Child and parent perceptions of stimulant medication treatment in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate child and parent perceptions of treatment with stimulant medication in a sample of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

METHODOLOGY

Child and parent perceptions questionnaires were completed for 102 subjects participating in a double-blind, crossover trial of methylphenidate (MPH) and dexamphetamine (DEX).

RESULTS

Most children viewed medication effects favourably, although 12.7% and 18.8% of children reported feeling worse than usual when taking MPH and DEX, respectively. There was disagreement between the child's and parents' perceptions of response in over one quarter of cases. Most disagreements involved parents viewing the child's response favourably, but the child rating reporting an unfavourable outcome. Side-effects were the main determinant of children's perceptions of adverse response.

CONCLUSIONS

A substantial proportion of children with ADHD experience treatment with stimulant medication adversely. Side-effects are the principal determinant of negative child perceptions. Parental report is usually in agreement with child report; however, parental report alone is not infallible in providing reliable information regarding effects as experienced by the child.