title: The effects of methylphenidate on cognitive function in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: Focusing on behavioral criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis leads to considerable neuropsychological profile heterogeneity among diagnosed children, as well as variable response to methylphenidate (MPH) treatment. Documenting "cold" executive working memory (EWM) or "hot" self-regulation (SR) neuropsychological impairments could aid in the differential diagnosis of ADHD subtypes and may help to determine the optimal MPH treatment dose. In this study, children with ADHD inattentive type (n = 19), combined type (n = 33), and hyperactive-impulse type (n = 4) underwent randomized controlled MPH trials; neuropsychological, behavioral, and observational data were collected to evaluate the children's responses. Those with moderate or significant baseline EWM/SR impairment showed robust MPH response, whereas response for those with lower baseline impairment was equivocal. Implications for medication use and titration, academic achievement, and long-term treatment efficacy are examined.
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. hakubas@ucalgary.ca
authors.forename: Hanna A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kubas
authors.forename: Erica M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Backenson
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wilcox
authors.forename: Jamie C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Piercy
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hale
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate