Adding VR-Based Episodic Future Thinking Training to Executive- Function Training for Children With ADHD: A Randomized Controlled Trial

NCT07591896 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: QL000008
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 80
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study recruited 80 children aged 5-12 with clinically diagnosed ADHD from Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, and randomly divided them into two groups with 40 children in each group: the EF-only group and the EF+VR-EFT group. Both groups received a 2-week intervention with 5 sessions per week

Conditions

ADHD

Keywords

ADHD; virtual reality; serious games

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• BRIEF score

  The main outcome measures of the study were assessed via the BRIEFfocusing on executive function changes after the 2-week intervention,BRIEF-assessed executive function changes, with specific difficulty score reductions in inhibition and metacognition

  two weeks

Study Arms (2)

executive function

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

All participants received 2 weeks of conventional executive function (EF) training (6 sessions per week). After the intervention, their executive function improved slightly, with small changes in higher-order processes such as inhibitory control and metacognition.

Behavioral: executive function

EF+VR-EFT

EXPERIMENTAL

Experimental Group (EF+VR-EFT group): On the basis of the same conventional EF training as the control group, participants additionally completed a 20-minute VR-based episodic future thinking (VR-EFT) module per session, delivered via PICO headsets through immersive gameplay in a controlled clinical setting.

Behavioral: a VR-based episodic future thinking

Interventions

executive function BEHAVIORAL

Control Group (EF-only group): Participants received a 2-week standardized, non-immersive conventional executive function (EF) training, with 6 sessions per week (45 minutes per session) under researcher supervision, targeting core executive processes such as inhibitory control and working memory. Experimental Group (EF+VR-EFT group): On the basis of the same conventional EF training as the control group, participants additionally completed a 20-minute VR-based episodic future thinking (VR-EFT) module per session, delivered via PICO headsets through immersive gameplay in a controlled clinical setting.

executive function

a VR-based episodic future thinking BEHAVIORAL

Experimental Group (EF+VR-EFT group): On the basis of the same 2-week conventional EF training, participants additionally completed a VR-based episodic future thinking (VR-EFT) module in each session. Their executive function achieved more significant and stable improvements, particularly in higher-order domains.

EF+VR-EFT

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 5 Years - 12 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Aged 5-12 years with a clinical diagnosis of ADHD confirmed by a multidisciplinary clinical team according to DSM-5 criteria.
• Normal intellectual functioning.
• Absence of major neurological or medical disorders.

You may not qualify if:

• Participants with incomplete or missing questionnaire data (8 cases were excluded based on this criterion in the study).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Qilu Hospital of Shandong University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Qilu Hospital of Shandong University

Jinan, Shandong, China

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity

Interventions

Neuropsychological Tests

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Psychological Tests; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: QUADRUPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 17, 2026
• First Posted: May 18, 2026
• Study Start: June 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: December 1, 2025
• Study Completion: December 30, 2025
• Last Updated: May 18, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share

Locations

CN (1)