Methylphenidate and desipramine in hospitalized children: I. Separate and combined effects on cognitive function.
OBJECTIVE
The separate and combined effects of methylphenidate and desipramine on cognitive function were investigated in 16 psychiatrically hospitalized children with primary, secondary, and mixed features of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and mood disorder.


METHODS
A double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover design was used to investigate drug effects on vigilance, short-term memory, visual problem solving, and higher-order learning.


RESULTS
Methylphenidate alone improved vigilance, both drugs positively affected short-term memory and visual problem solving, and combined drugs affected learning of higher-order relationships.


CONCLUSIONS
Separate and combined drug effects are related to the specific cognitive domain assessed and have implications for neurotransmitter models of action.
Rapport
M D
MD
Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu 96822.
Carlson
G A
GA
Kelly
K L
KL
Pataki
C
C
D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003891:Desipramine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects*; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010153:Paired-Associate Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000187:drug effects*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects
D008774:Methylphenidate; D003891:Desipramine