New study raises guestions about effectiveness of Ritalin

Several recent studies have raised guestion about the ADHD drug
Ritalin the Daily Mail published a story that shows from....
Fish oil 'calms children better than Ritalin'
by FIONA MACRAE, Daily Mail -»


A daily dose of fish oil is better at treating hyperactivity than
Ritalin - the 'chemical cosh' linked to the deaths of children,
stunning research has revealed.

Just six capsules a day of the naturally-occurring oil can vastly
improve children's behaviour without any of the side-effects of
Ritalin and related drugs. full link
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...page_id=1 799

Another new study claimed that " Use of the attention deficit/
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug Ritalin by young children may cause
long-term changes in the developing brain, suggests a new study of
very young rats by a research team at Weill Cornell Medical College in
New York City.

The study is among the first to probe the effects of Ritalin
(methylphenidate) on the neurochemistry of the developing brain.
Between 2 to18 percent of American children are thought to be affected
by ADHD, and Ritalin, a stimulant similar to amphetamine and cocaine,
remains one of the most prescribed drugs for the behavioral
disorder' ful llink http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/pedia...ain-13739.html
Now yet another study suggest
that
' ADHD Therapies Hold Roughly Uniform Benefit in the Long Run '

July 20, 2007 link http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/ADHD-ADD/dh/6205
"NEW YORK, July 20 -- Most kids with attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD) get better over time with treatment regardless of what
that treatment is, according to observational follow-up of a major
study. Action Points

Medication, behavioral therapy, a combination of the two, and usual
community care all produced significant ADHD symptom improvement at
three years with no difference between groups, found Peter Jensen,
M.D., of Columbia University here, and colleagues. " The article
later notes
that
" Nonetheless, in the intent-to-treat analysis at 36 months, the
modest significant advantages found for medical therapy at 24 months
had all disappeared. The findings between groups we


No differences in ADHD symptoms (medication versus no medication
P=0.45, combination therapy versus medicine alone P=0.57, behavioral
therapy versus community care P=0.914).
No differences in Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) symptoms
(medication versus no medication P=0.77, combination therapy versus
medicine alone P=0.48, behavioral therapy versus community care
P=0.60).
No differences in reading achievement scores on the Wechsler
Individual Achievement Test (medication versus no medication P=0.77,
combination therapy versus medicine alone P=0.76, behavioral therapy
versus community care P=0.13).
No differences in social skills as rated by parents and teachers
(medication versus no medication P=0.90, combination therapy versus
medicine alone P=0.61, behavioral therapy versus community care
P=0.82).
No difference in functional impairment measured by the Columbia
Impairment Scale (medication versus no medication P=0.61, combination
therapy versus medicine alone P=0.30, behavioral therapy versus
community care P=0.77).


Across original treatment assignment groups, substantial improvements
were seen with an effect size from baseline to 36 months ranging from
1.6 to 1.7 for ADHD symptoms and about 0.7 for Oppositional Defiant
Disorder, 0.9 to 1.0 for impairment, 0.8 to 0.9 for social skills, and
0.1 to 0.2 for reading scores.


Even when the effect size was calculated as a function of how many
days the children were actually taking medication, there was no
significant difference in ADHD symptoms compared with those not taking
medication (0.06 units on a three-point scale).


Likewise, medication use during more than half of the follow-up period
did not have an impact on outcomes overall (effect size 0.01,
P=0.855). " source http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/ADHD-ADD/dh/6205


Really does not seem like compelling evidence of benefit for giving
kids drugs. Thanks Vince

On Jul 23, 4:55 pm, bigvince wrote:
Several recent studies have raised guestion about the ADHD drug
Ritalin the Daily Mail published a story that shows from....
Fish oil 'calms children better than Ritalin'
by FIONA MACRAE, Daily Mail -»

A daily dose of fish oil is better at treating hyperactivity than
Ritalin - the 'chemical cosh' linked to the deaths of children,
stunning research has revealed.

