title: Anxiety reduction on atomoxetine and methylphenidate medication in children with ADHD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atomoxetine and methylphenidate are widely used to treat attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with similar effectiveness after 8 weeks of treatment, when atomoxetine has reached its a full effect. Both drugs have also been shown to have an effect on comorbid anxiety. To the best of our knowledge, no study has compared their effect on the dynamics of anxiety symptom reduction. The aim of this study was to compare the medication effect on core and comorbid anxiety symptom dynamics in children with ADHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-nine patients participated in the study: 36 patients were taking atomoxetine and 33 patients, methylphenidate. Therapeutic effect on core symptoms of ADHD was measured on the ADHD-rating scale IV, and symptoms of anxiety were measured using the Conners Parent Rating Scale (CPRS). Symptoms were measured prior to and every 2 weeks during 8 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant decrease in CPRS anxiety subscale score in both medication groups. Anxiety subscale score was significantly lower in the atomoxetine group in the fourth week, and lasted through to 8 weeks of medication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both atomoxetine and methylphenidate reduced the symptoms of ADHD and anxiety. Atomoxetine was more effective in anxiety symptom reduction from the fourth week of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovakia.|Clinic of Psychiatry, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Snircova
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Psychiatry, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovakia.|Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marcincakova-Husarova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovakia.|Clinic of Psychiatry, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hrtanek
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovakia.|Clinic of Psychiatry, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kulhan
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Psychiatry, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ondrejka
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nosalova
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000069445:Atomoxetine Hydrochloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D008774:Methylphenidate; D000069445:Atomoxetine Hydrochloride
keywords: anxiety; atomoxetine; attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder; methylphenidate