Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common disorder that affects behaviour. ADHD can present in a number of ways, but common symptoms include a short attention span, restlessness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. These symptoms often overlap with and could be better explained by other common mental health disorders seen in offenders. A particular concern for children with ADHD is the high risk for developing antisocial behaviour during adolescence and young adulthood. Previous studies have shown that around 30% of adolescent and 26% of adult prisoners have ADHD. Currently, the drug methylphenidate is the first line treatment recommended for ADHD with severe impairment in the UK. Despite known effects of methylphenidate on ADHD symptoms, it is uncommon for offender mental health teams to diagnose and treat ADHD. The reason is uncertainty over the effects of methylphenidate on ADHD and behavioural outcomes in offender populations, where ADHD is often accompanied by conduct problems, substance abuse and stress related disorders. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of methylphenidate in young male prisoners with ADHD.
Who can participate?
Male prisoners aged between 16 and 25 years with ADHD.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group are treated with a placebo (dummy pill) for eight weeks. Those in the second group are treated with methylphenidate for eight weeks. This involves gradually increasing the dose to find the best balance of symptom improvement against side effects for the first five weeks and then maintaining the dose for a further three weeks. At the start of the study and then after eight weeks, participants complete a number of questionnaires in order to find out if their ADHD symptoms, well-being and attitudes towards violence have changed. The prison officers and education staff also complete a questionnaire to find out if the prisoner’s level of aggressive behaviour has changed.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Study participants may benefit from receiving the diagnosis of ADHD and treatment for the disorder, as all participants will be offered treatment once the 8 week trial is completed. Common side effects from medication such as appetite reduction and sleep disturbance are usually minor and reduce with time, but can lead to some participants withdrawing from treatment. Serious side effects are rarely reported in ADHD treatment trials and so are likely to be rare and unexpected.
Where is the study run from?
The study is run from King’s College London and takes place in three prisons England and Scotland (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
May 2016 to July 2019
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Professor Philip Asherson
philip.asherson@kcl.ac.uk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Prof Philip Asherson
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2667-2254
Contact details
Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience
King’s College London
De Crespigny Park
London
SE5 8AF
United Kingdom
+44 20 7848 0078
philip.asherson@kcl.ac.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
30391
Study information
Scientific title
Randomised controlled trial of the short term effects of OROS-methylphenidate on ADHD symptoms and behavioural outcomes in young male prisoners with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Acronym
Study hypothesis
The overall aim of the trial is investigate the effects of Methylphenidate extended release (OROS MPH) in young male prisoners (age 16-25) meeting DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for ADHD.
Hypotheses:
1. OROS-MPH is better than placebo in reducing inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity in young male prisoners meeting diagnostic criteria for DSM-5 ADHD
2. OROS-MPH is better than placebo at reducing secondary outcomes that are key indicators of behavioural and functional impairments used in the management of young prisoners in the UK (including emotional dysregulation, antisocial behaviour in the prison, violent attitudesand the number of recorded positive Incentives and Earned Privileges)
3. Improvements in secondary behavioural outcomes due to OROS-methylphenidate are mediated by improvements in ADHD symptoms or emotional dysregulation
Ethics approval
East of England – Essex Research Ethics Committee, 31/05/2016, ref: 16/EE/0117
Study design
Randomised; Interventional; Design type: Treatment, Screening, Diagnosis, Process of Care, Drug, Psychological & Behavioural
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Not specified
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Specialty: Mental Health, Primary sub-specialty: Learning disorders; UKCRC code/ Disease: Mental Health/ Behavioural and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence
Intervention
Participants will be randomised to receive 8-weeks treatment with either OROS-MPH or placebo, titrated over 5 weeks to balance ADHD symptom improvement against side effects and then maintained for a further 3 weeks. 200 participants will be recruited with 1:1 ratio of drug to placebo. Randomisation will be conducted by the King’s CTU with blinding of both investigators and participants.
Randomisation will take place once informed and signed consent has been obtained, eligibility checks have been completed and before the treatment is started. We will use the King's Clinical Trials Unit’s Independent Randomisation Service, ensuring reliability and credibility in the randomisation process. Random block sizes will be used to control the numbers of subjects allocated to each group, stratified by site and in a 1:1 drug-placebo ratio. Patient characteristics will not be taken into account in the randomisation process, but we expect a balanced ratio of cognitive ability, ADHD symptom severity and co-occurring psychosocial and mental health problems across the drug treatment and placebo groups.
