Thomas Günther1, Beate Herpertz-Dahlmann, Kerstin Konrad. 1. Child Neuropsychology Section, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany. thomas.guenther2@post.rwth-aachen.de
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Still little is known about neuropsychological differences between boys and girls with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and whether there are sex-specific differences in the modulation of attentional performance by methylphenidate (MPH). METHOD: In this study, 27 males and 27 females between 8-12 years old and with ADHD were investigated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on five computerized attention tests (0.25 vs. 0.5 mg/kg MPH as a single dose, versus placebo). RESULTS: Boys and girls with ADHD did not differ with respect to age, intelligence quotient (IQ), symptom severity, co-morbidity patterns, and ADHD subtype. However, ADHD boys were more impulsive on a sustained attention task, whereas girls with ADHD had more deficits on tasks measuring selective attention. Attentional performance increased differentially as a function of MPH dose, with some tasks showing linear improvement with higher dosage whereas more complex tasks in particular showed inverse U-shaped patterns of MPH effects. However, these effects were comparable between girls and boys. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that there are some gender differences in attentional performance in subjects with ADHD in a clinical sample, even if symptom severity and co-morbidity are controlled; however, modulation of attention by MPH does not seem to differ between sexes.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Still little is known about neuropsychological differences between boys and girls with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and whether there are sex-specific differences in the modulation of attentional performance by methylphenidate (MPH). METHOD: In this study, 27 males and 27 females between 8-12 years old and with ADHD were investigated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial on five computerized attention tests (0.25 vs. 0.5 mg/kg MPH as a single dose, versus placebo). RESULTS:Boys and girls with ADHD did not differ with respect to age, intelligence quotient (IQ), symptom severity, co-morbidity patterns, and ADHD subtype. However, ADHDboys were more impulsive on a sustained attention task, whereas girls with ADHD had more deficits on tasks measuring selective attention. Attentional performance increased differentially as a function of MPH dose, with some tasks showing linear improvement with higher dosage whereas more complex tasks in particular showed inverse U-shaped patterns of MPH effects. However, these effects were comparable between girls and boys. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that there are some gender differences in attentional performance in subjects with ADHD in a clinical sample, even if symptom severity and co-morbidity are controlled; however, modulation of attention by MPH does not seem to differ between sexes.
Authors: Christopher P King; Abraham A Palmer; Leah C Solberg Woods; Larry W Hawk; Jerry B Richards; Paul J Meyer Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl) Date: 2016-05-05 Impact factor: 4.530
Authors: Ole Jakob Storebø; Erica Ramstad; Helle B Krogh; Trine Danvad Nilausen; Maria Skoog; Mathilde Holmskov; Susanne Rosendal; Camilla Groth; Frederik L Magnusson; Carlos R Moreira-Maia; Donna Gillies; Kirsten Buch Rasmussen; Dorothy Gauci; Morris Zwi; Richard Kirubakaran; Bente Forsbøl; Erik Simonsen; Christian Gluud Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2015-11-25