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Anxiety and methylphenidate in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a double-blind placebo-drug trial

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ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders

Abstract

To examine the relationship between attention and anxiety and the response to methylphenidate in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a total of 57 boys, between the ages of 7–12 years, were assessed for their attention and level of anxiety. Methylphenidate was administered for a week in a randomized double-blind drug/placebo–drug cross-over design. The levels of anxiety were evenly distributed between the inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive types. Anxiety was significantly correlated with the attention as reported by both teachers and parents. The response to methylphenidate was inversely correlated with the reported anxiety level only in boys with the hyperactive/impulsive and combined types. The higher the level of anxiety, the lower level of response to methylphenidate was observed. In the assessment and treatment of children with ADHD, the level of anxiety should be evaluated and taken into account while planning and monitoring treatment regiment.

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Acknowledgments

We are indebted to the children and parents who participated and to R. Abiry for her help in the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Depatment of Learning Disabilities, University of Hifa and The Hannah Khoushy Child Development center, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel

    Keren Moshe

  2. Department of Neurobiology and Ethology, Edmond J Safra Brain Research Center for the Study of Learning and Learning Disabilities, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel

    Avi Karni

  3. The Hannah Khoushy Child Development Center, Bnai Zion Medical Center and The Faculty of MedicinTechnion, Israel Institute of Technology, P.O.B. 4940, Haifa, Israel

    Emanuel Tirosh

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  1. Keren Moshe
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  2. Avi Karni
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  3. Emanuel Tirosh
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Correspondence to Emanuel Tirosh.

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Moshe, K., Karni, A. & Tirosh, E. Anxiety and methylphenidate in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a double-blind placebo-drug trial. ADHD Atten Def Hyp Disord 4, 153–158 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-012-0078-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-012-0078-2

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