Long-term efficacy of methylphenidate immediate-release for the treatment of childhood ADHD: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Maia, C. R. M., Cortese, S., Caye, A., Deakin, T. K., Polanczyk, G. V., Polanczyk, C. A. and Rohde, L. A. P. (2014) Long-term efficacy of methylphenidate immediate-release for the treatment of childhood ADHD: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Attention Disorders. (doi:10.1177/1087054714559643).

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the long-term effects of methylphenidate immediate-release (MPH-IR), and to confirm the efficacy established in previous meta-analyses of short-term studies.
Method: Published and unpublished studies in which participants were treated with MPH-IR for 12 weeks or more were searched. Pooled effect sizes from these studies were computed with the DerSimonian and Laird random-effect model. Meta-regression analysis was conducted to estimate covariates associated with treatment effects.
Results: Seven studies were included. Pooled parents ratings for inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity resulted in standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.96 (95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.60, 1.32]) and SMD = 1.12 (95% CI = [0.85, 1.39]), respectively; pooled teachers ratings showed SMD = 0.98 (95% CI = [0.09, 1.86]) for inattention and SMD = 1.25 (95% CI = [0.7, 1.81]) for hyperactivity/impulsivity. No evidence of association of any covariates with treatment effect was detected in the meta-regression.
Conclusion: MPH-IR is efficacious for childhood ADHD for periods longer than 12 weeks.

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Contributors

Author: S. Cortese

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