Just six capsules a day of the naturally-occurring oil can vastly
improve children's behaviour without any of the side-effects of
Ritalin and related drugs. full linkhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/womenfamily.htm...

Another new study claimed that " Use of the attention deficit/
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug Ritalin by young children may cause
long-term changes in the developing brain, suggests a new study of
very young rats by a research team at Weill Cornell Medical College in
New York City.

The study is among the first to probe the effects of Ritalin
(methylphenidate) on the neurochemistry of the developing brain.
Between 2 to18 percent of American children are thought to be affected
by ADHD, and Ritalin, a stimulant similar to amphetamine and cocaine,
remains one of the most prescribed drugs for the behavioral
disorder' ful llinkhttp://www.scienceblog.com/cms/pediatric-ritalin-use-may-affect-devel...
Now yet another study suggest
that
' ADHD Therapies Hold Roughly Uniform Benefit in the Long Run '

July 20, 2007 linkhttp://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/ADHD-ADD/dh/6205
"NEW YORK, July 20 -- Most kids with attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD) get better over time with treatment regardless of what
that treatment is, according to observational follow-up of a major
study. Action Points

Medication, behavioral therapy, a combination of the two, and usual
community care all produced significant ADHD symptom improvement at
three years with no difference between groups, found Peter Jensen,
M.D., of Columbia University here, and colleagues. " The article
later notes
that
" Nonetheless, in the intent-to-treat analysis at 36 months, the
modest significant advantages found for medical therapy at 24 months
had all disappeared. The findings between groups we

No differences in ADHD symptoms (medication versus no medication
P=0.45, combination therapy versus medicine alone P=0.57, behavioral
therapy versus community care P=0.914).
No differences in Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) symptoms
(medication versus no medication P=0.77, combination therapy versus
medicine alone P=0.48, behavioral therapy versus community care
P=0.60).
No differences in reading achievement scores on the Wechsler
Individual Achievement Test (medication versus no medication P=0.77,
combination therapy versus medicine alone P=0.76, behavioral therapy
versus community care P=0.13).
No differences in social skills as rated by parents and teachers
(medication versus no medication P=0.90, combination therapy versus
medicine alone P=0.61, behavioral therapy versus community care
P=0.82).
No difference in functional impairment measured by the Columbia
Impairment Scale (medication versus no medication P=0.61, combination
therapy versus medicine alone P=0.30, behavioral therapy versus
community care P=0.77).

Across original treatment assignment groups, substantial improvements
were seen with an effect size from baseline to 36 months ranging from
1.6 to 1.7 for ADHD symptoms and about 0.7 for Oppositional Defiant
Disorder, 0.9 to 1.0 for impairment, 0.8 to 0.9 for social skills, and
0.1 to 0.2 for reading scores.

Even when the effect size was calculated as a function of how many
days the children were actually taking medication, there was no
significant difference in ADHD symptoms compared with those not taking
medication (0.06 units on a three-point scale).

Likewise, medication use during more than half of the follow-up period
did not have an impact on outcomes overall (effect size 0.01,
P=0.855). " source http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/ADHD-ADD/dh/6205

Really does not seem like compelling evidence of benefit for giving
kids drugs. Thanks Vince

http://jad.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/9/3/476

Objective: This study evaluates the efficacy, duration of action, and
tolerability of methylphenidate transdermal system (MTS) in children
with ADHD. Method: Participants were dose optimized over 5 weeks
utilizing patch doses of 10, 16, 20, and 27 mg applied in the morning
and worn for 9 hours. Following optimization, 80 participants were
randomized to 1 week of MTS or placebo followed by 1 week of the
opposite treatment. Laboratory classroom sessions conducted after each
randomized week included blinded ratings of attention, behavior, and
academic performance. Results: MTS was well tolerated and displayed
significant improvement compared with placebo. Improvements were seen
at the first postdose time point measured and continued through 12
hours. Conclusions: Treatment with MTS resulted in statistically
significant improvements on all efficacy measures. Time course and
therapeutic effects of MTS suggest that this novel methylphenidate
delivery system is an efficacious once-daily treatment for ADHD.