A Randomized Controlled Trial of Interventions for Growth Suppression in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Treated With Central Nervous System Stimulants

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2020 Dec;59(12):1330-1341. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2019.08.472. Epub 2019 Aug 29.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the impact of central nervous system (CNS) stimulants on the growth of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and to assess the efficacy and feasibility of weight recovery interventions on growth.

Method: A total of 230 children aged 5 to 12 years with ADHD with no history of chronic CNS stimulant use were randomly assigned to receive daily CNS stimulants (78%, primarily osmotic release oral system-methylphenidate [OROS-MPH]) or behavioral treatment (22%) for 30 months. After 6 months, children evidencing a decline in body mass index (BMI) of >0.5 z-units were randomized to 1 of 3 weight recovery treatments (WRTs): monthly monitoring of height/weight (MON) plus continued daily medication; drug holidays (DH) with medication limited to school days; or daily caloric supplementation (CS) with a 150-kcal supplement plus daily medication.

Results: Before WRT assignment, medication was associated with significant reductions in standardized weight and height (p values <.01). Adherence to CS and DH during WRT was high, with significant increases in daily caloric intake and decreases in weekly medication exposure (p values <.05). Across all WRT participants (n = 71), weight velocity increased significantly after WRT randomization (β2 = 0.271, SE = 0.027, p < .001).When analyzed by what parents did (versus what they were assigned to), CS (p < .01) and DH (p < .05) increased weight velocity more than MON. No increase in height velocity was seen after randomization to any WRT. Over the entire study, WRT participants declined in standardized weight (-0.44 z-units) and height (-0.20 z-units).

Conclusion: Drug holidays, caloric supplementation, and increased monitoring all led to increased weight velocity in children taking CNS stimulants, but none led to increased height velocity.

Clinical trial registration information: Novel Approach to Stimulant Induced Weight Suppression and Its Impact on Growth; https://clinicaltrials.gov/; NCT01109849.

Keywords: CNS stimulants; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; growth.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / drug therapy
  • Body Mass Index
  • Body Weight
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants* / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Humans
  • Methylphenidate* / pharmacology
  • Methylphenidate* / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Methylphenidate

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01109849