title: Methylphenidate use in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: A Brazilian Health Technology Assessment Bulletin (BRATS) article regarding scientific evidence of the efficacy and safety of methylphenidate for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has caused much controversy about its methods. Considering the relevance of BRATS for public health in Brazil, we critically reviewed this article by remaking the BRATS search and discussing its methods and results. Two questions were answered: did BRATS include all references available in the literature? Do the conclusions reflect the reviewed articles? The results indicate that BRATS did not include all the references from the literature on this subject and also that the proposed conclusions are different from the results of the articles chosen by the BRATS authors themselves. The articles selected by the BRATS authors showed that using methylphenidate is safe and effective. However, the BRATS final conclusion does not reflect the aforementioned and should not be used to support decisions on the use of methylphenidate.
authors.forename: Felipe Salles Neves
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Sheila Cavalcante
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Caetano
authors.forename: Ana Gabriela
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Hounie
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scivoletto
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muszkat
authors.forename: Ivete Gianfaldoni
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Gattás
authors.forename: Erasmo Barbante
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Casella
authors.forename: Ênio Roberto de
authors.initials: ÊR
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Guilherme Vanoni
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Polanczyk
authors.forename: Maria Conceição do
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rosário
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001938:Brazil; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate