title: The weighed core symptom scale and prediction of ADHD in adults - objective measures of remission and response to treatment with methylphenidate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Two measures of the response rate and the optimal treatment response for adult ADHD were evaluated using methylphenidate. The hypotheses were that Prediction of ADHD (PADHD) defines remission, the Weighed Core Symptom (WCS) scale registers direct effects of medication and that WCS may indicate the optimal dose level during titration.
  
  
  METHODS
  PADHD and WCS were analyzed at baseline and after intake of low doses of either short-acting or modified-release formulations of methylphenidate, MPH (Study I), during titration with modified-release formulations of MPH (18/27, 36, 54, 72 mg) and at three months follow-up (Study II).
  
  
  METHODS
  Study I consisted of 63 participants (32 females) and Study II consisted of 10 participants (6 females) diagnosed with ADHD and who was to start with treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prediction of ADHD (PADHD) indicates the occurrence of ADHD (No, Yes) and the Weighed Core Symptom scale (WCS) quantifies ADHD from 0 to 100 (max-min).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of clinical cases of ADHD decreased after methylphenidate treatment according to PADHD. WCS increased (p < 0.001) from 9.75 (SD = 12.27) to 47.50 (SD = 29.75) with about 10 mg of methylphenidate (N = 63). During titration, symptoms improved after 18/27 mg and 36 mg of methylphenidate and baseline-follow up comparisons showed WCS increments (p = 0.005) from 31.00 (N = 10, SD = 26.85) to 69.00 (N = 10, SD = 22.34).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PADHD defined remission and WCS measured therapeutic effects of methylphenidate in adult ADHD.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Gut Brain Interactions Research Centre, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Edebol
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Helldin
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Norlander
keywords: ADHD.; Objective measures; Prediction of ADHD; Weighed Core Symptom scale; remission