title: Efficacy of atomoxetine in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a drug-placebo response curve analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of atomoxetine, a new and highly selective inhibitor of the norepinephrine transporter, in reducing symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among adults by using drug-placebo response curve methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data from two double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design studies of adult patients (Study I, N = 280; Study II, N = 256) with DSM-IV-defined ADHD who were recruited by referral and advertising. Subjects were randomized to 10 weeks of treatment with atomoxetine or placebo, and were assessed with the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales and the Clinical Global Impression of ADHD Severity scale before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Those treated with atomoxetine were more likely to show a reduction in ADHD symptoms than those receiving placebo. Across all measures, the likelihood that an atomoxetine-treated subject improved to a greater extent than a placebo-treated subject was approximately 0.60. Furthermore, atomoxetine prevented worsening of most symptom classes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From these findings, we conclude that atomoxetine is an effective treatment for ADHD among adults when evaluated using several criteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA. faraones@upstate.edu
authors.forename: Stephen V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Faraone
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Biederman
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Michelson
authors.forename: Lenard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reimherr
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Glatt