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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2017 Feb;267(1):73-82.
doi: 10.1007/s00406-016-0683-8. Epub 2016 Mar 10.

Hot executive control and response to a stimulant in a double-blind randomized trial in children with ADHD

Jessica Yarmolovsky  1   2 , Tamar Szwarc  2 , Miguel Schwartz  3   4 , Emanuel Tirosh  3   4 , Ronny Geva  5   6
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Hot executive control and response to a stimulant in a double-blind randomized trial in children with ADHD

Jessica Yarmolovsky et al. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2017 Feb.

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is thought to involve an executive inhibitory control (IC) deficit, yet it is not clear if this is a general deficit affecting both cold and hot EC, and if methylphenidate (MPH) affects both systems in treated children. We explored this by using a Stroop-like task in children with ADHD as compared to controls, containing different types of emotional stimuli (six levels), and we investigated the role of intervention with MPH on IC as compared to placebo. Children with ADHD and controls (N = 40; 7-13 years old) were tested with a hot and cold Stroop-like task. This was followed by a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial of the effect of MPH on these skills. Children with ADHD showed a specific difficulty inhibiting their responses, particularly to hot, angry and frustration-inducing stimuli. Further, treatment with MPH was effective in reducing errors toward frustration-inducing stimuli as compared to placebo (p < .05, η 2 = .347), particularly with repeated exposure to the stimuli. Results indicate that children with ADHD experience executive control difficulties, particularly in hot negative emotional contexts. These emotion regulation difficulties are amenable to stimulant intervention.

Keywords: ADHD; Children; Executive control; Methylphenidate.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
EDN stimuli set
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Error rates (%) as a function of emotional valence and group. Legend **p < .01
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Error differences (%) as a function of intervention type and intervention order
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Error differences (%) as a function of intervention type and emotional valence. Legend **p < .01
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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