Vestibular Stimulation for ADHD: randomized controlled trial of Comprehensive Motion Apparatus.
OBJECTIVE
This research evaluates effects of vestibular stimulation by Comprehensive Motion Apparatus (CMA) in ADHD.


METHODS
Children ages 6 to 12 (48 boys, 5 girls) with ADHD were randomized to thrice-weekly 30-min treatments for 12 weeks with CMA, stimulating otoliths and semicircular canals, or a single-blind control of equal duration and intensity, each treatment followed by a 20-min typing tutorial.


RESULTS
In intent-to-treat analysis (n = 50), primary outcome improved significantly in both groups (p = .0001, d = 1.09 to 1.30), but treatment difference not significant (p = .7). Control children regressed by follow-up (difference p = .034, d = 0.65), but overall difference was not significant (p = .13, d = .47). No measure showed significant treatment differences at treatment end, but one did at follow-up. Children with IQ-achievement discrepancy > or = 1 SD showed significantly more CMA advantage on three measures.


CONCLUSIONS
This study illustrates the importance of a credible control condition of equal duration and intensity in trials of novel treatments. CMA treatment cannot be recommended for combined-type ADHD without learning disorder.
Clark
David L
DL
Ohio State University, Ohio, USA.
Arnold
L Eugene
LE
Crowl
Lindsay
L
Bozzolo
Hernan
H
Peruggia
Mario
M
Ramadan
Yaser
Y
Bornstein
Robert
R
Hollway
Jill A
JA
Thompson
Susan
S
Malone
Krista
K
Hall
Kristy L
KL
Shelton
Sara B
SB
Bozzolo
Dawn R
DR
Cook
Amy
A
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000502:physiology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000502:physiology*