title: A large, double-blind, randomized clinical trial of methylphenidate in the treatment of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The few controlled studies of methylphenidate (MPH) in adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have reported equivocal results. A previous, pilot study by our group suggested that these results were due to inadequate dosing.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized, 6-week, placebo-controlled, parallel study of MPH in 146 adult patients with DSM-IV ADHD using standardized instruments for diagnosis, separate assessments of ADHD, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and a robust average oral daily dose of 1.1 mg/kg/day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a marked therapeutic response for the MPH treatment of ADHD symptoms that exceeded the placebo response (76% vs. 19%). Treatment was safe and well tolerated. Response to MPH was independent of socioeconomic status, gender, and lifetime history of psychiatric comorbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results confirm that robust doses of MPH are effective in the treatment of adult ADHD.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Psychopharmacology Unit, Psychiatry Service Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. tspencer@partners.org.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Biederman
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wilens
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Surman
authors.forename: Jefferson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prince
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mick
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aleardi
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Herzig
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Faraone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003710:Demography; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D010919:Placebos; D008774:Methylphenidate