Trust, but verify. The errors and misinterpretations in the Cochrane analysis by O. J. Storebo and colleagues on the efficacy and safety of methylphenidate for the treatment of children and adolescents with ADHD.
A recent Cochrane review published by O. J. Storebo and colleagues (2015) raised substantial doubts about the benefit from stimulant medication with methylphenidate in the treatment of childhood ADHD due to the overall poor quality of studies. The systematic review thus contradicts all previous reviews and meta-analyses.



We here detail various examples of errors, inconsistencies, and misinterpretations in the review which led to false results and inadequate conclusions.



We demonstrate that the study selection is flawed and undertaken without sufficient scientific justification resulting in an underestimation of effect sizes, which, furthermore, are inadmissibly clinically interpreted. The methodology of the assessment of bias and quality is not objective and cannot be substantiated by the data.



Cochrane reviews lay claim to a high scientific quality and substantial relevance for evidence-based clinical decisions. The systematic review by Storebo and colleagues (2015) illustrates that, despite adhering to strict standards and high-quality protocols, even Cochrane works should be critically read and verified, sometimes with surprising results.
1 Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit Mannheim, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters (KJP).
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Banaschewski
2 Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg.
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Gerlach
3 Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg.
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K
Becker
4 Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik, LWL-Universtitätsklinik Hamm der Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
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Holtmann
5 Ausbildungsinstitut für Kinder- und Jugendlichenpsychotherapie (AKiP) am Klinikum der Universität zu Köln.|6 Medizinische Fakultät, Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie des Kindes- und Jugendalters, Universität zu Köln.
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M
Döpfner
2 Zentrum für Psychische Gesundheit, Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg.
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M
Romanos
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate
ADHD; Cochrane; meta-analysis; methylphenidate; review