title: Methylphenidate effects on functional outcomes in the Preschoolers with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment Study (PATS).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of methylphenidate (MPH) on functional outcomes, including children's social skills, classroom behavior, emotional status, and parenting stress, during the 4-week, double-blind placebo controlled phase of the Preschoolers with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatment Study (PATS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 114 preschoolers who had improved with acute MPH treatment, were randomized to their best MPH dose (M = 14.22 mg/day; n = 63) or placebo (PL; n = 51). Assessments included the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S), parent and teacher versions of the Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD-Symptoms and Normal Behaviors (SWAN), Social Competence Scale (SCS), Social Skills Rating System (SSRS), and Early Childhood Inventory (ECI), and Parenting Stress Index (PSI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Medication effects varied by informant and outcome measure. Parent measures and teacher SWAN scores did not differentially improve with MPH. Parent-rated depression (p < 0.02) and dysthymia (p < 0.001) on the ECI worsened with MPH, but scores were not in the clinical range. Significant medication effects were found on clinician CGI-S (p < 0.0001) and teacher social competence ratings (SCS, p < 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preschoolers with ADHD treated with MPH for 4 weeks improve in some aspects of functioning. Additional improvements might require longer treatment, higher doses, and/or intensive behavioral treatment in combination with medication.
authors.affiliation: New York University Child Study Center, 215 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA. howard.abikoff@med.nyu.edu
authors.forename: Howard B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Abikoff
authors.forename: Benedetto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vitiello
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Riddle
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: Laurence L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Greenhill
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: Shirley Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kastelic
authors.forename: Sharon B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Wigal
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Jaswinder K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ghuman
authors.forename: Scott H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kollins
authors.forename: James T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: McCracken
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: McGough
authors.forename: Desiree W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Posner
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Skrobala
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wigal
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D012574:Schools; D012919:Social Behavior; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate