Effects of methylphenidate and behavior modification on the social and academic behavior of children with disruptive behavior disorders: the moderating role of callous/unemotional traits.
This study examined whether response to behavior modification with and without methylphenidate differed for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct problems (CP) depending on the presence of callous/unemotional (CU) traits. Participants were 37 children ages 7 to 12, including 19 with ADHD/CP-only and 18 with ADHD/CP-CU, referred to a university-based summer treatment program. Results showed that ADHD/CP-CU children had worse behavior in the behavior-therapy-only (BT-only) condition, especially on measures of CP, noncompliance, and rule violations, but these differences largely disappeared when medication was added to BT. Children with ADHD/CP-CU were also less likely to be normalized by treatment than were children with ADHD/CP-only. These findings, though tentative, suggest that children with ADHD/CP-CU may not show a sufficient positive response to BT alone and that the combination of medication and BT may be especially important for them.
Waschbusch
Daniel A
DA
Center for Children and Families, Department of Pediatrics, University at Buffalo SUNY, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA. dw35@buffalo.edu
Carrey
Normand J
NJ
Willoughby
Michael T
MT
King
Sara
S
Andrade
Brendan F
BF
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010551:Personality / Q000145:classification*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate