The majority of studies carried out at the Institute focus on intervention research. Our activities cover the entire range of intervention research, including the development of new measures and treatments, studies that evaluate treatment effectiveness and efficacy, and follow-up studies. Most of our research is supported by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and from foundations.

Current Research Studies

Several treatment studies are currently recruiting participants. These include:

Parenting Program for Inattentive, Impulsive and Overactive Preschool Children (Ages 3–4) (PDF)
The NYU Child Study Center is offering families the opportunity to participate in a research project funded by the NIMH for 3-to-4-year-olds who are inattentive, impulsive and overactive. We are evaluating the effectiveness of two parenting programs in reducing these problems in preschoolers.

Neither program involves medication, and all families will receive one of the two parenting programs being evaluated. Study evaluations, as well as participation in the parenting programs, are provided at no cost to families. Evaluation and parenting sessions can be scheduled at times convenient to families.

One parenting program involves working with the parent and child in their home, whereas the other is provided in our clinics. Each program consists of 8 weekly sessions approximately 1-1.5 hours in length. Families can participate at our Manhattan site or at our Long Island site in Lake Success. For additional information about the program, please contact Robyn Stotter at (212) 263-2734 (robyn.stotter@nyumc.org).

Research Study for Children with ADHD and Organizational Skills Difficulties (PDF)
The NYU Child Study Center is currently evaluating children between the ages of 8 and 11 (3rd–5th grade) who meet diagnostic criteria for ADHD and have organizational skills difficulties to determine if they qualify to participate in an NIMH funded study that is comparing different organizational skills treatment programs. The study assessments and treatments are provided at no cost. Youngsters who qualify for the study will receive an intervention which specifically targets improving organizational skills (i.e. materials management, time management and planning). The treatment is individualized, one-on-one, and intensive. Parents and children participate in meetings twice a week for about 10 weeks. Teachers are consulted and asked to assist in the efforts. Families can participate at our Manhattan site or at our Long Island site in Lake Success. For further information, please contact Robyn Stotter at (212) 263-2734 (robyn.stotter@nyumc.org) or Christina Hunkins at (212) 263-2783 (christina.hunkins@nyumc.org).

Organizational Skills Treatment for Middle-School Children with Attentional, Behavioral and Organizational Problems: A School-Based Approach
The aim of this research project, funded by the Lemberg, Hecksher and Hughes Foundations, is to develop and pilot a school-based intervention for middle-school students who have attentional and behavioral control problems, as well as organization, time management, and planning deficits. The project is working in select middle-schools in Queens and NYC and participation is limited to eligible students attending these schools. For further information please contact Emily Madsen at (212) 263-4718 (emily.madsen@nyumc.org)

Current follow-up studies include:

The Follow-Up of the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD (MTA)
The MTA, the largest randomized controlled trial for pediatric ADHD funded by the NIMH, is a multi-site collaborative study that began in 1991 and involves 7 major universities in the U.S. and Canada. The MTA enrolled 579 7-9 year-old children with ADHD who were randomly assigned to one of 4 conditions for 14 months: medication treatment, behavioral treatment, the combination of medication and behavioral treatment, or to community care. The follow-up study evaluates the participants’ current academic, occupational, emotional, behavioral and interpersonal functioning, their mental health status, treatment history, and their experiences with substance use and abuse and the justice system.

Follow-up of the PATS Sample
This six-site study, funded by the NIMH, is following-up children who had been originally recruited and randomized into the preschool Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) treatment study (PATS), when they were 3-5 years-old. The aims of the five-year follow-up study are to evaluate: 1) whether early treatment with methylphenidate (MPH) is associated with the emergence of any negative physical (decreased height and weight growth rates), cognitive, or behavioral (e.g., sleep disturbance, tics) effects; 2) the effects of initial treatment with MPH on ADHD symptoms, symptoms from other mental health conditions, and overall functioning; 3) the stability of the ADHD diagnosis and other mental health conditions present when the children entered the study at ages 3-5 years old across subsequent development.