Methylphenidate treatment in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and comorbid social phobia.
The aim of this study was to assess the response of social phobia (SP) symptoms to methylphenidate (MPH) treatment in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Twenty-one ADHD patients with SP, aged between 8 and 18 years, received 12 weeks of MPH treatment. The severity of SP symptoms were assessed by the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale for Children and Adolescents (LSAS-CA), and the severity of ADHD symptoms was assessed by the ADHD Rating Scale at baseline and at endpoint. MPH treatment was associated with a significant decrease in the ADHD Rating Scale scores (P<0.0001) and in the total LSAS-CA scores (P=0.013), as well as the school-related items of LSAS-CA (P=0.011). A significant correlation was found between the reductions in ADHD score and total LSAS-CA score (P=0.038), especially in school-related SP. The improvement in ADHD symptoms because of MPH treatment correlates with a parallel improvement in SP. MPH treatment appears to be safe and effective in ADHD/SP children.
aChild and Adolescent Outpatient Clinic bResearch Unit, Geha Mental Health Center cFelsenstein Medical Research Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Petah Tikva dSackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Pavel
P
Golubchik
Jonathan
J
Sever
Abraham
A
Weizman
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D015897:Comorbidity; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012919:Social Behavior
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D008774:Methylphenidate