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VR Study for ADHD in Young Adults

This study is testing a virtual reality (VR) program to help young adults (ages 18-25) with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) improve their focus while studying or doing homework. You would use a Meta Quest 3 VR Headset with noise-cancelling headphones. Some participants will also receive feedback on their work productivity. The study wants to see if using VR helps improve concentration and on-task behavior, and if participants enjoy and prefer this way of working. To join, you must be 18-25 years old and meet the criteria for ADHD. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status and plans to enroll 252 participants.

Study design
This is a randomized controlled trial with 252 planned participants. It compares a VR environment alone, a VR environment with feedback, and a VR passthrough control group.
What's involved
You would complete a diagnostic evaluation, and if eligible, be randomized to one of three groups. You will use a VR headset and computer at home for 12 intervention sessions over 2 weeks to 1 month, with two baseline sessions before that.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Concentration and on-task behavior are measured immediately after each of the 12 VR intervention sessions, which take place over an estimated 2 weeks to 1 month.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07169760

R61/33 - VR Study Phase 4

Recruiting
PHASE4Ages 18–25InterventionalTreatment
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
~252 participants
Updated 2026-01-28 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Meta Quest 3 VR Headset with noise cancelling headphones

At a glance

Recruiting sites
2 of 2 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Concentration
Measured over Measured at baseline assessment and immediately after each of the 12 VR intervention sessions (taking place over an estimated 2 weeks-1 month)
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Explore related trials

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Where it's being run

2 sites across 2 states
Louisiana1
New Jersey1

Study leadership

  • Joshua M Langberg, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Rutgers University

Who to contact

Joshua M Langberg, PhD
[email protected]
(848) 445-2000
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Participants must meet DSM-5 criteria for ADHD
Between the ages of 18 and 25
Given high rates of comorbidities in college students with ADHD, participants who meet criteria for ODD, anxiety or depressive disorders on the diagnostic interview are not excluded
Participants must have an item mean score of \>2.0 (often or very often) on the homework task specific version of the Adult Concentration Index (ACI), ensuring the presence of a problem in the mechanism being targeted in this study
The participant has to endorse a total of at least 5 symptoms in the ADHD inattention domain as currently present and impairing and at least 6 symptoms in the ADHD inattention domain as present and impairing during childhood
To rule out exclusionary conditions and/or to assess for the presence of comorbid conditions, psychological functioning will be assessed using the DSM-5 version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID-5-RV)

Exclusion

Whether primary or not, the comorbid presence of several other conditions will be exclusionary.This includes autism spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, active substance abuse, and other psychiatric conditions whose treatment precludes participation in the study.
Students who do not meet criteria for ADHD are not eligible
Students who are not in the specified age range are also not eligible to participate
Students with a history of seizures are not eligible to participate given the use of VR

What this trial measures

  • ConcentrationMeasured at baseline assessment and immediately after each of the 12 VR intervention sessions (taking place over an estimated 2 weeks-1 month)

    Participants rate how concentrated they were to complete work and study

  • On-task BehaviorMeasured throughout the 60-minute duration of each of the 12 VR intervention sessions (taking place over an estimated 2 weeks-1 month)

    % of time on-task during each study session utilizing the Objective On-Task Assessment algorithmic mouse and keyboard click data