title: Impact of atomoxetine on subjective attention and memory difficulties in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women frequently report midlife onset of impairments of attention, organization, and short-term memory. We sought to determine whether these cognitive symptoms in healthy women in the menopause transition without a history of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) would respond to treatment with atomoxetine (ATX), a medication demonstrated to be effective in reducing similar cognitive impairments in adults with ADHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen healthy women with complaints of midlife-onset subjective difficulties in memory and concentration/attention and without a history of ADHD or other psychiatric disorders were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of ATX 80 mg/day. Treatment arms were 6 weeks long, separated by a 4-week washout. The Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Scale (BADDS) was used to systematically elicit self-report of perceived cognitive difficulties in executive function. Participants also underwent neuropsychological testing, behavioral assessments, and vital signs monitoring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean baseline BADDS scores were 37.9 for all 16 participants and 42.3 for the 12 who completed both arms of the study. Total BADDS scores decreased significantly from baseline during ATX treatment but not placebo treatment. ATX treatment was superior to placebo in reducing the BADDS working memory cluster score, whereas there was a trend for ATX superiority for the BADDS attention/concentration cluster score. ATX did not differ from placebo with respect to effects on neuropsychological tests, behavioral assessments, or cardiac vital signs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women presenting with midlife-onset subjective cognitive difficulties may experience significant subjective improvement in memory and attention/concentration with ATX treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA. cepp@upenn.edu
authors.forename: C Neill
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Epperson
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pittman
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Czarkowski
authors.forename: Jeanette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Donald M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Quinlan
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000069445:Atomoxetine Hydrochloride; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D047648:Perimenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D011437:Propylamines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D011437:Propylamines; D000069445:Atomoxetine Hydrochloride