title: A pilot clinical trial of oxcarbazepine in adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: Despite the increasing recognition of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults, there is a paucity of controlled pharmacological trials. Recent reports have suggested the potential usefulness of mood stabilizing drugs for ADHD. To this end, the authors completed a pilot study with oxcarbazepine for the treatment of adults with ADHD. This was an open pilot study of oxcarbazepine (300-1,500 mg daily dosage) in adults who met DSM-IV criteria for ADHD. The treatment period was 8 weeks. Of the 9 subjects enrolled in the study (4 men, 5 women), 8 patients could be included in the analysis. At the endpoint of the active treatment, a significantly high proportion of subjects was considered improved while receiving oxcarbazepine. ADHD symptom checklist scores (ADHD-IV rating scale, Conners ADHD adult rating scale, ADHD self-rating [ADHD-SR] scale) showed significant reduction during the treatment period. Treatment with oxcarbazepine was relatively well tolerated; dizziness, sedation and nausea were the most frequently reported adverse effects. The results of this investigation indicate that oxcarbazepine may be a potentially useful agent for the treatment of ADHD in adults. However, placebo-controlled randomized trials are needed to provide evidence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Rhine Clinics Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Virchowstr. 174, 45147 Essen, Germany. eugen.davids@uni-essen.de
authors.forename: Eugen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Davids
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kis
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Specka
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gastpar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D000078330:Oxcarbazepine; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine; D000078330:Oxcarbazepine