| Title | Developmental aspects of psychostimulant treatment in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. | | Author(s) | Findling RL, Short EJ, Manos MJ | | Institution | Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals of Cleveland, OH, USA. | | Source | J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2001 Dec; 40(12):1441-7. | | MeSH | Adolescent
Amphetamines
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Central Nervous System Stimulants
Child
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Double-Blind Method
Drug Administration Schedule
Female
Humans
Male
Mental Disorders
Methylphenidate
Questionnaires
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
| | Abstract | OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between age and short-term clinical response to psychostimulant treatment in youths with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and to examine whether weight-corrected doses of optimized psychostimulant therapy varied as a function of patient age.
METHOD: One hundred seventy-seven patients were treated with either methylphenidate (MPH) or Adderall (ADL). Sixty-six youths received ADL and 111 patients were treated with MPH. All youths were evaluated at baseline and after receiving a week of treatment at each blinded, randomized dose level (placebo, 5, 10, or 15 mg). A "best dose" for each patient was assigned before the medication blind was broken. Behavioral ratings by both teachers and parents were examined for dose and medication effects.
RESULTS: The medications had similar efficacy in children and teenagers. Older youths, however, benefited from a smaller weight-adjusted dose of medication than did the younger children. Similar efficacy was observed between the medications.
CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that psychostimulants are equally effective in treating children and adolescents with ADHD. Adolescents with ADHD may not necessarily require more medication than younger children to achieve a similar therapeutic response. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Clinical Trial
Journal Article
Randomized Controlled Trial
| | PubMed ID | 11765290 |
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