Long-term stimulant treatment of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
We wanted to study the effects of amphetamine on symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) over a longer period than has been reported in previous studies of central stimulants in this condition.


METHODS
Sixty-two children, aged 6 to 11 years, meeting DSM-III-R symptom criteria for ADHD participated in a parallel-group design, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of amphetamine treatment. Treatment was not restricted to children with "pure" ADHD, ie, some had comorbid diagnoses. In the amphetamine group, children received active treatment for 15 months.


RESULTS
Amphetamine was clearly superior to placebo in reducing inattention, hyperactivity, and other disruptive behavior problems and tended to lead to improved results on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children--Revised. Treatment failure rate was considerably lower and time to treatment failure was longer in the amphetamine group. Adverse effects were few and relatively mild.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this long-term, placebo-controlled study of the central stimulant amphetamine in the treatment of ADHD indicate that there are remaining positive effects of the drug 15 months after starting treatment.
Gillberg
C
C
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Göteborg, Sweden. christopher.gillberg@pediat.gu.se
Melander
H
H
von Knorring
A L
AL
Janols
L O
LO
Thernlund
G
G
Hägglöf
B
B
Eidevall-Wallin
L
L
Gustafsson
P
P
Kopp
S
S
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006261:Headache / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014888:Wechsler Scales
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D010919:Placebos; D000661:Amphetamine