Effects of Imipramine and Methylphenidate on Perceptual-Motor Performance of Hyperactive Children

Abstract

Perceptual-motor effects of imipramine and methylphenidate were evaluated in a double-blind study of 47 hyperactive children. No effects were found for imipramine, although methylphenidate improved performance on several tests. Improvement due to methylphenidate was not related to baseline scores. A discriminant function was computed to compare baseline perceptual-motor scores of the hyperactive and 41 normal children. Only half of the hyperactive children were clearly discriminated from normal children by the discriminant function. The digit-span test, which was not sensitive to methylphenidate, effectively discriminated hyperactive from normal children.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the frontal lobe syndrome

“…Although performance of ADI/D chl1dren did not differ slgniflcantly from normal controls on a 12 word llst (Benezra & Douglas, 1988), Douglas and Peters (1979) reported slgnificant impairment of recall of a 34 ward list and O'Neill and Douglas (ln preparation) found significant normal-ADIID differences on a 24 word llst. Slmllar1y, Spring, Yellin, and Greenberg (1976) reported impaired recall of Digit Span by ADIID children when an extended form of the tasK was used. Ceci and Tishman (1984) found that ADHD chlldren recalled central and task irrelevant Information as weIl as or better than normal controls on simple tasks.…”

The Measurement of the Hyperactive Syndrome in Children

“…Hyperactive subject's scores were depressed on the Attentional-Concentration score, but not on the other scores (cf. Spring et al, 1976).…”

“…A reviewer (Horn, 1972) describes this score as the "capacity or inclination to sustain attention in the face of the difficulty involved in resolving moderately complex spatial relations" (p. 756). The T-score has been shown to differentiate hyperactive from normal subjects (Spring et al, 1976) and in clinical trials with cerebral stimulants, the T-score is drug sensitive (Conners, Eisenberg, & Sharpe, 1963;Conners & Rothschild, 1968;Conners et al, 1969;Epstein, Lasagna, Conners, & Rodriguez, 1968).…”

“…They are, however, important measures of attention. Spring, Yellin, and Greenberg (1976) have suggested two alternative measures on which hyperactive children differ from normal children, and which could be used in field studies. They are extended versions of the Digit Span Forward and Coding subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Test for Children.…”

Use and Management of Medications for Children Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

“…For example, one study demonstrated that imipramine did not produce changes in perceptual-motor performance tasks beyond those seen with a placebo, whereas Ritalin significantly improved performance (e.g., Spring, Yellin, & Greenberg, 1976).…”