In August 2006, a research department was created at Shelton School in order to manage and facilitate the school's growing involvement with and support of research studies.

Center for Advanced ADHD Research, Treatment, and Education (CAARTE)

The vision of CAARTE is to become one of the nation's leading centers to study and better diagnose and treat children who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and to assist their families. 

CAARTE is a collaborative program between UT Southwestern Medical Center, UT Dallas Center for Brain Health, and Shelton School in Dallas.  The program is committed to investigating innovative non-medication treatments for ADHD that may reduce or eliminate the need for medication.  As part of the CAARTE research program, children showing symptoms of ADHD and their families are offered no-cost interventions, including parent education and attention and strategic learning training. 

CAARTE has embarked on four research studies for children ages 3 - 18 who are diagnosed with or at risk for ADHD (i.e., the child has symptoms of ADHD or has a family member with ADHD) :

PIPES (Preschool Intervention and Parent Education Study)

PIPES targets preschool and early elementary school children (ages 3-7) who are at risk for ADHD.   The program begins by offering a 10 session parent training program using an adaptation of the Community Parent Education (COPE) model for parents of young children with symptoms of ADHD.  Following this parenting program, families who attend at least 75% of the COPE sessions may elect to participate in an evaluation to see if they qualify for the second phase of the study, Attention, Inhibition, and Memory (AIM) Training.  AIM builds upon the skills learned during the parenting program, and involves training for both parents and children.  Enrollment for the next COPE session beginning July 9 is open.
For more information and to learn how to register your child for PIPES, click here .

SCOPE (School-Aged Community Parent Education) Study

This study will offer the COPE parent training program to parents of children ages 8 - 12 who are at risk for or diagnosed with ADHD.  COPE consists of 10 weekly two-hour sessions where parenting skills are presented in a unique, interactive format by a group facilitator.  Before and after the COPE intervention, parents complete rating scales about their parenting skills, and child's behavior and compliance. Enrollment for the next SCOPE session beginning October 9 is open.

For more information or to register for SCOPE, click here .

SAILS (School-Aged Intervention and Learning Study)

The SAILS study is open to children ages 8 - 18 who have a diagnosis of ADHD.  The study involves an initial diagnostic evaluation with parents and children to establish study eligibility.  Depending on their age, children who meet study criteria may be assigned to one of two programs to assist with attention and learning, or to a control group that will wait to receive the intervention.  Both programs involve two to three after-school sessions per week for 8 to 12 weeks for students.  Enrollment for the SAILS study is ongoing.

For more information about who is eligible or to register your child for SAILS , click here .

Genetics Study

Participants accepted into the PIPES or SAILS study are eligible for an additional study to examine the genetics of ADHD. Involvement in the study includes collecting and conducting genetic analyses of blood samples from children and, when possible, both their biological parents. Biological parents will also provide ratings of their own ADHD symptoms (if any) as well as complete a computerized test of attention. If you have taken part in PIPES or SAILS and would like more information about signing up for the genetic study, contact jduncan@shelton.org.