Tailored Yoga Therapy for Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Yoga4ADHD)

April 14, 2026 updated by: King's College London

Tailored Yoga Therapy for Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults: A Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial

This study will explore the feasibility, acceptability, and potential benefits of a group-based tailored yoga programme designed for adults experiencing symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The yoga intervention will be compared to an active control (group-based functional movement classes).

Study Overview

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The primary aim of the study is to test the feasibility and acceptability of a tailored, group-based yoga intervention for adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, by monitoring recruitment, engagement, and completion rates, and through obtaining qualitative feedback from participants at the end of the intervention.

A secondary aim is to explore whether the yoga intervention is associated with improvements in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and related symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depression), quality of life, and general functioning, compared to a control intervention (group-based functional movement sessions). The secondary outcomes will be assessed with self-report questionnaires at the start, middle and end of the yoga and control interventions, and three months after completion of the interventions.

The investigators will also examine aspects of cognitive and physiological functioning through laboratory testing at the start and end of the intervention, focusing on measures of autonomic activation (e.g., the 'fight or flight response), bodily awareness, attention, and response inhibition. Physiological functioning, such as sleep quality, activity levels, and heart rate, will be monitored throughout the six-week study with wearable devices (e.g., Fitbit activity trackers), to provide longer-term, real-world insights into the possible benefits of the intervention.

The investigators will explore whether the yoga intervention is associated with improvements in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and related symptoms/abilities, including emotional regulation, social behaviour, attention, focus, interoception and stress reactivity. The investigators will also explore whether the yoga intervention is linked with improved bodily stress markers (heart rate variability), sleep, and physical activity.

This feasibility randomised controlled trial will include 20 participants who will be randomly allocated (1:1) to either the group-based tailored yoga therapy intervention (n=10), or a group-based functional movement class (n=10). The latter will be a structured class focusing on light strength, mobility and flexibility.

All participants will attend an initial in-person laboratory testing session at the start and end of the 6-week intervention. Each week, both intervention group and control group will attend an in-person one-hour group session. Each week, participants will be asked to practice at least twice, using a 20-minute video recording on demand from home. Outcomes will be measured using self-report, lab-based, and digital wearable measures.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

20

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Are aged 18 or older.
  • Score above the clinical cut-off threshold on the Adult Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Self-Report Scale.
  • Are fluent in English.
  • Have normal or corrected eyesight.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Major physical health disorders or disabilities that may affect participation (e.g., uncontrolled epilepsy, significant mobility challenges).
  • Major mental health disorders that may affect participation (e.g., active psychosis, severe alcohol/substance use disorder).
  • Current recipient of any other mind-body therapy for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
  • Current participation in a regular yoga activity.
  • Current pregnancy.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Tailored yoga
A 6-week group-based yoga programme designed for people experiencing attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms.
Behavioral: Tailored yoga therapy.

Participants in this arm will participate in a six-week study. They will attend one hour-long group-based in-person session per week, as well as practising from home at least twice weekly following along an online video (which will be a practice of what was learnt in-person that week).

Each group yoga session will start with some Pranayama (yogic breathwork) to engage participants' attention and to help them focus. The intervention will progress from purely activating yogic breathwork techniques, to some calming and grounding techniques to aid relaxation, bodily awareness and to reduce stress. Sessions will also involve some faster movements to align the body with typically faster mental activities as seen within individuals with ADHD. Some sessions may progress to include some mindful somatic movements and some longer held poses to enhance relaxation and tension release. Towards the end of the intervention there will be longer opportunities for mindful awareness through meditation.
Other: Functional movement
Participants will receive an active control of functional movement.
Behavioral: Functional movement.

Participants in this arm will similarly participate in a six-week study. They will attend one hour-long group-based in-person session per week, as well as practising from home at least twice weekly following along an online video (which will be a practice of what was learnt in-person that week).

The functional movement control sessions will serve as an exercise class, with educational aspects. All sessions will follow a similar structure of light strength exercises, mobility exercises and end with some flexibility exercises. This control condition was selected to control for the physical aspects the yoga intervention, allowing us to isolate the possible benefits of yoga due to breathwork and mindfulness.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Feasibility outcomes.
Time Frame: From enrolment to the 3-month follow-up.
The investigators will monitor recruitment, engagement and completion rates to assess feasibility, and will obtain qualitative participant feedback at the end of the intervention.
From enrolment to the 3-month follow-up.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Exploratory assessment of self-reported change in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Time Frame: From enrolment to the 3-month follow-up.
The outcomes will be assessed with self-report questionnaires at the start, middle and end of the yoga and control interventions, and 3-months after completion of the intervention.
From enrolment to the 3-month follow-up.

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes in self-reported general health symptoms.
Time Frame: From enrolment to the 3-month follow-up.
The investigators will assess anxiety levels (Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7), interoceptive awareness (Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness), health (Patient Health Questionnaire - 8), quality of life (36-item Short Form survey), and social functioning (Work & Social Adjustment Scale).
From enrolment to the 3-month follow-up.
Laboratory-based assessments to test changes in autonomic arousal.
Time Frame: Baseline to post-intervention.
The investigators will examine aspects of physiological functioning through laboratory testing at the start and end of the intervention, focusing on measures of autonomic activation (e.g., the 'fight or flight response), through electrocardiogram and skin conductance.
Baseline to post-intervention.
Laboratory-based assessments to test changes in executive functioning attention.
Time Frame: Baseline to post-intervention.
The investigators will test attention through The Sustained Attention Task.
Baseline to post-intervention.
Laboratory-based assessments to test changes in executive functioning inhibition control.
Time Frame: Baseline to post-intervention.
The investigators will test response inhibition through the Stop Signal Task.
Baseline to post-intervention.
Wearable-derived measures of physiological functioning.
Time Frame: From enrolment to the 3-month follow-up.
Physiological functioning will be monitored throughout the six-week study and follow-up period with wearable devices (Fitbit Inspire 3 activity tracker watches).
From enrolment to the 3-month follow-up.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

King's College London

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Susannah Pick, PhD, King's College London

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 23, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

October 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 27, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 14, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

April 21, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 21, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 14, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • HR-25/26-53625

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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