ACUTE CHALLENGE ERP AS A PROGNOSTIC OF STIMULANT THERAPY OUTCOME IN ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER

Thirty-five children were tested with an auditory oddball P300 paradig m both before and 2 hr after a single-dose trial of methylphenidate (M PH). A prediction of the long-term benefit of medication was then made based on the magnitude of the acute changes in P3b amplitude. Those w ith postdrug amplitude increases of at least 30% were predicted to res pond favorably to stimulants. All children were followed-up at 6 month s. The original MPH Challenge Test predictions (based on acute post dr ug P3b amplitude changes) were then compared with the clinicians' eval uations of outcome. The MPH challenge classification accurately predic ted outcome in 81% of cases.