title: Effects of methylphenidate on intelligence and attention components in boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Methylphenidate (MPH) is an efficient treatment to reduce behavioral symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); however, its impact on cognitive functioning has not been sufficiently demonstrated so far. This study investigates the hypothesis that MPH improves attention-related cognitive functions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-seven medication-naive boys aged 6-13, with newly diagnosed ADHD, were tested before treatment with a neuropsychological assessment battery, including the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children (WISC-IV) and the Test of Attentional Performance for Children (KITAP). A follow-up assessment was performed after 8-12 weeks, with 37 participants receiving MPH treatment and 30 controls without medication. The effect of MPH on test performance was analyzed by repeated measures analyses of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups improved significantly across a broad range of psychometric measures of cognitive performance. There were no significant interaction effects of group and time on attention-related cognitive functions. Exploratory analyses revealed an effect of MPH on verbal comprehension in the WISC-IV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study results do not support that MPH improves attention-related cognitive functions of boys with ADHD. The potential effect of MPH on verbal abilities deserves further research.
authors.affiliation: Department for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hellwig-Brida
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daseking
authors.forename: Ferdinand
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petermann
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goldbeck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate