The ADHD Program

Julie Schweitzer, Ph.D.

The goal of the ADHD program is to advance our understanding of the environmental, genetic and physiological causes of attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); to study problems of self-control (i.e., impulsivity), how to measure it on a behavioral and physiological level and develop new ways to increase the self-control; use results of basic research to develop novel and enhanced non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatment options; individualize treatments for specific subtypes of ADHD based on genetic,brain imaging and behavioral data; improve families' ability to understand and follow-through with treatment recommendations.

What is ADHD?
Goals of the ADHD Program
Clinical Services
Revealing the inner workings of the brain
Exploring new treatment options
Raising awareness, establishing community
Current clinical research studies
The research team
Publications
Resources
Upcoming Lecture by Julie Schweitzer, Ph.D.
Previous Lecture by Julie Schweitzer, Ph.D.
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What is ADHD?

ADHD is the most common childhood psychiatric disorder, affecting behavior and daily functioning in 3 to 5 percent of school-aged children in the United States.

Symptoms. Children may act quickly without thinking and interrupt others (impulsivity), fidget, have difficulty sitting still and staying on-task hyperactivity), or daydream and get easily sidetracked (inattention).
Three types. ADHD is diagnosed as the hyperactiveimpulsive type (no significant inattention), inattentive type (no significant hyperactiveimpulsive behavior) or the combined type (both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms).
Other disorders. Children with ADHD can suffer from other psychological disorders,including depression, learning disorders, impulse control disorders and autism spectrum disorders. Adults may suffer from substance abuse.
Life-long management. ADHD is a chronic illness requiring long-term treatment strategies.

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Revealing the inner workings of the brain

M.I.N.D. researchers are using neuroimaging studies to better characterize abnormalities of brain function and circuitry associated with ADHD. Studies using functional neuroimaging (fMRI) in particular have revealed that the brains of people with ADHD are less efficient that those without the diagnosis.Brain imaging techniques also reveal that people with ADHD may use alternate brain regions and strategies to perform working memory tasks, such as a greater reliance on regions associated with visual and motor processing (e.g., visualizing a phone number in their head to remember it) than verbal strategies (e.g., repeating a phone number to oneself). Drug treatment improves behavior and cognitive performance but does not wholly “normalize” the brain.

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Exploring new treatment options

Treatment usually includes:

Behavioral therapy. Traditional approaches to behavior therapy and classroom management rely on consistently rewarding desirable behavior and removing rewards for inappropriate behavior. New studies of the brain are allowing M.I.N.D. researchers to take behavioral therapy for ADHD to the next level. They hope to identify how to deliver rewards in ways that increase self-control and engage brain regions (e.g., prefrontal cortex) associated with stopping impulsive acts. To help children with ADHD succeed in the classroom, the M.I.N.D. Institute team is committed to developing educational strategies that are consistent with the natural processing strategies of individuals with ADHD.

Drug therapy. Stimulants have long been used to treat ADHD. However, 20 percent of children receive no benefit from these drugs or suffer side effects that limit their use. M.I.N.D. Researchers are conducting clinical trials of novel drugs and new treatment regimens using existing drugs.

Novel treatment. New treatments are being tested routinely. The M.I.N.D. Institute is currently testing the use of computerized working memory programs on academic functioning. We are also testing the use of telemedicine to deliver parent training services in the goal of reaching families in remote areas.

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Raising awareness, establishing community

From recognizing symptoms to evaluating treatment options, raising awareness about ADHD is the key to early diagnosis and effective treatment. The ADHD Program strives to serve as an information and training resource for parents, physicians and teachers. The research team is building a community of patients who can support one another and contribute to the M.I.N.D. Institute’s mission to better understand and treat ADHD.

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Current clinical research studies

A Compensatory Functional Neuroanatomy of ADHD - Study ID 100079

We are conducting studies on attention and cognitive process in children/adolescents ages 12-17. Participants have either ADHD (inattentive or combined subtype) or typical development. We are interested in the differences between ADHD subtypes as well as between individuals with ADHD and without ADHD.
Participation in this study requires 2-3 visits. The first and second visits involves a brief psychological evaluation and computer tasks at the M.I.N.D. Institute. The participants may be asked to complete a brain imaging session (fMRI) at the UC Davis Imaging Research Center. Participants also have the option of participating in an additional brain wave session (ERP) at the Center for Mind and Brain in Davis.
Participants 12-17 with ADHD (combined type or inattentive type) or typical development.

The Relationship Between Exploratory and Explorative Behavior and the Noradrenergic System in ADHD - Study ID 100094

This study is interested in the factors that influence whether or not adolescents and adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and adults without ADHD decide to stay on-task. We hope to learn more about the underlying brain chemistry behind decisions to stay on-task through noninvasive eyetracking.
The length of the study is 3-4 hours over 1-2 visits at the M.I.N.D. Institute. Participants will complete brief psychological testing, a clinical interview, and an eyetracking session. We will also ask for relatives and/or friends to complete rating scales on your behavior.
Participants 18-40 of age with ADHD/ADD or participants 18-40 of typical development.

Pilot Testing of Behavioral Treatment Designed to Imporve Working Memory In Children with ADHD - Study ID 100107

We are testing a behavioral treatment to improve attention/cognitive functioning in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The procedure is commonly referred to as “working memory training” and is conducted within the context of computer “games” designed to hold the attention of children.
Participants that are diagnosed with ADHD between the ages of 7-14 will come to the MIND Institute for about two hours of pre-testing. Then the participants will be randomly assigned to either the treatment or the control condition. The participants will do the working memory training program at home for five weeks. They will return to the MIND Institute after the treatment for about an hour of post-testing. They will receive compensation for their time. ADHD Behavioral Treatment Research Study
Participants diagnosed with ADHD between the ages of 7-14 years.

Learn more about the M.I.N.D. Institute's clinical research studies

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