ADHD and growth: anthropometric changes in medicated and non-medicated ADHD boys.
BACKGROUND
ADHD children can show changes in growth and development. Many studies describe these changes as a side effect of stimulant medication. However, changes in somatic development can also appear in non-medicated children. This suggests that the changes could be a manifestation of the disorder itself and not just a side effect of the treatment.


METHODS
This study compared anthropometric characteristics in medicated and non-medicated ADHD boys (n=104, age 4-16 years) with the normal non-clinical population. In contrast to most previous studies, complex anthropometrical measurements were used.


RESULTS
The results showed significant differences between children with ADHD and those without the diagnosis, the differences found to be statistically significant (p<0.01) being signs of nutrition (percentage of fat, abdominal circumference) and growth suppression (lower body height, smaller head circumference). Differences between the medicated and non-medicated groups corresponded only to a lower value of body fat in the medicated children.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that growth changes in ADHD children may be more specific to the disorder itself than to stimulant treatment.
Ptacek
Radek
R
Department of Psychiatry, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
Kuzelova
Hana
H
Paclt
Ivo
I
Zukov
Ilja
I
Fischer
Slavomil
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000187:drug effects
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate