Response to Methylphenidate in Low Socioeconomic Hyperactive Children

A Review of Stimulant Drug Research With Hyperactive Children

“…Research on the Conners scale indicates that the factors of hyperkinesis and neurotic symptoms account for most of the variance in drug response ratings (Conners et al, 1969). Reductions in the ratings of hyperkinetic symptoms in response to drug treatment have been reported by some investigators (Arnold et al, 1972;Conners et al, 1972;Hoffman et al, 1974; while others have not found such results (Finnerty et al, 1971;Werry and Sprague, 1974).…”

The unexplored void of ADHD and African-American research: A review of the literature

“…In contrast to over 100 controlled treatment studies of over 4,800 children, adolescents and adults with ADHD (Spencer et al, 1996), only three stimulant studies were conducted on an African-American population with samples totaling 134 children (Brown & Sexson, 1988;Greenberg et al, 1972;Hoffman et al, 1974), and only two were controlled (Brown & Sexson, 1988;Greenberg et al, 1972). The only controlled clinical trial of methylphenidate confirmed that methylphenidate was superior to a placebo in treating ADHD in African-American children (Brown & Sexson, 1988).…”

“…Thus, a scientific void exists and emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive research on this topic. The available literature reviewed on the subject identified three major issues: (a) teachers may identify ADHD in African-American children more than in other ethnic groups (Calhoun, 1975;Lambert et al, 1978;Stevens, 1981); (b ) the assessment of ADHD in African-American children using standardized instrumentation has been understudied (Adams et al, 1984;Costantino et al, 1991;Landman & Carpenter, 1988;Treiber et al, 1989); and (c) African-American children may respond favorably to standard pharmacological approaches, but also may be at higher risk for hypertension than other groups (Brown & Sexson, 1988;Greenberg et al, 1972;Hoffman et al, 1974;Brown & Sexson, 1989).…”

“…Although not specifically addressing issues of ethnicity, an open study of methylphenidate by Hoffman et al (1974) focused on the impact of social class on treatment. These investigators documented that lower class ADHD children benefited both cognitively and behaviorally from stimulant treatment as children from higher social classes.…”

“…In one of the oldest studies, Hoffman et al (1974) studied the effects of methylphenidate in children of low social class who exhibited symptoms of ADHD. The school guidance counselor, school psychologist, social worker or principal identified 62 elementary school children who had been referred to them for classroom behavior problems or special class placement, and who met criteria for hyperactivity based on pre-defined operationalized criteria.…”