TICS AND DYSKINESIAS ASSOCIATED WITH STIMULANT TREATMENT IN ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER

Objective: To determine the incidence of tics or dyskinesias (T/D) and examine associated clinical factors in children treated with stimulan t medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Design: Cr oss-sectional analysis of a clinic cohort with chart review. Setting: Hospital-based clinical service within a division of developmental and behavioral pediatrics. Patients: One hundred twenty-two children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treated with stimulant medic ation. All children currently or recently treated were included. lnter ventions: None. Measurements and Results: Determinations were made of medication used, medication dosage, presence or absence of T/D, time o f T/D onset, and history and family history of T/D. Incidence of T/D w as 9.0% of children or 8.2% of medication trials. One child (0.8%) had development of Tourette's syndrome. Age, medication, dosage, history of tics, or family history of tics was not related to onset of T/D. Co nclusion: Approximately 9% of children with attention-deficit hyperact ivity disorder treated with stimulant medication had development of T/ D, predominantly transient in nature, with less than 1% having develop ment of chronic tics or Tourette's syndrome. Personal or family tic hi story, medication selection, or dosage was not related to onset of T/D .