Intervention study for families of adolescents with ADHD and poor emotion regulation

From: Department of Psychology

The CALMER Lab (CALMERlab.com) located at the Child Study Center at Virginia Tech is conducting a new intervention study for adolescents ages 11-16 years with ADHD and poor emotion regulation and their families (IRB #24-1281).

This study examines how well RELAX, a group-based intervention for adolescents and their families, works to improve emotional, social, and academic functioning in adolescents with ADHD. RELAX teaches adolescents how to better deal with big emotions like anger, sadness, frustration, and worry; how to more effectively communicate and manage conflicts with others, and provides parents with strategies to support adolescents’ use of these skills. RELAX consists of eight weekly 90-minute groups for parents and adolescents, and two review groups two months and one year after the RELAX groups are completed.

Participants in the study will be randomized to either receive RELAX or be in a waitlist control condition and to complete ratings on emotional, social, behavioral, and academic functioning on four separate occasions. The initial study visit also involves assessment of cognitive abilities, a comprehensive mental health assessment, and a discussion task between you and your adolescent.

In order to be eligible to participate, your child needs to have a verbal IQ within normal limits (i.e., 70 or higher) and not experience any severe developmental delay. Your family also must be able to engage in the research study fully in English (i.e., complete an interview and online questionnaires and potentially participate in the RELAX groups in English).

Your family will be compensated up to $200 for completing all parts of the study. If you would like to learn more about the study, please contact the CALMER Lab at calmerlab@gmail.com.