NCT07684417 · Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
Impact of Short and Mistimed Sleep on Adolescents With ADHD: The Adolescent Attention and Circadian Timing Study
(AACT)
What this study is about
Many adolescents go to bed late and wake up early for school. Science is only beginning to understand how sleep schedules can affect them. The investigators are interested in whether changing adolescents' sleep patterns affects their functioning, attention, and how they feel.
View original scientific description
Many adolescents go to bed late and wake up early for school. Science is only beginning to understand how sleep schedules can affect them. The investigators are interested in whether changing adolescents' sleep patterns affects their functioning, attention, and how they feel. The investigators are especially interested in the effects of changing both how much sleep adolescents get and when that sleep happens. This study focuses on healthy 13-17-year-olds with ADHD. This study asks adolescents to systematically change their sleeping habits across a 3 week span. The first week, they follow a sleep schedule that fits reasonably well with the schedule they keep when they do not have to wake up early for any specific obligation (e.g., for school). The second week, they spend several nights in a "short sleep" condition, during which they get 6.5 hours in bed per night. The final week, they enter a sleep condition that allows for healthy sleep duration, but with a timing that is randomly assigned to either fit well with their preferred schedule or fit poorly with that schedule. During each week, they and their parents complete measures of their attention and other factors. At the end of each week, they attend an evening session to measure their internal body clock ("circadian phase"), as well as measures of attention and other thinking skills. The goal is to understand whether the benefits of healthy sleep duration depend on the timing of when that sleep occurs.
Interventions
BEHAVIORAL
Aligned sleep extension
Timing of extended sleep condition is randomly assigned to fit with participant's chronotype
BEHAVIORAL
Misaligned sleep extension
Timing of extended sleep condition is randomly assigned to fit poorly with participant's chronotype
Primary outcome measures
Caregiver- and Adolescent-Reported Symptoms of Inattention
Time frame: Daily throughout each participant's involvement in the study, up to 3 weeks
Daily diary listing symptoms of inattention adapted from the IOWA Conners Questionnaire. Adolescents will self-report their own symptoms for the previous day. Parents/caregivers will report on their observations of the adolescents' symptoms for the previous day. Higher scores indicate greater inattention.
Who can participate
This study lists these criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov. A study coordinator reviews eligibility during screening — this page does not determine whether you qualify.
Inclusion criteria
- Ages 13-17 years at time of informed consent/assent
- Based on semi-structured clinical interview, participants must meet full DSM-5 criteria for ADHD inattentive or ADHD combined presentation.
Exclusion criteria
- Non-traditional school setting (morning-afternoon Monday-Friday).
- High caffeine intake. To promote adherence to directives not to consume caffeine the day of office visits without withdrawal effects, adolescents with daily intake of \>1 coffee or "energy drink" or \>2 caffeinated sodas per day based on caregiver- and adolescent-report will be excluded.
- Unwillingness or inability to take part in study procedures (e.g., visits, prescribed sleep conditions).
- Medication use or unwillingness to discontinue melatonin and/or stimulant medications during the 3-week study protocol.
- Refusal to refrain from automobile driving during the sleep restriction condition.
- "Intermediate" Chronotypes (neither morning larks nor night owls) based on habitual sleep timing on nights when adolescent has no morning obligations such as school or work.
Where
- Cincinnati, Ohio
Collaborators
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Related conditions & keywords
Frequently asked questions
What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medical treatments, drugs, devices, or procedures to determine their safety and effectiveness. Trials are carefully designed and monitored to protect participants while advancing medical knowledge.
Is it safe to participate?
Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. Trials must be reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals throughout the study. You can withdraw at any time if you choose.
Will I be compensated?
Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time, travel expenses, and inconvenience. The specific compensation varies by study and will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is typically provided at no cost to participants.
Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?
When effective treatment exists, participants typically receive either the standard treatment plus the study intervention, or the standard treatment plus placebo. You would not be denied effective care. Placebos are primarily used when no proven treatment is available, or in addition to standard care. Your trial consent form will clearly explain what treatments you may receive.
Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?
Absolutely. Participation in clinical trials is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
How long does a clinical trial last?
Trial duration varies widely depending on the study design and purpose. Some trials last just a few weeks, while others may continue for months or years. The study coordinator will provide specific timeline information during your screening call.
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced Aug 17, 2026 · Source of record for eligibility and locations