Individual change in methylphenidate use in a national sample of children aged 2 to 11 years.
OBJECTIVE
To determine methylphenidate use in children aged 2 to 13 years. To provide age- and sex-specific estimates of methylphenidate initiation and cessation during a 2-year period.


METHODS
Data from 2 cycles of a Canadian household survey yielded a sample of over 10 000 children aged 2 to 11 years at Cycle 1 who continued to participate at Cycle 2. We used logit modelling to estimate Cycle 2 methylphenidate use, methylphenidate use over a 2-year period, and methylphenidate initiation and cessation from Cycles 1 to 2.


RESULTS
In 1996 and 1997, methylphenidate use ranged from 0.32% to 6.31% among children aged 4 to 13 years. School-aged boys were more likely than girls to use methylphenidate. Odds were greater for boys aged 6 to 7 years than for boys aged 4 to 5 years; they were also greater for boys aged 10 to 11 years than for boys aged 12 to 13 years. Almost 1% of children used methylphenidate at both data cycles. Odds of Cycle 2 methylphenidate use were 135 times greater for children using methylphenidate at Cycle 1, compared with nonusers. Methylphenidate initiation ranged from 0.20% to 3.34%, and school-aged boys had higher initiation rates than girls. Cessation rates ranged from 18% to78%, and there were no statistically significant differences by age and sex.


CONCLUSIONS
Methylphenidate prevalence findings are consistent with past studies. We found an age-by-sex interaction on methylphenidate use. We also found both continuity and discontinuity in methylphenidate use.
Romano
Elisa
E
Research Unit on Children's Psychosocial Malajustment, University of Montreal, Quebec. eromano@uottawa.ca
Baillargeon
Raymond H
RH
Fortier
Isabel
I
Wu
Hong-Xing
HX
Robaey
Philippe
P
Zoccolillo
Mark
M
Tremblay
Richard E
RE
D000367:Age Factors; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002170:Canada; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate