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Review
. 2015:49:32.
doi: 10.1590/s0034-8910.2015049005966. Epub 2015 Jun 9.

Methylphenidate use in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Felipe Salles Neves Machado, Sheila Cavalcante Caetano, Ana Gabriela Hounie, Sandra Scivoletto, Mauro Muszkat, Ivete Gianfaldoni Gattás, Erasmo Barbante Casella, Ênio Roberto de Andrade, Guilherme Vanoni Polanczyk, Maria Conceição do Rosário
Review

Methylphenidate use in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Felipe Salles Neves Machado et al. Rev Saude Publica. 2015.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

A Brazilian Health Technology Assessment Bulletin (BRATS) article regarding scientific evidence of the efficacy and safety of methylphenidate for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has caused much controversy about its methods. Considering the relevance of BRATS for public health in Brazil, we critically reviewed this article by remaking the BRATS search and discussing its methods and results. Two questions were answered: did BRATS include all references available in the literature? Do the conclusions reflect the reviewed articles? The results indicate that BRATS did not include all the references from the literature on this subject and also that the proposed conclusions are different from the results of the articles chosen by the BRATS authors themselves. The articles selected by the BRATS authors showed that using methylphenidate is safe and effective. However, the BRATS final conclusion does not reflect the aforementioned and should not be used to support decisions on the use of methylphenidate.

O Boletim Brasileiro de Avaliação de Tecnologias em Saúde (BRATS), em matéria sobre as evidências científicas da eficácia e segurança do metilfenidato para o transtorno de déficit de atenção e hiperatividade (TDAH), gerou controvérsias sobre sua metodologia. Considerando a relevância do BRATS para a saúde pública no Brasil, realizou-se análise crítica dessa matéria ao refazer a busca do BRATS e discutir sua metodologia e achados. Foram respondidas duas perguntas: o BRATS incluiu todas as referências disponíveis na literatura? As conclusões refletiram os textos revisados? Identificou-se que o BRATS não incluiu todas as referências da literatura sobre o tema e que as conclusões propostas estão diferentes dos resultados dos artigos escolhidos pelos próprios autores do BRATS. Os artigos selecionados pelos autores do BRATS apontam para a eficácia e segurança do uso do metilfenidato. Entretanto, a conclusão final dos autores não reflete isso e não deveria ser usada como referência para orientar decisões sobre o uso do metilfenidato.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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