Psychopharmacology and aggression. I: A meta-analysis of stimulant effects on overt/covert aggression-related behaviors in ADHD.
OBJECTIVE
To determine by meta-analysis the effect size for stimulants on overt and covert aggression-related behaviors in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), separately from stimulant effects on the core symptoms of ADHD.


METHODS
A review of the literature from 1970 to 2001 revealed 28 studies meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria for meta-analysis. These studies yielded 28 independent effects of overt aggression and 7 independent effects of covert aggression.


RESULTS
The overall weighted mean effect size was 0.84 for overt and 0.69 for covert aggression related behaviors in ADHD. Comorbid conduct disorder is associated with diminishing stimulant effect size for overt aggression.


CONCLUSIONS
Stimulant effects for aggression-related behaviors in ADHD have effect sizes similar to those for the core symptoms of ADHD.
Connor
Daniel F
DF
Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester 01655, USA.
Glatt
Stephen J
SJ
Lopez
Ivan D
ID
Jackson
Denise
D
Melloni
Richard H
RH
D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants