmacological treatment remains the primary intervention, some adults with ADHD show limited response to medication or experience adverse effects, highlighting the need for effective non-pharmacological or combined treatment approaches. Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training (DBT-ST), which emphasizes emotion regulation, impulse control, mindfulness, and behavioral organization, has shown potential in the treatment of adult ADHD. However, its therapeutic efficacy may vary across individuals, and strategies to enhance treatment outcomes still require further investigation. In parallel, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a safe and non-invasive neuromodulation technique, has attracted increasing attention as an adjunctive intervention in psychiatric disorders. Existing studies suggest that combining tDCS with psychotherapy may optimize treatment effects by modulating neural networks related to cognitive control and emotional regulation. Nevertheless, evidence for such combined interventions in adult ADHD remains limited, particularly with respect to rigorous randomized controlled designs and mechanism-based neuroimaging validation. The present study aims to investigate the efficacy and potential mechanisms of tDCS combined with DBT-ST in adults with ADHD. A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled design will be adopted. Sixty eligible adult participants with ADHD will be randomly assigned to either an active tDCS group or a sham stimulation group, with both groups receiving weekly DBT-ST for ten consecutive weeks. tDCS will be administered over the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) with 2 mA current for 20 minutes, prior to each group therapy session. Clinical symptoms, functional outcomes, and cognitive performance will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up using standardized self-report measures and behavioral tasks. In addition, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) will be conducted before and after the intervention to examine changes in functional connectivity within prefrontal regulatory networks. This study is expected to clarify whether tDCS can enhance the therapeutic effects of DBT-ST on core ADHD symptoms and related functional outcomes, and whether such effects are associated with improvements in executive function, emotion regulation, and alterations in DLPFC-related resting-state functional connectivity. By integrating clinical, behavioral, and neuroimaging measures, the study seeks to provide preliminary evidence for a novel non-pharmacological combined intervention for adult ADHD and to further elucidate its underlying neural mechanisms.
A Random Controlled Trial of Home-based Digital Therapy for Treating ADHD in Children
Explore the interventional effects of neurofeedback games on school-aged children with mild to moderate ADHD, with the aim of providing evidence-based new methods for intervening in the core symptoms of ADHD in children.
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