UA Psychology Professors Seek Children for ADHD, Anxiety Disorder Study

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Dr. Matthew Jarrett, assistant professor in The University of Alabama’s department of psychology, is seeking volunteers for a study of a new treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, and anxiety in children.

Current treatments for anxiety and ADHD include a variety of medications and behavioral therapies. Jarrett’s research study utilizes a computerized attention and memory training program that will be offered to research study participants free of charge. Jarrett said the treatment has been evaluated for children with ADHD or anxiety disorders before, but this research study will be the first to examine the effects of the program for children with both ADHD and a co-occurring anxiety disorder.

“There is some evidence that children with both of these difficulties have even greater challenges with the types of attention and memory problems that the program seeks to train,” said Jarrett. “In turn, this treatment could prove to be a powerful option for this subgroup of children with ADHD.”

The research study is in collaboration with Dr. Philip Gable, also a UA assistant professor of psychology. They are seeking children ages 8-12 that can complete the treatment from their home on a computer. Families without a home computer can also participate but would need to use one of the laboratory’s computers.

Jarrett and Gable will take the information gathered from the participants and examine changes in how the brain functions before and after this treatment using a tool called electroencephalograpy, or EEG, done in a UA lab.

“This research study may also help us better understand how changes in attention, memory and behavior are related to changes in brain activity,” Jarrett said.

To participate in the research study, contact Jarrett at 205/348-0629 or by email at majarrett@ua.edu.

The department of psychology is part of UA’s College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team.