title: Atomoxetine for attention deficits following traumatic brain injury: results from a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if atomoxetine would improve attention impairment following traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatients from a free-standing, private, not-for-profit rehabilitation hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five adult participants with a history of a single moderate-to-severe TBI, who were at least 1 year from injury and with self-reported complaints of attention difficulties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Atomoxetine, a selective norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitor with a primary indication for attention dosed at 40 mg twice a day for 2 weeks, compared to placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial, with placebo run-in.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cognitive Drug Research (CDR), Computerized Cognitive Assessment System, Stroop Color and Word Test, Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1), Neurobehavioural Functioning Inventory (NFI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Atomoxetine was well-tolerated by the subject sample. The use of atomoxetine by individuals with reported attention difficulty following TBI did not significantly improve scores on measures of attention, the CDR Power of Attention domain or the Stroop Interference score. In addition, no significant relationship was found between atomoxetine use and self-reported symptoms of attention or depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atomoxetine did not significantly improve performance on measures of attention among individuals post-TBI with difficulties with attention. This study follows a trend of other pharmacological studies not demonstrating significant results among those with a history of TBI. Various possibilities are discussed, including the need for a more sophisticated system of classification of TBI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago , Chicago, IL , USA .
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Ripley
authors.forename: Clare E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Morey
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Harrison-Felix
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Pretz
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cusick
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wesnes
mesh_terms: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069445:Atomoxetine Hydrochloride; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011437:Propylamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D011437:Propylamines; D000069445:Atomoxetine Hydrochloride
keywords: Attention; atomoxetine; cognitive drug research; controlled trial; norepinephrine; traumatic brain injury