title: Short term effects of methylphenidate on the cognitive, learning and academic performance of children with attention deficit disorder in the laboratory and the classroom.
abstract: Sixteen children meeting diagnostic criteria for Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADD-H) were tested on methylphenidate (0.3 mg/kg) and placebo on cognitive, learning, academic and behavioral measures in a double-blind study. Assessments were carried out in the laboratory and in the children's regular classrooms. Results indicate methylphenidate-induced improvements on a majority of the measures. Drug-induced changes reflected increased output, accuracy and efficiency and improved learning acquisition. There was also evidence of increased effort and self-correcting behaviours. It is argued that reviewers have underestimated the potential of stimulants to improve the performance of ADD-H children on academic, learning and cognitive tasks.
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D008774:Methylphenidate