Is OPTAx useful for monitoring the effect of stimulants on hyperactivity and inattention? A brief report.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether OPTAx, an objective measurement of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention can be used to measure the positive clinical effect of stimulants found in children with hyperkinetic disorder (HKD) or attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity.


METHODS
A total of 22 boys and one girl, with ages ranging between 7-12 years, diagnosed with HKD or attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity and receiving treatment with stimulants were tested with OPTAx, with and without stimulants. The main parameters investigated were: displacement, area, accuracy, variability, errors of commission and errors of omission.


RESULTS
OPTAx showed a significant improvement on all parameters during stimulant treatment compared with no treatment. The improvement measured by OPTAx was supported by clinical assessment, which found that 95% of the children improved much or very much on the Clinical Global Assessment Scale during stimulant treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The objective parameters of the OPTAx reflected the clinical improvement found in children with HKD or attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity during stimulant treatment. This suggests a greater role for objective measurements such as OPTAx in daily clinical practise.
Tabori-Kraft
Janne
J
Psychiatric Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Aarhus University Hospital, Harald Selmers vej 66, 8240, Risskov, Denmark.
Sørensen
Merete Juul
MJ
Kaergaard
Martin
M
Dalsgaard
Søren
S
Thomsen
Per Hove
PH
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006948:Hyperkinesis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants