[Effect of methylphenidate on executive function for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder].

OBJECTIVE

To explore whether methylphenidate (MPH) can improve the executive function (EF) of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children and the degree of the improvements.

METHOD

We conducted an open study of 29 children (25 boys and 4 girls) who met DSM-IV criteria for ADHD. The variations of their EF before and after methylphenidate extended-release tablets [osmotic release oral system(OROS) methylphenidate] treatment were evaluated, and the differences of EF between 24 ADHD boys before and after treatment and 24 age-matched typically developing control boys were compared. The research instruments included Stroop color-word task, Rey complex figure test, digit span test, trail making test, tower of Hanoi and verbal fluency test.

RESULTS

The performances of errors in Stroop 1, time and errors of Stroops 2 and 4; the immediate memory and delay recalling of structure and detail score of RCFT; time of number-letter trail making, shifting time; total time and steps, rule violation of tower of Hanoi improved significantly after OROS methylphenidate treatment as compared with those before treatment. They were no significant differences between ante- and post-treatment. The initiation planning time of tower of Hanoi was significantly shorter after treatment as compared with that before treatment .

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that methylphenidate can improve the executive function in the aspects of inhibition, visual working memory, set shifting and planning in ADHD children, and almost all aspects of EF can reach the normal level except the inhibition.