LONG-TERM STIMULANT TREATMENT OF CHILDREN WITH ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER SYMPTOMS - A RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL

Background: We wanted to study the effects of amphetamine on symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) over a longer perio d than has been reported in previous studies of central stimulants in this condition. Methods: Sixty-two children, aged 6 to 11 years, meeti ng DSM-III-R symptom criteria for ADHD participated in a parallel-grou p design, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of amphet amine treatment. Treatment was not restricted to children with ''pure' ' ADHD, ie, some had comorbid diagnoses. In the amphetamine group, chi ldren received active treatment for 15 months. Results: Amphetamine wa s clearly superior to placebo in reducing inattention, hyperactivity, and other disruptive behavior problems and tended to lead to improved results on the Wechsler intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. Treat ment failure rate was considerably lower and time to treatment failure was longer in the amphetamine group. Adverse effects were few and rel atively mild. Conclusion: The results of this long-term, placebo-contr olled study of the central stimulant amphetamine in the treatment of A DHD indicate that there are remaining positive effects of the drug 15 months after starting treatment.