Risperidone Versus Methylphenidate in Treatment of Preschool Children With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

Background:Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common psychiatric diagnosis among preschool children.Objectives:The aim of this study was to examine the Risperidone treatment compared to Methylphenidate (MPH) in preschool children with ADHD.Patients and Methods:Thirty three outpatient preschool children, aged 3-6 years, diagnosed with ADHD (The diagnosis of ADHD was established by two child and adolescent psychiatrists according to the DSM-IV-TR criteria), participated in a 6-week, double-blind clinical trial with risperidone (0.5-1.5 mg/d) and methylphenidate (5-20 mg/d), in two divided doses. Treatment outcomes were assessed using the Parent ADHD Rating Scale and Conners Rating Scale. Patients were assessed by a child psychiatrist at baseline, 2, 4 and 6 weeks after the medication started. Side effects were also rated by side effects questionnaire.Results:There were no significant differences between the two protocols on the Parent ADHD Rating Scale scores (P > 0.05) and Parent Conners Rating Scale scores (P > 0.05). Both groups showed a significant improvement in ADHD symptoms over the 6 weeks of treatment for parent ADHD Rating Scale (P < 0.001) and Parent Conners Rating Scale (P < 0.001). The most common adverse effects seen with risperidone were daytime drowsiness and anorexia (20%), and with methylphenidate it was anorexia (55%).Conclusions:Results of this study show that risperidone may be effective and well tolerated for ADHD in preschool children, but more researches are needed to clarify the potential benefits and adverse effects in long term use and comorbid conditions.

A Comparative Study of Risperidone and Aripiprazole in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children Under Six Years Old: A Randomized Double-Blind Study

“…Although the effect of psycho-stimulants in children under 6 years are less compared to older age (2). Besides, they experience more side effects of stimulants and increasingly turn to switch to other medications like antipsychotics (2,3). Haloperidol and Largactil are the two first approved medications in USA for short-term control of ADHD in children (4).…”

DAT1 Gene Polymorphism in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

“…The lack of similar research in other parts of the country to compare the results is a limitation of this research, although in the works of Sharif et al and Arabgol et al various issues of ADHD children were contemplated (29,30).…”

The prevalance of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the frequency of medication use among preschool children in a district children hospital

“…Okul öncesi yaş grubu YDB tedavisinde psikoterapotik yaklaşımlardan sonra ikinci sırada risperidon kullanımı, alandaki uzmanların fikir birliği ile tedavi kılavuzlarında önerilmiş-tir ve buna paralel olarak DEHB'de de kullanımı artmıştır (29,30) . Üç-altı yaş aralığındaki DEHB+YDB tanılı normal zekalı ve ek başka psikiyatrik veya tıbbi hastalığı olmayan 33 çocuğun katıldığı 6 haftalık çift kör randomize çalışmada, risperidon ve metilfenidat karşılaştırılmış ve iki tedavi seçeneği-nin de etkin olduğu, risperidonun daha iyi tolere edildiği bulunmuştur (31) . Yine DEHB + YDB olan 42 okul öncesi (3-6 yaş) normal zeka ve ek psikiyatrik veya fiziksel hastalığı olmayan çocuk ile yapılan 6 haftalık tek kör çalışmada, tedavi grupları (tek başına metilfenidat ve metilfenidat + risperidon) arasında anlamlı fark bulunmamıştır ve iki tedavi grubu da semptomlar üzerinde etkin bulunmuştur.…”