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. 2004 May;13(2):36-9.

Sensitivity of tests to assess improvement in ADHD symptomatology

Natalie Grizenko  1 , Martin Lachance, Vincent Collard, Philippe Lageix, Chantal Baron, Leila Ben Amor, Marina Ter Stepanian, Valentin Mbekou, George Schwartz, Johanne Bellingham, Ridha Joober
Affiliations

Sensitivity of tests to assess improvement in ADHD symptomatology

Natalie Grizenko et al. Can Child Adolesc Psychiatr Rev. 2004 May.

Abstract
in English, French

Objective: To assess which measurements best predict improvement on ADHD symptomatology after medication is given.

Methods: 147 children aged 6 to 12 years, diagnosed with ADHD, participated in a double-blind placebo controlled twoweek crossover trial of methylphenidate.

Results: There were statistically significant differences on all measures between placebo and medication. Effect size for the overall group was 0.33 (CGI-P), 0.80 (CGI-T), 1.33 (CGI), 0.56 (CPT), 0.82 (RASS).

Conclusions: Acute behavioural response measures, where children are observed by clinicians (RASS and CGI), were overall more reliable than parent reports in detecting improvement on ADHD symptomatology. Teacher reports were also very important, especially in the 9 to 12 year old group.

Introduction: L’objectif de cette étude est de déterminer les méthodes les plus efficaces pour mesurer l’amélioration des symptômes du trouble déficitaire de l’attention avec hyperactivité (TDAH) après médication.

Méthodologie: Cent quarantesept enfants, âgés de 6 à 12 ans et souffrant du TDAH, ont participé à une étude de deux semaines à double insu contrôlée par placebo où chacun des groupes recevait, en alternance, la substance active ou le placebo.

Résultats: On constate des différences significatives entre le placebo et la substance active. L’ampleur de l’effet sur la totalité du groupe est de 0,33 (CGIP), 0,80 (CGI-T), 1,33 (CGI), 0,56 (CPT) et 0,82 (RASS).

Conclusions: Les données obtenues à partir de réponses comportementales aiguës où les enfants ont été observés par des cliniciens (RASS et CGI) sont, dans l’ensemble, plus fiables que les observations des parents pour déceler une amélioration des symptômes du TDAH. Les évaluations des professeurs jouent également un rôle très important, notamment chez les enfants de 9 à 12 ans.

Keywords: Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder; medication response; methylphenidate.

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