A comparative study of the efficacy of ACTH4-9 analog, methylphenidate, and placebo on attention deficit disorder with hyperkinesis

Abstract

The present study compared the behavioral performance of 30 children with attention deficit disorder with hyperkinesis (HK) on electrophysiological, biochemical, behavioral, and psychometric measurements. HK children were partitioned into cells of 10 and were then treated with placebo, methylphenidate, and adrenocorticotropic hormone fractions (ACTH4-9 analog), respectively, in a double-blind randomized cell sequence according to body weight. The results revealed that HK children on methylphenidate manifested a significantly greater vasomotor reactivity, behavioral improvement, and learning receptivity than did HK children taking ACTH4-9 analog and/or placebo. Future research implications with ACTH4-9 and HK children are discussed.