Original articleShort-term efficacy and tolerability of methylphenidate in children with traumatic brain injury and attention problems

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the short-term efficacy and tolerability of immediate-release methylphenidate (IR-MPH) in children with a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI).MethodsTwenty children with TBI (mean age: 12.7 ± 3.1 years) who had clinically significant attention deficit and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms and twenty children with primary Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (mean age: 12.3 ± 3.05 years) were included. Study measures, which included the Turgay DSM-IV based ADHD rating Scale (T-DSM-IV-S), Conners' Parent Rating Scale (CPRS), Conners' Teacher Rating Scale (CTRS-R) and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement Scale (CGI-I), were completed at the baseline for both of the groups. For the TBI group, study measures and an adverse effect scale developed by the authors were completed 8 weeks after IR-MPH treatment (10 mg dose t.i.d).ResultsNo significant difference was found regarding the baseline scale scores between the study groups. Among children with TBI, most of the scores on T-DSM-IV-S, CPRS and CTRS-R were found to improve significantly after MPH treatment, (p < 0.05). 70% (N = 14) of the sample were much improved at the endpoint. MPH was generally well-tolerated (95% had either no adverse effect or mild adverse effects).ConclusionIn this preliminary open-label study, IR-MPH was found as a safe and effective treatment option for ADHD symptoms after TBI. However, future controlled studies are needed to confirm our findings.