Both active medication (Concerta XL 18 mg tablets) and matched placebo will be titrated weekly for 5 weeks and then kept at stable maintenance dose for 3 weeks. The maximum titrated dose (or matching placebo) is as follows: Week 1 = 18 mg (1 tablet); Week 2 = 36 mg (2 tablets); Week 3 = 54 mg (3 tablets); Week 4 = 72 mg (4 tablets); Week 5 = 72 mg (4 tablets); Week 6 = 72 mg (4 tablets); Week 7 = 72mg (4 tablets); Week 8 = 72mg (4 tablets). Titration of dose is conducted by the study psychiatrist. Both the trial investigators and participants are blinded. The titration protocol is followed in the same way for both active medication (IMP) and placebo. Treatment will start at an initial dose of 18 mg (1 tablet) for 1 week, and be increased weekly in 18 mg increments to a maximum of 72 mg (4 tablets) (i.e. 18 mg (1 tablet), 36 mg (2 tablets), 54 mg (3 tablets) and 72 mg (4 tablets). Medication will be reduced by 18 mg (1 tablet) if there is a limiting adverse event, in which case there will be no further increase in medication for the duration of the trial. Medication may be provided either once or twice daily up to the maximum daily dose. Titration upwards will be stopped if all 18 ADHD symptoms are scored as negligible (score of 0 or 1 on the CAARS) or absent. Unacceptable levels of adverse effects on the lowest dose of 18mg might lead to a cessation of treatment in a few cases; if this occurs we will ask participants to remain in the trial for the remaining trial assessments.
Participants in both groups are followed up at eight weeks.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Level of ADHD symptoms measured on the investigator rated Connors Adult ADHD rating scale measured at baseline and after 8-weeks of treatment.
Secondary outcome measures
1. Emotional dysregulation is rated by the investigator and measured on the Wender-Reimherr Adult ADHD Diagnostic Scale at baseline and 8 weeks
2. Number of negative Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEPs) and adjudications for antisocial behaviour and rule breaking reported in the prison records at baseline and 8 weeks
3. Aggressive behaviour is rated by prison officer and education staff using the Modified Overt Aggression Scale at baseline and 8 weeks
4. Number of positive incentive and earned privileges (IEPs) for positive engagement in education, occupational and rehabilitation programs recorded in the prison records at baseline and 8 weeks
5. Attitudes towards violence are self-rated using the Maudsley Violence Questionnaire at baseline and 8 weeks
6. Subjective well-being is measured using the CORE Outcome Measure (CORE_OM) at baseline and 8 weeks
Overall trial start date
21/05/2014
Overall trial end date
12/07/2019
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Male, aged between 16 and 25 years
2. English speaking
3. Able to provide informed consent (understand the information sheet and make an informed decision taking into account pros and cons of study participation)
4. Meet clinical diagnostic criteria for DSM-5 ADHD: 5 or more current symptoms of ADHD in either the inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptom domains; 6 or more symptoms of ADHD in either the inattentive or hyperactiveimpulsive symptom domains before the age of 12 years; Where it is not possible to gain sufficient clinical information to score childhood symptoms of ADHD, the operational criteria will be adapted to include evidence of several ADHD symptoms with impairment starting before the age of 12 years, and 5 or more symptoms currently with moderate to severe impairment
5. Persistent trait like (non-episodic) course of symptoms
6. Impairments in two or more clinical or psychosocial domains and two or more settings from symptoms of ADHD
7. Onset of symptoms before the age of 12 years
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Male
Target number of participants
Planned Sample Size: 200; UK Sample Size: 200
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Lack capacity to give informed consent
2. Moderate or severe learning disability, defined as IQ<60
3. Serious risk of violence to the researcher
4. Current major depression, psychosis, mania or hypomania
5. Past history of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia
6. Medical contraindications to the use of stimulants (e.g. glaucoma, hypertension, cardiovascular disease or structural heart problem)
7. Drug seeking behaviour or craving
Recruitment start date
12/09/2016
Recruitment end date
12/03/2019
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
King’s College London
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience
De Crespigny Park
London
SE5 8AF
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
HMP Rochester
1 Fort Road
Rochester
ME1 3QS
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
HMP and YOI ISIS
Western Way
Thamesmead
SE28 0NZ
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
YOI Polmont
Polmont
Falkirk
FK2 0AB
United Kingdom
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
National Institute for Health Research
Alternative name(s)
NIHR
Funding Body Type
government organisation
Funding Body Subtype
National government
Location
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
1. Publication in the NIHR Journals Library for the EME program
2. Publication in prominent peer reviewed journals (e.g. Lancet, British Medical Journal, British Journal of Psychiatry
3. Press release
4. Reporting at national and international psychiatry and offender mental health meetings (e.g. RCPsych annual meeting, European Psychiatry Association, American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
5. Reporting at regional training meetings for offender mental health teams
6. Reporting at prominent criminal justice meetings (e.g. Stockholm Criminology Symposium)
7. Workshops/regional meetings with police, probation and offender management teams
8. Dissemination to guideline development groups
9. Information leaflets for service users and presentation at user group meetings (e.g. the annual ADDISS conference)
10. Development of clinical training programs for ADHD in offender mental health
11. Meetings with local commissioning groups (e.g. commissioners for London Offender Mental Health) and service planners in Scotland (e.g. via the Forensic Mental Health Management Care Network)
12. Meetings with offender mental health care teams in prisons and community settings
13. Meetings with offender management units, probation and prison monitoring committees
14. Feedback to participants in Pelmont and Isis informing them of the study outcomes and providing information on support for people with ADHD
Intention to publish date
30/09/2019
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list