title: Treatment of children with Williams syndrome with methylphenidate.
abstract: Children with Williams syndrome frequently present with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but there is little information that stimulant medication is useful in this population. A series of double-blind, placebo-controlled case studies was used to evaluate the cognitive and behavioral effects of methylphenidate on four children with Williams syndrome. Teachers and mothers completed behavioral rating scales and cognitive tests of attention, learning and memory, and academic productivity and accuracy in mathematics in each medication condition. Two of the children responded favorably in terms of decreased impulsivity, decreased irritability, and lower activity level as well as improved ability to pay attention. Methylphenidate is a useful adjunct in the treatment of some children with Williams syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, IWK-Grace Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada.
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Bawden
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shea
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D007508:Irritable Mood / Q000187:drug effects; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018980:Williams Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate