Methylphenidate

The goal of this study is to determine whether playing a virtual reality (VR) game can help neurodivergent children pay attention for extended periods. The study includes children ages 9 to 18 who have autism, ADHD, learning differences, or movement coordination challenges. The program lasts for 6 weeks. During this period, children will play a VR game twice per week, with each session lasting 25 minutes.

This project will evaluate the effectiveness of Methylphenidate versus Guanfacine in treating Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children aged 3 through 5 years (inclusive), as measured by clinician rating of global improvement.

This randomized control trial comparing Organizational Skills Training (OST) and Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI) among adolescents with a pre-existing ADHD diagnosis presenting to the Duke ADHD Program. Both treatments are eight 90 minute sessions. The research component will involve a pre-treatment assessment and post-treatment assessment. Both assessments will involve adolescents and one caregiver to complete questionnaires over REDCap. Rating scales will include ADHD symptom severity (Conners 3: self and parent report), functional impairment (IRS: self and parent report), executive functioning (BRIEF-2: parent report), emotion dysregulation (DERS: self and parent report), trait mindfulness (FFMQ: self report), organizational skills (BRIEF-2: parent report), treatment satisfaction (self report and parent report) and credibility (self report and parent report). Post-treatment assessments for feasibility will include attendance (measured over the course of treatment) and homework completion rates on a scale of 1 to 5 in which 5 indicates higher homework completion. We will also assess acceptability via individual items on a Likert scale (self report): overall satisfaction, how much was learned about ADHD, usefulness of information learned, content relevance to individual experience, comprehension of strategies, confidence about using strategies, likelihood of using strategies, helpfulness to share with the group, benefits from hearing from other group members, willingness to recommend the same treatment to others, and whether or not treatment was beneficial.

The purpose of this study is to determine if patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) can consistently take a drug called Methylphenidate (MPH) daily, once a day for 4 weeks to help with any thinking, attention or schoolwork problems and if they have any side effects. The study will assess any thinking or attention problems participants may have both before taking this drug and after. Additionally, the study will assess the decision-making process of the caregiver that may influence using this drug or not. Primary Objective: • Assess the feasibility, acceptability, and adherence to MPH treatment in children with SCD and EF deficits. Secondary Objective: • Evaluate neurobehavioral and safety outcomes following MPH treatment. Exploratory Objective: • Evaluate decision-making and determinants influencing methylphenidate utilization among parents.

The goal of this basic experimental research study is to examine how the human thalamus supports flexible thinking and behavior. Specifically, the research aims to elucidate how the mediodorsal (MD) thalamus encodes and updates "context"-the mental framework that determines which rules or actions are relevant in a given situation. This work may contribute to understanding why certain psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia and ADHD, involve difficulties with cognitive flexibility and control. The primary research questions are: Does the MD thalamus represent the context that organizes how working memory guides task selection? Does the MD thalamus signal when context needs to be updated after a change in task demands? Do these thalamic representations support generalization to new situations or rules? Participants will complete cognitive tasks while undergoing high-resolution brain imaging using 7-Tesla MRI. The investigators will combine behavioral data, computational modeling, and advanced neuroimaging analyses to examine how the thalamus interacts with the cortex during flexible decision-making.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if external trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS) works to treat ADHD symptoms in children on the autism spectrum (ASD). It will also learn about the efficacy and tolerability of the eTNS device. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does eTNS reduce ADHD symptoms? * Does eTNS improve core and associated features of ASD? Participation spans 8-12 weeks and includes: * 4-5 in-person visits * 4 brief virtual check-ins * Nightly use of the eTNS device with a small sticky patch applied to child's forehead * Randomized assignment (those who start with the sham device may try the active device later)

The investigators have previously shown that non-invasive methods of brain stimulation such as the administration of transcranial infrared light to the prefrontal cortex (PFC) can result in improvements to cognition and emotion as well as brain oxygenation. This method is called transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM). The investigators hypothesize that tPBM can improve cognition and brain oxygenation in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The investigators will investigate the effects of repeated tPBM sessions on cognitive functioning in adults with ADHD. Specifically, the investigators hypothesize that participants that receive tPBM will show improvements in response control, sustained attention, and working memory, as well as improvements in prefrontal hemodynamics and a reduction in ADHD symptoms.

