Relationship between response to methylphenidate treatment in children with ADHD and psychopathology in their families.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the pattern of familial aggregation of psychopathology in children who are good responders (GR) to methylphenidate (MPH) versus those who are poor responders (PR).


METHODS
A total of 118 clinically referred children ages 6 to 12 years, diagnosed with ADHD participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized 2-week crossover trial of MPH from 1999 to 2004. A low dose of 0.5 mg/kg of body weight of MPH divided in two equal doses was used. Family history was obtained by interviewing at least one key historian relative of each subject using Family Interview for Genetic Studies. Information was collected on 342 first-degree and 1,151 second-degree relatives of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.


RESULTS
Forty-four subjects showed mild or no improvement (PR) and 74 showed moderate or very much improvement (GR) on MPH over placebo. First-degree relatives of GR subjects were at significantly higher risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder than the relatives of PR subjects (p<.05). Second-degree relatives of the GR were at significantly higher risk of antisocial personality disorder compared to the relatives of PR subjects (p<.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The significantly higher presence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the first-degree relatives and of antisocial personality disorder in the second-degree relatives of GR children suggests that this group may, at least partially, be distinct from the PR group on the basis of genetic determinants.
Grizenko
Natalie
N
Dr. Grizenko, Dr. Joober, and Mr. Schwartz are with McGill University and Douglas Hospital; Mr. Kovacina is with McGill University; Dr. Ben Amor and Ms. Ter-Stepanian are with Douglas Hospital, Montreal, Québec, Canada.. Electronic address: grinat@douglas.mcgill.ca.
Kovacina
Bojan
B
Dr. Grizenko, Dr. Joober, and Mr. Schwartz are with McGill University and Douglas Hospital; Mr. Kovacina is with McGill University; Dr. Ben Amor and Ms. Ter-Stepanian are with Douglas Hospital, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
Amor
Leila Ben
LB
Dr. Grizenko, Dr. Joober, and Mr. Schwartz are with McGill University and Douglas Hospital; Mr. Kovacina is with McGill University; Dr. Ben Amor and Ms. Ter-Stepanian are with Douglas Hospital, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
Schwartz
George
G
Dr. Grizenko, Dr. Joober, and Mr. Schwartz are with McGill University and Douglas Hospital; Mr. Kovacina is with McGill University; Dr. Ben Amor and Ms. Ter-Stepanian are with Douglas Hospital, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
Ter-Stepanian
Marina
M
Dr. Grizenko, Dr. Joober, and Mr. Schwartz are with McGill University and Douglas Hospital; Mr. Kovacina is with McGill University; Dr. Ben Amor and Ms. Ter-Stepanian are with Douglas Hospital, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
Joober
Ridha
R
Dr. Grizenko, Dr. Joober, and Mr. Schwartz are with McGill University and Douglas Hospital; Mr. Kovacina is with McGill University; Dr. Ben Amor and Ms. Ter-Stepanian are with Douglas Hospital, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate