Of pharmacological options available for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), stimulant medications are the most studied, the most commonly used, the most effective, and the first-line choice for treatment. Evidence of the short-term efficacy of methylphenidate (MPH) and other stimulants as well as behavioral treatments in the management of symptoms of ADHD is abundant. This paper reviews therapeutic trials with a duration or follow-up period of 12 months or more and evaluates the longer term outcomes of available treatments for ADHD. The trials were reported by lalongo et al. (1993), Horn et al. (1991), Schachar, Tannock, Cunningham, and Corkum (1997), Gillberg et al. (1997), Hechtman and Abikoff (1995), and the National Institute of Mental Health (MTA Cooperative Group, 1999a, 1999b).
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AbikoffH., & GittlemanR.. (1985). Classroom observation code: A modification of the Stoney Brook code.Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 21, 901–909.
2.
ArnoldL. E., AbikoffH. B., CantwellD. P., CornersC. K., ElliottG., GreenhillL. L. (1997). National Institute of Mental Health Collaborative Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD (the MTA): Design challenges and choices.Archives of General Psychiatry, 54(9), 865–870.
3.
ConnersC. K.. (2000). Conners’ Rating Scales-Revised.Toronto, ON: Multi-Health Systems.
4.
ConnersC.K., & BarkleyR.. (1985). Rating scales and checklists for child psychopharmacology.Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 21(4), 816–832.
5.
ConnersC. K., EpsteinJ. N., MarchJ. S., AngoldA., WellsK. C., KlaricJ. (2001). Multimodal treatment of ADHD in the MTA: An alternative outcome analysis.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 40(2), 159–167.
6.
GillbergC., MelanderH., von KnorringA. L., JanolsL. O., ThernlundG., HagglofB. (1997). Long-term stimulant treatment of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.Archives of General Psychiatry, 54(9), 857–864.
7.
GreenhillL. L., AbikoffH. B., ArnoldL. E., CantwellD. P., ConnersC. K., ElliottG. (1996). Medication treatment strategies in the MTA Study: Relevance to clinicians and researchers.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 35(10), 1304–1313.
8.
GreshamF.M., & ElliottS.N.. (1989). Social Skills Rating System—Parent, Teacher, and Child Forms.Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.
9.
HechtmanL., & AbikoffH.. (1995). Multimodal treatment plus stimulants vs. stimulant treatment in ADHD children: Results from a two year comparative treatment study. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. New Orleans.
10.
HornW. F., IalongoN. S., PascoeJ. M., GreenbergG., PackardT., LopezM. (1991). Additive effects of psychostimulants, parent training, and self-control therapy with ADHD children.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 30(2), 233–240.
11.
IalongoN. S., HornW. F., PascoeJ. M., GreenbergG., PackardT., LopezM. (1993). The effects of a multimodal intervention with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder children: A 9-month follow-up.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 32(1), 182–189.
12.
JacobvitzD., SroufeL. A., StewartM., & LeffertN.. (1990). Treatment of attentional and hyperactivity problems in children with sympathomimetic drugs: A comprehensive review.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29(5), 677–688.
13.
JensenP. S., HinshawS. P., SwansonJ. M., GreenhillL. L., ConnersC. K., ArnoldL. E. (2001). Findings from the NIMH Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD (MTA): Implications and applications for primary care providers.Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 22(1), 60–73.
14.
KleinR. G., & WenderP.. (1995). The role of methylphenidate in psychiatry.Archives of General Psychiatry, 52(6), 429–433.
15.
MTA Cooperative Group. (1999a). A 14-month randomized clinical trial of treatment strategies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Archives of General Psychiatry, 56(12), 1073–1086.
16.
MTA Cooperative Group (1999b). Moderators and mediators of treatment response for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: The Multimodal Treatment Study of children with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Archives of General Psychiatry, 56(12), 1088–1096.
17.
MTA Cooperative Group (2002). Medication effectiveness and the multimodal treatment study of children with ADHD (the MTA). Manuscript submitted for publication.
18.
OwensE. B., HinshawS. P., KraemerH. C., ArnoldL. E., AbikoffH. B., CantwellD. P. (in press). Which treatment for whom for ADHD? Moderators of treatment response in the MTA.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.
19.
PelhamW. E.. (1993). Pharmacotherapy for children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.School Psychology Review, 21, 199–227.
20.
PelhamW. E., WheelerT., & ChronisA.. (1998). Empirically supported psychosocial treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 27(2), 190–205.
21.
RichtersJ. E., ArnoldL. E., JensenP. S., AbikoffH., ConnersC. K., GreenhillL. L. (1995). NIMH collaborative multisite multimodal treatment study of children with ADHD: I. Background and rationale.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 34(8), 987–1000.
22.
SchacharR. J., TannockR., CunninghamC., & CorkumP. V.. (1997). Behavioral, situational, and temporal effects of treatment of ADHD with methylphenidate.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 36(6), 754–63.
23.
SpencerT. J., BiedermanJ., HardingM., O'DonnellD., FaraoneS. V., WilensT. E.. (1996). Growth deficits in ADHD children revisited: Evidence for disorder related growth delays.Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 35(11), 1460–1469.
24.
SwansonJ.. (1992). School-based assessments and interventions for ADD students.Irvine, CA: KC publishing.
25.
SwansonJ.. (1993). Effect of stimulant medication on hyperactive children: A review of reviews.Exceptional Child, 60, 154–162.
26.
SwansonJ. M., KraemerH. C., HinshawS. P., ArnoldL. E., ConnersC. K., AbikoffH. B. (2001). Clinical relevance of the primary findings of the MTA: Success rates based on severity of ADHD and ODD symptoms at the end of treatment.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 40(2), 168–79.
27.
VitielloB., SevereJ. B., GreenhillL. L., ArnoldL. E., AbikoffH. B., BuksteinO. G. (2001). Methylphenidate dosage for children with ADHD over time under controlled conditions: Lessons from the MTA.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry40(2), 188–96.
28.
WellsK. C., PelhamW. E., KotkinR. A., HozaB., AbikoffH. B., AbramowitzA. (2000). Psychosocial treatment strategies in the MTA Study: Rationale, methods, and critical issues in design and implementation.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 28(6), 483–505.
29.
WeschlerD.. (1992). The Weschler Individual Achievement Test–manual.San Antonio: The Psychological Corporation.
