title: Relationships between computer-based testing and behavioral ratings in the assessment of attention and activity in a pediatric ADHD stimulant crossover trial.
abstract: This study investigated the relationships between computer-based testing and behavioral ratings in the assessment of stimulant-induced changes in attention and activity in a pediatric ADHD crossover trial with methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine, and a placebo. Here 36 children between 9 and 14 years old were randomly and evenly assigned to each of six counterbalanced drug orders. A computer-based continuous performance test combined with a motion-tracking system (cb-CPT-MTS) and an ADHD questionnaire rated by teachers constituted the outcome measures. All outcome measures responded to stimulants in a comparable way at the group level, as shown by significant treatment effects of similar size for the two stimulants compared with a placebo. Computer-based and rating-based measures were unrelated in the assessment of stimulant-induced changes in attention and activity in individual children; no significant correlations between these measures in the assessment of change from placebo to stimulant conditions across the sample were detected. Results suggest that computer-based testing and behavioral ratings cannot be considered equivalent in the assessment of stimulant-induced changes in attention and activity among ADHD children.
authors.affiliation: a Østfold Hospital Trust , Neuropsychiatric Unit , Fredrikstad , Norway.
authors.forename: Bjørn Erik
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Ramtvedt
authors.forename: Kjetil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sundet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D003201:Computers; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate; D003913:Dextroamphetamine
keywords: ADHD; Assessment; Dextroamphetamine; Methylphenidate; Stimulant-induced change.