The acute effect of methylphenidate in Brazilian male children and adolescents with ADHD: a randomized clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the acute efficacy of methylphenidate (MPH) in Brazilian male children and adolescents with ADHD.


METHODS
In a 4-day, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, fix dose escalating, parallel-group trial, 36 ADHD children and adolescents were allocated to two groups: MPH (n = 19) and placebo (n = 17). Participants were evaluated pre- and posttreatment using the 10-item Conners Abbreviated Rating Scale (ABRS), the Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS), and a simplified version of the Continuous Performance Test (CPT).


RESULTS
The MPH group had a significantly greater decrease in ABRS scores and a significantly higher increase in CGAS scores than the placebo group (p < 0.01). The MPH group showed also a significantly higher proportion of patients with a robust improvement (decrement of at least 50% in the ABRS score after the intervention) than the placebo group (p < 0.01). The MPH effect size for the ABRS was 1.05 (95% CI = 0.73-1.37).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results extend the efficacy of MPH on the ADHD core symptoms extensively demonstrated in clinical trials with samples from some developed countries to a sample from a developing country where a diverse culture may modulate the clinical presentation of the disorder.
Szobot
C M
CM
Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Ketzer
C
C
Parente
M A
MA
Biederman
J
J
Rohde
L A
LA
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology*; D001938:Brazil; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate