Children’s Attention Project (CAP) including Neuroimaging of CAP Substudy (NICAP)
Synopsis
The Children’s Attention Project (CAP), commenced in 2011, is a prospective longitudinal study of almost 500 children with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) recruited from Grade 1 (mean age: 7) classes across socio-economically diverse primary schools in Melbourne, Australia. The study aims to map the course of ADHD symptoms from childhood into adolescence and to identify risk and protective factors associated with differential outcomes. The study’s examination of a broad range of risk and protective factors and ADHD-related outcomes has the potential to inform novel strategies for intervention and prevention. To date, the cohort has been followed across 4 waves from age 7 to 13 and is ongoing.
The Neuroimaging of the Children’s Attention Project (NICAP) sub-study is a comprehensive longitudinal multimodal neuroimaging study of approximately 200 children with and without ADHD from CAP. NICAP’s primary aims are to determine how brain structure and function change with age in children with and without ADHD, and whether different trajectories of brain development are associated with variations in outcomes including persistence of ADHD, and academic, cognitive, social and mental health outcomes. Establishing which brain regions are associated with differential clinical outcomes may allow us to improve predictions about the course of ADHD.
Summary
| Study name | Children’s Attention Project (CAP) including Neuroimaging of CAP Substudy (NICAP) |
| Study abbreviation | CAP / NICAP |
| Current principal investigator/s | Dr Emma Sciberras (CAP) & Dr Tim Silk (NICAP) |
| Current project manager | Dr Emma Sciberras |
| Cohort representative (study contact) |
Dr Emma Sciberras Dr Tim Silk |
| Postal address | Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville VIC 3052 |
| Phone | +613 8341 6363 |
| childrensattentionproject@mcri.edu.au | |
| Primary Institution | Murdoch Children’s Research Institute |
| Collaborating Institution/s |
Deakin University La Trobe University Joondalup Child Development Centre |
| Major funding sources |
NHMRC (100852; 1065895) Murdoch Children’s Research Institute – MCRI |
| Study website | www.mcri.edu.au/cap |
| Key reference |
Sciberras E, Efron D, Schilpzand L, Anderson V, Jongeling B, Hazell P, Ukoumunne O, Nicholson J. The Children’s Attention Project: A community-based longitudinal study of children with ADHD and non-ADHD controls. BMC Psychiatry 2013; 13:18. doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-13-18 Silk TJ, Genc S., Anderson V, Efron D, Hazell P, Nicholson JM, Kean M, Malpas CB, Sciberras E, Developmental brain trajectories in children with ADHD and controls: a longitudinal neuroimaging study. BMC psychiatry 2016; 16(1). doi: 10.1186/s12888-016-0770-4 |
| Are data available outside study team? | Only on request |
| Study focus | To examine a broad range of risk and protective factors and ADHD-related outcomes (including mental health, academic, family and child well-being, quality of life) in children with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Outcomes from this study have the potential to inform novel strategies for intervention and prevention. |
| Sampling frame |
CAP: Grade 1 children with and without ADHD, recruited across 43 socio-economically diverse government primary schools across Melbourne, Australia. All children were in Grade 1, the second year of formal schooling (6-8 years). Potential participants were screened for ADHD symptoms using independent parent and teacher reports on the Conners’ 3 ADHD index (~N = 5260). Children screening positive for ADHD by both parent and teacher reports, and a matched sample (gender, school) screening negative, were invited to participate. NICAP: Recruited from CAP cohort, with an equal number of cases and controls. |
| Year commenced | 2011 |
| Commencement sample | 497 |
| Intergenerational? | No |
| Imaging | Yes |
| Linkage | NAPLAN, Medicare/PBS, School Entry Health Questionnaire, Australian Early Development Index |
| Biosamples? | Saliva (tube) |
| Ethics approvals or requirements? | Informed written consent – Approved by the RCH HREC (31056; 34071) and Department of Education and Training (2011_001095) |
Waves
| Wave | Year | Age (mean, range) | Eligible sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (CAP) | 2011-2012 | 7.3 years (range 6.4-8.7 years) |
N(Total)=497 |
| 2 (CAP) | 2013-2014 | 8.9 years (range 7.7-10.2 years) | N(Total)=485 N(Cases)=206 N(Controls)=174 N(High risk)=83 |
| 3 (CAP) | 2014-2016 | 10.5 years (range 9.3-12.7 years) | N(Total)=481 N(Cases)=167 N(Controls)=192 N(High risk)=80 |
| 3a (NICAP) | 2014-2016 | 10.5 years (range 9.3-12.7 years) | N(Total)=122 N(Cases)=59 N(Controls)=54 N(High risk)=6 |
| 4 (CAP) | 2016-2017 | 11.5 years (range 9.3-12.7 years) | |
| 4a (NICAP) | 2016-2017 | 11.5 years (range 9.3-12.7 years) | N(Total)=122 N(Cases)=59 N(Controls)=54 N(High risk)=6 |
| 5 (CAP) | 2018-2019 | 13 years (range 9.3-12.7 years) | |
| 5a (NICAP) | 2018-2019 | 13 years (range 9.3-12.7 years) | N(Total)=122 N(Cases)=59 N(Controls)=54 N(High risk)=6 |