title: School-based methylphenidate placebo protocols: methodological and practical issues.
abstract: Around 1990, psychologists and educators began to notice increasing use of methylphenidate by students. Diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder by family physicians and pediatricians was most commonly based on brief behavioral descriptions by parents and, infrequently, by use of rating scales. At that time, the present researchers began to explore the development of a school-based, methodologically sound, and inexpensive method of assessing the efficacy of stimulant medications, which would ensure reasonable compliance by teachers, parents, and students in monitoring the effects of medications and placebos. This article focuses on the methodological issues involved in choosing instruments to monitor behavior, once a comprehensive evaluation has suggested trials on Ritalin. Case examples illustrate problems of teacher compliance in filling out measures, supplying adequate placebos, and obtaining physician cooperation, and with the practical issue of providing adequate data without overwhelming the time and resources of participants. Emerging school-based methodologies are discussed with recommendations for future efforts.
authors.affiliation: School Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA.
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Hyman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wojtowicz
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Haffner
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Fiorello
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Storlazzi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D003625:Data Collection; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D010290:Parents; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012573:School Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D012655:Self-Evaluation Programs; D013663:Teaching
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D008774:Methylphenidate