title: Self-regulation of visual attention and facial expression of emotions in ADHD children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test if visual focusing and mimic display as features of self-regulation in ADHD children show a curvilinear relation to rising methylphenidate (MPH) doses. To test if small dose steps of 2.5mg MPH cause significant changes in behavior. And to test the relation of these features to intellectual performance, parents' ratings, and clinical outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five children of a clinical convenience sample are filmed playing cards and doing oral arithmetic exercises without medication and after intake of MPH raised in steps of 2.5 mg. Recordings are revised by four blinded raters counting visual focus loss and rating the variability of patients' smile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All hypotheses are confirmed. Best self-regulation coincides with best intellectual performance, highly significant improvement in parents' ratings, and good clinical outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The procedure could be helpful for MPH dose finding in the physician's practice and make therapy more efficient by means of a more precise dosage.
authors: Practice for Child and Adolescent Health, Ostanlage 2, 35390 Giessen, Germany. hans.kuehle@t-online.de
authors: Hans J
authors: HJ
authors: Kühle
authors: Jörg
authors: J
authors: Kinkelbur
authors: Kerstin
authors: K
authors: Andes
authors: Fridjof M
authors: FM
authors: Heidorn
authors: Solveigh
authors: S
authors: Zeyer
authors: Petra
authors: P
authors: Rautzenberg
authors: Fritz
authors: F
authors: Jansen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010988:Play and Playthings; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000187:drug effects; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate