EEG and Clinical Findings during Pemoline Treatment in Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder

Abstract

A clinical study has been conducted on a selected group of 9 children and 12 adults with attention deficit disorder, evaluating the response to the therapy with magnesium pemoline by means of EEG power spectra. Pemoline was given orally in increasing doses ranging from 20 to 80 mg/day. EEG was recorded during baseline and at three fixed intervals during the treatment. Clinical response was assessed by objective and subjective ratings. In the adult sample, the drug produced two opposite patterns of EEG response which allowed us to discriminate by the 1st day of treatment responders who reported a paradoxical calming and non-responders who reported a worsening in anxiety. Inconsistent EEG power changes produced by the drug in children did not allow the discrimination of responders and non-responders. Children did not show paradoxical signs of sedation. EEG and clinical data suggest that adults and children show different drug response and that the paradoxical sedation is present only in adults.

Frontal, temporal and lateralized brain function in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a psychophysiological and neuropsychological viewpoint on development

“…Many clinicians find the EEG of ADHD children unremarkable in comparison to other features that they or the parents observe [77,116]. Reports of less power in the 8-10 Hz band [21,111] and occasionally in the β-band [8,67] could reflect problems of attention and arousal. These often respond to medication and ameliorate with increasing age [96,126].…”

“…There are many reports of poorer recall, especially of non-verbal material, for ADHD patients (e.g. Reye-Osterreith figures [8,34,51]) and those with comorbid tic problems [61]. But often marked differences are not found [91,112].…”

Neurobiology of Exceptionality

“…Reduced or slower alpha (8-12 Hz) activity has been found in children with ADHD (Callaway et al, 1983;Clarke et al, 1998;Dykman et al, 1982;Matsuura et al, 1993;Shetty, 1971), as has reduced or slower beta (13-21 Hz) activity (Callaway et al, 1983;Caresia et al, 1984;Clarke et al, 1998;Dykman et al, 1982;Mann et al, 1992;Oades, 1987). Mann et al (1992) found reduced beta activity in children with ADHD in posterior and temporal regions during cognitive tasks, and related this finding to maturational delays in brain systems involved in attention.…”

A Treatment Algorithm for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Cocaine‐Dependent Adults: A One‐Year Private Practice Study with Long‐Acting Stimulants, Fluoxetine, and Bupropion

“…The rationale for medication selection, as well as the order of medication administration and dosages in the treatment algorithm, is described under Method. Although their own effectiveness in this population has not been reported, we administered long-acting stimulants in light of the proven efficacy of short-acting preparations of methylphenidate and amphetamines for ADHD (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14). We selected, also, pemoline (4) and two antidepressants with activating effects, fluoxetine (15) and bupropion (16), all of which have been reported to benefit ADD symptoms.…”