title: Acute neurocognitive response to methylphenidate among survivors of childhood cancer: a randomized, double-blind, cross-over trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the acute efficacy and adverse side effects of methylphenidate (MPH) among survivors of childhood cancer [acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or brain tumor (BT)] with learning impairments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N = 122) completed a two-day, in-clinic, double-blind, cross-over trial during which they received MPH (0.60 mg/kg of body weight) and placebo that were randomized in administration order across participants. Performance was evaluated using measures of attention, memory, and academic achievement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant MPH versus placebo effect was revealed on a measure of attention, cognitive flexibility, and processing speed (Stroop Word-Color Association Test). Male gender, older age at treatment, and higher intelligence were predictive of better medication response. No significant differences were found for number or severity of adverse side effects as a function of active medication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MPH shows some neurocognitive benefit and is well tolerated by the majority of children surviving ALL and BT.
authors.affiliation: St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105-2794, USA. heather.conklin@stjude.org
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Conklin
authors.forename: Raja B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Wilburn E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Reddick
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Helton
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Scott C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonner
authors.forename: Robbin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Shengjie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Raymond K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Mulhern
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology*; D015996:Survival Rate; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014888:Wechsler Scales
chemical_list: D008774:Methylphenidate