This pilot study will test whether combining L-theanine and paraxanthine improves sustained attention, inhibitory control, and overall cognition in adults with ADHD and ASD. Two parallel randomized, single-blinded, repeated-measures crossover trials will be conducted. Participants will complete neuropsychological testing, fMRI scanning, and self-report measures following administration of the L-theanine-paraxanthine combination compared to placebo.

The goal of this larger parallel group randomized trial is to test the impact of a virtual reality program for improving the ability of emerging adults (age 18-25) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to stay focused while completing homework and studying. This study compares the impact of using a virtual reality headset to using a virtual reality headset while also receiving feedback about levels of focus to a control group. The main question is whether participants demonstrate significantly improved concentration while completing homework and studying in virtual reality and whether they enjoy and prefer working in a virtual reality environment. Concentration is measured both through participant report and also using keyboard and mouse click data to assess work productivity objectively.

This randomized control trial comparing Organizational Skills Training (OST) and Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI) among adolescents with a pre-existing ADHD diagnosis presenting to the Duke ADHD Program. Both treatments are eight 90 minute sessions. The research component will involve a pre-treatment assessment and post-treatment assessment. Both assessments will involve adolescents and one caregiver to complete questionnaires over REDCap. Rating scales will include ADHD symptom severity (Conners 3: self and parent report), functional impairment (IRS: self and parent report), executive functioning (BRIEF-2: parent report), emotion dysregulation (DERS: self and parent report), trait mindfulness (FFMQ: self report), organizational skills (BRIEF-2: parent report), treatment satisfaction (self report and parent report) and credibility (self report and parent report). Post-treatment assessments for feasibility will include attendance (measured over the course of treatment) and homework completion rates on a scale of 1 to 5 in which 5 indicates higher homework completion. We will also assess acceptability via individual items on a Likert scale (self report): overall satisfaction, how much was learned about ADHD, usefulness of information learned, content relevance to individual experience, comprehension of strategies, confidence about using strategies, likelihood of using strategies, helpfulness to share with the group, benefits from hearing from other group members, willingness to recommend the same treatment to others, and whether or not treatment was beneficial.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if iron supplementation works to restless sleep in youth with ADHD. A second goal is to learn if iron supplementation helps to ease ADHD symptoms. The main questions that this trial aims to answer are: Does 3 months of iron supplementation treatment improve parent- and youth self-reported sleep difficulties more than placebo? Does 3 months of iron supplementation treatment improve sleep as measured by actigraphy more than placebo? Does 3 months of iron supplementation treatment improve parent-reported and/or objectively measured attention more than placebo? Researchers will compare over-the-counter iron supplementation treatment to a placebo (a look-alike substance that contains no drug) to see if iron supplementation works to treat sleep difficulties in youth with ADHD. Participants will: * Take iron supplements every day for 3 months * Visit the clinic once before treatment begins and once at the end of treatment to complete tests and rating scales related to sleep and attention * Wear motion-monitoring leg bands while sleeping for one 2-week period before treatment begins and one 2-week period at the end of treatment

This research study investigates how hand gestures can support language comprehension and communication skills of hearing speaking, non-speaking, and/or minimally verbal individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), who are especially disadvantaged by the lack of accessible services in their rural communities. Individuals with other cognitive profiles, including Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), ADHD, Dyslexia, and others are welcome too. The study uses methods of eye tracking and recording of brain activity to understand how hand gestures adapted from signs from American Sign Language, such as \[cry\], can promote successful understanding of words like "cry". The overarching goal is to help families effectively utilize gestures to support communication with their children.