Effects of Integrated Brain, Body, and Social (IBBS) intervention on ERP measures of attentional control in children with ADHD

Psychiatry Res. 2019 Aug:278:248-257. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.06.021. Epub 2019 Jun 17.

Abstract

A primary goal of this study was to examine the impact of an Integrated Brain, Body, and Social (IBBS) intervention (multi-faceted treatment consisting of computerized cognitive training, physical exercise, and behavior management) on ERPs of attentional control (P3 & N2) in children with ADHD. The secondary goal was to test the differences between children with and without ADHD on ERP and Go/No-Go behavioral measures. A total of twenty-nine participants (M age = 7.14 years; 52% male; 41.4% white) recruited from the IBBS efficacy study comparing IBBS to Treatment-As-Usual (TAU) completed a Go/No-Go task before and after treatment as brain activity was recorded using EEG. Thirty-four matched healthy controls (HC) completed the same EEG procedures at a single time point. Following treatment, the Go P3 latency was significantly earlier for the IBBS group relative to the TAU group. No treatment effects were found on any behavioral measures. Prior to treatment, there was a significant difference between the ADHD group and HC group for the N2 difference wave. Children with ADHD also showed slower reaction times on behavioral measures. Although this pilot study did not reveal robust treatment effects, it suggests that IBBS may prevent the worsening of attentional systems in the brain and larger studies are needed for replication purposes.

Keywords: Behavior management; Cognitive training; Electrophysiology; Physical exercise; Randomized controlled trial.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Attention / physiology*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / physiopathology*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / therapy
  • Behavior Therapy / methods*
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Child
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Electroencephalography / methods
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology*
  • Exercise
  • Exercise Therapy / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pilot Projects
  • Reaction Time
  • Treatment Outcome