title: Methylphenidate and attributions in boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: In Experiment 1, 28 attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) boys underwent a double-blind, placebo-controlled medication assessment in a summer day-treatment program. Daily, boys were asked questions to assess their attributions for and evaluations of their behavior. Objective measures showed improved behavior with methylphenidate; however, boys tended to attribute their performance to effort rather than to medication, particularly when medicated. Experiment 2 involved 38 ADHD boys the following summer and replicated the procedures in Experiment 1, with the addition of a no-pill condition and a comparison of attributions for success and failure outcomes. Simply taking a pill (no-pill vs. placebo comparison) did not show significant effects, whereas the results of Experiment 1 were replicated with placebo-methylphenidate comparisons. Across drug conditions a self-enhancing attributional pattern was obtained; the majority of attributions for success were to ability or effort, whereas attributions for failure were to the pill or to counselors.
authors.affiliation: U Pittsburgh, Western Psychiatric Inst & Clinic, PA.
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Pelham
authors.forename: Debra A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vannatta
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Milich
authors.forename: Barbara G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Licht
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Gnagy
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Greenslade
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Greiner
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vodde-Hamilton
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D008774:Methylphenidate