High Intensity Training for Adults With ADHD in Specialised Mental Health Care

NCT07675538 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: 938442
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by persistent symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. According to the DSM-5, these symptoms must be present for at least six months, have an onset in childhood, and result in significant impairment in multiple life domains. Although ADHD may be limited to childhood in some cases, most individuals continue to have symptoms and impairments in varying degrees in adult life. The prevalence of persistent ADHD among adults is estimated to be approximately 2.58%, depending on diagnostic criteria and sample selection. The increasing awareness of ADHD has led to a marked increase in referrals to mental health services, which places greater demands on the development of effective and accessible treatment options for this group. Pharmacological treatment, particularly the use of stimulants, is a common intervention for adults with ADHD and has been shown to be effective for many. However, there are also side effects associated with drug treatment, and there is a need for more evidence-based non-drug alternatives. In addition, discontinuation of medication is common in ADHD treatment. Psychological interventions include psychoeducation and cognitive behaviour therapy, as well as more specialised approaches based on Dialectical Behaviour Therapy and Goal Management Training, which aim to improve executive functions. Whilst pharmacotherapy and psychotherapeutic interventions help some people with ADHD, not all people experience favourable outcomes, which calls for alternative treatment approaches. Interventions targeting the core symptoms of ADHD, executive functions, and behaviour are particularly relevant to treatment provision. One approach to improving executive functioning that has received increasing attention is physical exercise. Studies have shown that physical activity can have a positive effect on cognitive function, executive control, and behaviour in children and adolescents with ADHD. Physical exercise may also be applied as treatment for comorbid factors common in ADHD, such as mood disorders and multiple long-term physical conditions. Despite increasing interest in physical activity as a treatment modality, research on physical exercise for adults with ADHD is still limited. The findings from studies on younger age groups point to the potential for similar effects in adults, but more research is needed to examine the effects of physical exercise as a targeted intervention in the adult population with ADHD. Among the different types of physical activity, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has gained promise for mental health. Due to its rapid, alternating, and fast-paced style, it could prove useful for those with ADHD. However, research on high-intensity interval training interventions (HIIT) in this population is scarce. To address these unanswered questions, this project will conduct a feasibility trial for a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to assess the feasibility and acceptability of HIIT among people with ADHD.

Conditions

Attention Deficit Disorder With Hyperactivity (ADHD)

Keywords

ADHD; Physical exercise; High intensity training

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Feasibility of the intervention: Recruitment rate

  Recruitment rate: Proportion of eligible participants who agree to participate in the study ((Number of participants recruited/Number of eligible participants) x 100). Aim: \>50%.

  through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Feasibility measure: Retention rate

  Retention rate: Proportion of participants who remain in the study until completion ((Number of participants completing the study/Number of participants enrolled) x 100). Aim: \>80%.

  through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Feasibility measure: Dropout rate

  Dropout rate: How many participants dropped out after inclusion. Registration of reasons of dropout.

  through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Feasibility measure: Compliance

  Compliance: How many sessions each participant attended. Registration of reasons of sessions not attended.

  through study completion, an average of 1 year

• Feasibility measure: Adherence to protocol

  Adherence to protocol: How many elements in the physical exercise program were conducted in each session. Physical exercise diary for registration of load and intensity of strength- and endurance training, respectively. Aim: \>80%. Also, registration of adherence to the total test protocol.

  through study completion, an average of 1 year

Secondary Outcomes (17)

• In depth interview

  Participants are inviteted within two weeks after ending their participation

• General Ability - WAIS-IV

  Within two weeks before initating intervention.

• The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale

  Within two weeks before initating intervention. Within two weeks after ending intervention.

• The Working Memory Questionnaire

  Within two weeks before first intervention session and within two weeks after completion of the last session.

• The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7

  Within two weeks before first intervention session and within two weeks after completion of the last session.

Study Arms (1)

High intensity training

EXPERIMENTAL

Fourteen weeks of high intensity strenght and endurance training after a protocol.

Behavioral: High intensity training

Interventions

High intensity training BEHAVIORAL

14 weeks of high intensity training of strenght and endurace.

High intensity training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Above 18 years
• An ADHD diagnosis (F90.0 in the ICD-10)

You may not qualify if:

• Psychiatric conditions not compatible with participation incl. ongoing psychotic episode, mania, acute suicidality etc.,
• Physical conditions precluding participation in physical testing and/or exercise
• Comprehensive ongoing substance use determined by the Alcohol Use Disorders IdentificationTest (AUDIT; Babor et al., 2001) and the Drug Use Disorder Identification Test (DUDIT; Berman et al., 2003). An AUDIT cut-off score of 16 (high risk), and/or DUDIT score of 20 (high risk) will lead to screening with MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (Lecrubier etal., 1997; Sheehan et al., 1998).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Solli Distriktspsykiatriske Senter: lead
• Helse Bergen Hospital Trust: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Solli DPS and Kronstad DPS

Bergen, Norway

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Motor Activity

Interventions

High-Intensity Interval Training

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Physical Conditioning, Human; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Kristine Sirevåg, PhD

  Solli DPS

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 15, 2026
• First Posted: June 30, 2026
• Study Start: February 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2027
• Last Updated: June 30, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

NO (1)