The Jury Is Still Out on the Benefits and Harms of Methylphenidate for Children and Adolescents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Ole Jakob Storebø; Erlend Faltinsen; Morris Zwi; Erik Simonsen; Christian Gluud

doi:10.1002/cpt.1149

The Jury Is Still Out on the Benefits and Harms of Methylphenidate for Children and Adolescents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2018 Oct;104(4):606-609. doi: 10.1002/cpt.1149. Epub 2018 Jul 13.

Authors

Ole Jakob Storebø^{1

2}, Erlend Faltinsen¹, Morris Zwi³, Erik Simonsen^{1

4}, Christian Gluud⁵

Affiliations

¹ Psychiatric Research Unit, Region Zealand Psychiatry, Slagelse, Denmark.
² Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
³ Islington Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Whittington Health National Health Service (NHS) Trust, London, UK.
⁴ Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁵ Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.

PMID: 30006934
DOI: 10.1002/cpt.1149

Abstract

Much remains unclear about the benefits and harms of methylphenidate for children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Between 2012 and 2018, we conducted two Cochrane systematic reviews on methylphenidate for ADHD. This article explores the main findings in relation to evidence-based practice and our current understanding of ADHD.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior / drug effects*
Adolescent Development / drug effects*
Age Factors
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / diagnosis
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / drug therapy*
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / physiopathology
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology
Brain / drug effects*
Brain / physiopathology
Central Nervous System Stimulants / adverse effects
Central Nervous System Stimulants / therapeutic use*
Child
Child Behavior / drug effects*
Child Development / drug effects*
Evidence-Based Medicine / methods
Humans
Methylphenidate / adverse effects
Methylphenidate / therapeutic use*
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Treatment Outcome

Substances

Central Nervous System Stimulants
Methylphenidate