title: The Possible Effect of Methylphenidate Treatment on Empathy in Children Diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Both With and Without Comorbid Oppositional Defiant Disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the Empathizing Quotient (EQ) of patients diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) only or comorbid with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and compare the two groups' responses to methylphenidate (MPH) treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two children (8-18 years) diagnosed with ADHD, 26 of whom were also diagnosed with comorbid ODD (ADHD/ODD), were treated with MPH for 12 weeks. The level of EQ was assessed with the Children's version of the Empathizing Quotient (EQ-C) and the severity of ADHD symptoms with the ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS). Assessments were done at baseline and at end point.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant increase in EQ scores was obtained in both groups following MPH treatment (p = 0.003 for ADHD/ODD; p = 0.002 for ADHD). Significant correlation was found in the ADHD group between the changes in ADHD-RS and those in EQ, following MPH treatment (p = 0.015), but not in the ADHD/ODD group (p = 0.48).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A correlation exists between MPH-related improvement in ADHD symptoms and between more empathy in children with ADHD not comorbid with ODD.
authors.affiliation: 1 Child and Adolescent Outpatient Clinic, Geha Mental Health Center , Petah Tikva, Israel .|2 Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv, Israel .
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Golubchik
authors.affiliation: 2 Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv, Israel .|3 Research Unit, Geha Mental Health Center , Petah Tikva, Israel .|4 Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Petah Tikva, Israel .
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weizman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004645:Empathy / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate
keywords: Empathizing Quotient (EQ); attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); children and adolescents; methylphenidate (MPH); oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)