Clinical and cognitive response to extended-release methylphenidate (Medikinet) in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: efficacy evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of the study was to assess the efficacy of extended-release methylphenidate (Mph-ER) (Medikinet; MEDICE Arzneimittel Pütter GmbH & Co KG, Iserlohn, Germany) in the pediatric population with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); a parallel analysis of the validity of various tools for monitoring short-term clinical response to treatment was made.

METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 94 children with ADHD who received treatment with Mph-ER. The ADHD Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS) was used to assess clinical efficacy. The following neuropsychological tests were used to assess cognitive-attentional efficacy: the faces test, the D2 test, the Magallanes visual attention scale (EMAV; Escalas Magallanes de Attencion Visual), and the Conners' Continuous Performance Test II (CPT-II). The ADHD-RS scale was completed by the parents at the time of diagnosis and after 3 months of treatment. The tests were taken by patients both without treatment and under the effects of treatment. The results of these variables were transformed into Z values for subsequent analysis.

RESULTS: In all, 84% of the patients lowered their ADHD-RS score with Mph-ER. Regarding the neuropsychological tests, a significant change was seen when the results of patients without treatment were compared with their later results with treatment. When the order of test conditions was reversed (with and then without treatment), the CPT-II was the only test for which there was still a significant difference.

CONCLUSION: Mph-ER improved attention and self-control from a clinical and cognitive point of view. Of those studied, the CPT-II was the most effective neuropsychological test for monitoring efficacy of Mph in the short-term.