| Contributors: |
Man, K. K. C.; Häge, A.; Banaschewski, T.; Inglis, S. K.; Buitelaar, J.; Carucci, S.; Danckaerts, M.; Dittmann, R. W.; Falissard, B.; Garas, P.; Hollis, C.; Konrad, K.; Kovshoff, H.; Liddle, E.; Mccarthy, S.; Neubert, A.; Nagy, P.; Rosenthal, E.; Sonuga-Barke, E. J. S.; Zuddas, A.; Wong, I. C. K.; Coghill, D.; Couper, T.; Masi, G.; Gagliano, A.; Lamberti, M.; Maschietto, D.; Costantino, A.; Morosini, P.; Fazzi, M. E.; Oehler, K. U.; Pitzer, M.; Fegert, J.; Häßler, F.; Renner, T.; Härtling, F.; Romanos, M.; Alfred, A.; Roessner, V.; Wallitza, S.; Uebel-von Sandersleben, H. |
| Description: |
Background Methylphenidate is the most frequently prescribed medication for the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents in many countries. Although many randomised controlled trials support short-term efficacy, tolerability, and safety, data on long-term safety and tolerability are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety of methylphenidate over a 2-year period in relation to growth and development, psychiatric health, neurological health, and cardiovascular function in children and adolescents.Methods We conducted a naturalistic, longitudinal, controlled study as part of the ADDUCE research programme in 27 European child and adolescent mental health centres in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Hungary. Participants aged 6-17 years were recruited into three cohorts: medication-naive ADHD patients who intended to start methylphenidate treatment (methylphenidate group), medication-naive ADHD patients who did not intend to start any ADHD medication (no-methylphenidate group), and a control group without ADHD. Children with ADHD diagnosed by a qualified clinician according to the DSM-IV criteria and, in the control group, children who scored less than 1 center dot 5 on average on the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham IV rating scale for ADHD items, and whose hyperactivity score on the parent-rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was within the normal range ( |