A Trial of Two-Week Brain Stimulation for Teenagers With ADHD

Eligibility Criteria

• 1. Ability to provide assent and have parent provide parental permission
• 2. English fluency of the participant and the legal guardian/parent
• 3. 12-18 years
• 4. Parent rating on BRIEF-2 Working Memory: Greater than 1.0 SD above normative mean.
• 5. IQ \> 80
• 6. Clinical diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): predominantly inattentive type, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type, combined type, or unspecified type. Diagnostic criteria will be confirmed with NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Scales-Parent.
• 7. Participants are allowed to continue clinical ADHD treatments. However, changes to ADHD treatments cannot be made during the entirety of study participation. Confirming a plan of treatment stability will occur as part of initial inclusion criteria. We will check on treatment stability at the start of each two-week phase with the participant and parent, and document accordingly. Changes to treatment will be reviewed by a physician and may result in study termination.
• 1. Intracranial pathology from a known genetic disorder (e.g., NF1, tuberous sclerosis) or from acquired neurologic disease (e.g. stroke, tumor), cerebral palsy, history of severe head injury, or significant dysmorphology
• 2. History of fainting spells of unknown or undetermined etiology that might constitute seizures
• 3. History of seizures, diagnosis of epilepsy, or immediate (1st degree relative) family history epilepsy
• 4. Any progressive (e.g., neurodegenerative) neurological disorder
• 5. Chronic (particularly) uncontrolled medical conditions that may cause a medical emergency in case of a provoked seizure (cardiac malformation, cardiac dysrhythmia, asthma, etc.)
• 6. Contraindicated metal implants in the head, brain or spinal cord (excluding dental implants, braces or fillings)
• 7. Non-removable makeup or piercings
• 8. Pacemaker
• 9. Implanted medication pump
• 10. Vagal nerve stimulator
• 11. Deep brain stimulator
• 12. TENS unit (unless removed completely for the study)
• 13. Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt
• 14. Signs of increased intracranial pressure
• 15. Intracranial lesion (including incidental finding on MRI)
• 16. History of head injury resulting in prolonged loss of consciousness
• 17. Substance abuse or dependence within past six months (i.e., DSM-5 substance use disorder criteria)
• 18. Chronic treatment with prescription medications that decrease cortical seizure threshold, not including psychostimulant medication if deemed to be medically safe as part of the medical review process.
• 19. Active psychosis or mania
• 20. Current suicidal intent
• 21. Current pregnancy
• 22. Significant visual, hearing or speech impairment
• 23. Current wards of the state