title: Short-term efficacy and tolerability of methylphenidate in children with traumatic brain injury and attention problems.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate the short-term efficacy and tolerability of immediate-release methylphenidate (IR-MPH) in children with a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty children with TBI (mean age: 12.7±3.1years) who had clinically significant attention deficit and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms and twenty children with primary Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (mean age: 12.3±3.05years) were included. Study measures, which included the Turgay DSM-IV based ADHD rating Scale (T-DSM-IV-S), Conners' Parent Rating Scale (CPRS), Conners' Teacher Rating Scale (CTRS-R) and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement Scale (CGI-I), were completed at the baseline for both of the groups. For the TBI group, study measures and an adverse effect scale developed by the authors were completed 8weeks after IR-MPH treatment (10mg dose t.i.d).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was found regarding the baseline scale scores between the study groups. Among children with TBI, most of the scores on T-DSM-IV-S, CPRS and CTRS-R were found to improve significantly after MPH treatment, (p<0.05). 70% (N=14) of the sample were much improved at the endpoint. MPH was generally well-tolerated (95% had either no adverse effect or mild adverse effects).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this preliminary open-label study, IR-MPH was found as a safe and effective treatment option for ADHD symptoms after TBI. However, future controlled studies are needed to confirm our findings.
authors.affiliation: Mersin University Medical Faculty, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Mersin, Turkey. Electronic address: ozalpekinci@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ozalp
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ekinci
authors.affiliation: Mersin University Medical Faculty, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Meltem Çobanoğulları
authors.initials: MÇ
authors.lastname: Direk
authors.affiliation: Mersin University Medical Faculty, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gunes
authors.affiliation: Mersin University Medical Faculty, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Halenur
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Teke
authors.affiliation: Mersin University Medical Faculty, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nuran
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ekinci
authors.affiliation: Mersin University Medical Faculty, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yıldırım
authors.affiliation: Mersin University Medical Faculty, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Mersin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Çetin
authors.initials: Ç
authors.lastname: Okuyaz
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate
keywords: Children; Methylphenidate; Traumatic brain injury