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Aggression in boys with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder: Methylphenidate effects on naturalistically observed aggression, response to provocation, and social information processing

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Abstract

High and low-aggressive boys with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were compared and the effects of methylphenidate were examined on measures from three domains of aggression: (1) directly observed verbal and nonverbal aggressive behaviors exhibited in the context of a day treatment program, (2) aggressive responding when provoked during a laboratory task, and (3) social information processing patterns exhibited on tasks designed to tap the putative cognitive components of aggression. The high-aggressive (HA) and low-aggressive (LA) subgroups differed significantly on observational measures of aggression and on the laboratory provocation task, but the HA group showed more deviant cognitions on only one of the numerous measures of social information processing. Regarding medication effects on the direct observation measures, methylphenidate decreased aggression for both subgroups. On the laboratory provocation task, methylphenidate had only minimal effects. Significant drug effects were obtained on only two recall social information processing measures.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health Science, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, 53226, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    Debra A. Murphy Ph.D.

  2. Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 15213, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    William E. Pelham

  3. Florida State University, 32306, Tallahassee, Florida

    Alan R. Lang

Authors
  1. Debra A. Murphy Ph.D.
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  2. William E. Pelham
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  3. Alan R. Lang
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Additional information

Portions of the data reported in this article were derived from a doctoral dissertation conducted by the first author under the supervision of the third author. All of the data were gathered in the 1985 Summer Treatment Program at the Florida State University under the direction of the second author. The authors would like to thank the staff of the summer program for their assistance. Drs. Lang and Pelham were supported in part by NIAAA grant AA06267 when the study was conducted, and Dr. Pelham was supported in part by DA 05605 and MH 48157 during preparation of this manuscript.

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Murphy, D.A., Pelham, W.E. & Lang, A.R. Aggression in boys with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder: Methylphenidate effects on naturalistically observed aggression, response to provocation, and social information processing. J Abnorm Child Psychol 20, 451–466 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00916809

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00916809

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