title: Methylphenidate and cognitive perseveration in hyperactive children.
abstract: Effects of methylphenidate on cognitive flexibility were investigated in 26 children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), by assessing perseverative errors on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the emergence of clinical symptoms indicative of cognitive perseveration. A double-blind, placebo-control, randomized crossover design was used in which each child was assessed twice in each drug condition (placebo, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg). Results indicated that methylphenidate increased perseverative errors on the first assessment but decreased them on the second; clinical symptoms of perseveration occurred at both assessments. Findings suggest that MPH may reduce cognitive flexibility temporarily in some ADHD children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tannock
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schachar
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003210:Concept Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000187:drug effects; D012718:Set, Psychology
chemical_list: D008774:Methylphenidate