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Buspirone Versus Methylphenidate in the Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Double-Blind and Randomized Trial

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Abstract

The efficacy and side effects of buspirone compared with methylphenidate (MPH) in the treatment of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A total of 34 children with ADHD as defined by DSM-IV-TR were randomized to buspirone or methylphenidate dosed on weight-adjusted basis at buspirone (0.5 mg/kg/day) and methylphenidate (0.3–1 mg/kg/day) for a 6-week double-blind clinical trial. The principle measures of outcome were the teacher and parent ADHD Rating Scale. The side effects were assessed by the special side effect checklist of each drug. In both groups, the scores of teacher and parent ADHD Rating Scale significantly declined on the 6th week as compared to baseline (p = 0.001). These effects were observed in the subscales too. No significant differences were observed between the two protocols on the total scores of parent and teacher ADHD Rating Scale, but methylphenidate was superior to buspirone in decreasing the symptoms of inattention. The side effects of buspirone were mild and rare in comparison with MPH. Buspirone has a favorable side-effects profile. It also has clinically and statistically significant impacts on improving the ADHD symptoms in children. These preliminary findings of the efficacy of buspirone in children with ADHD need large and cross-over studies.

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Abbreviations

ADHD:

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

MPH:

Methylphenidate

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by the grant from the Behavioral Sciences Research Center of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (Tehran, Iran). The authors express their gratitude to Ali Fakhrabadi and Ebrahim Parvin for editing the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Imam Hossein Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Rozita Davari-Ashtiani, Mahin Eslami Shahrbabaki, Katayoon Razjouyan & Homa Mazhabdar

  2. Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Rozita Davari-Ashtiani

  3. Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Homayoun Amini

  4. Roozbeh Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Homayoun Amini

Authors
  1. Rozita Davari-Ashtiani
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  2. Mahin Eslami Shahrbabaki
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  3. Katayoon Razjouyan
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  4. Homayoun Amini
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  5. Homa Mazhabdar
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Correspondence to Rozita Davari-Ashtiani.

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Davari-Ashtiani, R., Eslami Shahrbabaki, M., Razjouyan, K. et al. Buspirone Versus Methylphenidate in the Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Double-Blind and Randomized Trial. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 41, 641–648 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-010-0193-2

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