Methylphenidate Effect in Children With ADHD Can Be Measured by an Ecologically Valid Continuous Performance Test Embedded in Virtual Reality

Abstract

Background: Continuous performance tasks (CPTs) embedded in a virtual reality (VR) classroom environment have been shown to be a sensitive and user-friendly assessment tool to detect cognitive deficits related to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of the current study was to compare the performance of children with ADHD on a VR-CPT while on and off treatment with methylphenidate (MPH) and to compare the VR-CPT to a cgrrently used CPT, Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA).Methods:Twenty-seven children with ADHD underwent the VR-CPT, the same CPT without VR (no VR-CPT), and theTOVA, 1 hour after the. ingestion of either placebo or 0.3 mg/kg MPH, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. Immediately following CPT, subjects described their subjective experiences on the Short Feedback Questionnaire.Results: MPH reduced omission errors to a greater extent on the VR-CPT compared to the no VR-CPT and the TOVA, and decreased other CPT measures on all types of CPT to a similar degree. Children rated the VR-CPT as more enjoyable compared to the other types of CPT.Conclusions: It is concluded that the VR-CPT is a sensitive and user-friendly assessment tool in measuring the response to MPH in children with ADHD.

ADHD History of the Concept: the Case of the Continuous Performance Test

“…The virtual environment CPT yielded similar case-control effect sizes as the classical CPT from the Test of Variables of Attention (T.O.V.A.) [47], and was also sensitive to MPH treatment effects [48]. This approach may afford the opportunity to conduct assessments with higher ecological validity without losing experimental rigor.…”

Neurocognitive assessment of children with neurodevelopmental disorders: Preliminary findings

“…There is also a need to utilize other clinical tools for assessing ADHD symptoms. Recently, CPT embedded in a virtual reality has emerged as a user‐friendly assessment tool . CPT is widely used in the assessment and study of patients with ADHD .…”

Does Test Dose of Central Stimulant Influence Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and Activity in Boys with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

“…In a number of studies, methylphenidate is shown to improve symptoms measured on CPT to the extent that children with ADHD treated with methylphenidate can perform nearly as well as a control group [9,12,[14][15][16][17][18].…”

“…Others have investigated the use of CPT in a virtual setting or as an online test that can be made in the child's home or at school, to create a naturalistic setting [11,17].…”