title: Clinical response to methylphenidate in children diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and comorbid psychiatric disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine to what extent the clinical response to methylphenidate (MPH) is affected by psychiatric comorbidities in children diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Children (n = 267) aged 6 to 12 years diagnosed with ADHD participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-week medication trial of MPH. Children were assessed using parent and teacher ratings and laboratory measures. Clinical response to MPH was determined by integrating all obtained measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Meeting criteria for conduct disorder (CD) was 27.7% of children, 40.8% for oppositional defiant (ODD), 47.2% for anxiety, and 7.9% for depressive disorders. The presence of CD or ODD was associated with good response to MPH. In contrast, children diagnosed with only comorbid anxiety were more likely to receive poor response rating independent of age, sex, or socioeconomic status. Low family income was found to be predictive of good response to MPH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The response to MPH in children with ADHD may be dependent on the type of comorbid disorder present.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT00483106.
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
authors.forename: Mariam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ter-Stepanian
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grizenko
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zappitelli
authors.forename: Ridha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Joober
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008774:Methylphenidate