Methylphenidate and interpersonal relationships of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

In order to clarify the effects of methylphenidate on interpersonal relationships of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), data from sociometric tests conducted in 28 classes to which ADHD children belonged was analyzed, comparing patients who had a history of methylphenidate treatment with those who had not. It was suggested that ADHD children with a history of methylphenidate treatment had more favorable votes and fewer unfavorable ones than those without it. However, there were more isolated children among ADHD children with methylphenidate treatment than in those without it. The results are discussed in the light of previous findings in the literature and a hypothesis for methylphenidate induced isolation is proposed.