Effects of methylphenidate and behavior modification on the social and academic behavior of children with disruptive behavior disorders: the moderating role of callous/unemotional traits

J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2007 Oct-Dec;36(4):629-44. doi: 10.1080/15374410701662766.

Abstract

This study examined whether response to behavior modification with and without methylphenidate differed for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct problems (CP) depending on the presence of callous/unemotional (CU) traits. Participants were 37 children ages 7 to 12, including 19 with ADHD/CP-only and 18 with ADHD/CP-CU, referred to a university-based summer treatment program. Results showed that ADHD/CP-CU children had worse behavior in the behavior-therapy-only (BT-only) condition, especially on measures of CP, noncompliance, and rule violations, but these differences largely disappeared when medication was added to BT. Children with ADHD/CP-CU were also less likely to be normalized by treatment than were children with ADHD/CP-only. These findings, though tentative, suggest that children with ADHD/CP-CU may not show a sufficient positive response to BT alone and that the combination of medication and BT may be especially important for them.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / epidemiology
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / therapy*
  • Behavior Therapy / methods*
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / therapeutic use*
  • Child
  • Child Behavior Disorders / epidemiology
  • Child Behavior Disorders / psychology
  • Child Behavior Disorders / therapy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Comorbidity
  • Conduct Disorder / epidemiology
  • Conduct Disorder / psychology
  • Conduct Disorder / therapy*
  • Educational Status*
  • Humans
  • Methylphenidate / therapeutic use*
  • Personality / classification*
  • Social Adjustment
  • Social Behavior*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Methylphenidate