Effects of MPH-OROS on the organizational, time management, and planning behaviors of children with ADHD.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of stimulant medication on organizational, time management, and planning (OTMP) in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and ascertain whether OTMP is normalized with medication.


METHODS
Participants included 19 stimulant-naïve children with ADHD (aged 8-13 years) and impaired OTMP functioning, defined as greater than 1 SD below norms on the Children's Organizational Skills Scale. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, with 4 weeks of each condition, evaluated medication (methylphenidate-osmotic-release oral system [MPH-OROS]) effects on OTMP, based on the parent and teacher versions of the Children's Organizational Skills Scale. The parent and teacher Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham, Version IV, rating scales assessed ADHD symptoms. "Not impaired" in OTMP was defined as no longer meeting study entry criteria, and "not impaired" in ADHD symptoms was defined as having mean Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham, Version IV, scores of < or = 1.0.


RESULTS
MPH-OROS significantly improved children's OTMP behaviors. These improvements were correlated with significant reductions in ADHD symptoms. However, most of the children (61%) continued to show significant OTMP impairments on MPH-OROS.


CONCLUSIONS
The MPH-OROS reduced children's OTMP deficits, and these improvements were associated with improvements in ADHD symptoms. Some children remained impaired in OTMP even after effective stimulant treatment of ADHD symptoms. These youngsters may require other treatments that target OTMP deficits.
Abikoff
Howard
H
New York University Child Study Center, 215 Lexington Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10016, USA. howard.abikoff@nyumc.org
Nissley-Tsiopinis
Jenelle
J
Gallagher
Richard
R
Zambenedetti
Maurizio
M
Seyffert
Michael
M
Boorady
Roy
R
McCarthy
John
J
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017748:Time Management / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate