Behavioral and electrophysiologic predictors of treatment response to stimulants in children with attention disorders

J Child Neurol. 1999 Jun;14(6):343-51. doi: 10.1177/088307389901400601.

Abstract

Behavioral and quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) techniques were used to evaluate treatment response to stimulant therapy in children with attention disorders. A sample of 130 children with attention disorders were evaluated with Conners and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders--III rating scales, and with neurometric quantitative EEG before and 6 to 14 months after treatment with stimulants. Significant quantitative EEG differences were found between the normal control population (N = 31) and the children with attention problems. Quantitative EEG abnormalities involved increased theta or alpha power, greatest in frontal regions, frontal theta/alpha hypercoherence, and posterior interhemispheric power asymmetry. Behavioral improvement after stimulant treatment was seen in 81.5% of the children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and 44.7% of the children with attention-deficit disorder, with the degree of correspondence between behavioral and quantitative EEG changes at 78.5%. Pretreatment clinical and quantitative EEG features could predict treatment response with a sensitivity of 83.1% and a specificity of 88.2%. A combined behavioral and quantitative EEG approach can be useful for following and predicting treatment response to stimulants in children with attention disorders.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Controlled Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / classification
  • Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Child Behavior Disorders / diagnosis
  • Dextroamphetamine / therapeutic use
  • Electroencephalography / classification*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methylphenidate / therapeutic use
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Thioridazine / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Methylphenidate
  • Thioridazine
  • Dextroamphetamine