Skip to main content
Top
Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 5/2007

01-08-2007 | BRIEF REPORT

Is OPTAx™ useful for monitoring the effect of stimulants on hyperactivity and inattention?

A brief report

Authors: Janne Tabori-Kraft, Merete Juul Sørensen, Martin Kærgaard, Søren Dalsgaard, Prof. Per Hove Thomsen

Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry | Issue 5/2007

Login to get access

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether OPTAx, an objective measurement of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention can be used to measure the positive clinical effect of stimulants found in children with hyperkinetic disorder (HKD) or attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity.

Method

A total of 22 boys and one girl, with ages ranging between 7–12 years, diagnosed with HKD or attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity and receiving treatment with stimulants were tested with OPTAx, with and without stimulants. The main parameters investigated were: displacement, area, accuracy, variability, errors of commission and errors of omission.

Results

OPTAx showed a significant improvement on all parameters during stimulant treatment compared with no treatment. The improvement measured by OPTAx was supported by clinical assessment, which found that 95% of the children improved much or very much on the Clinical Global Assessment Scale during stimulant treatment.

Conclusions

The objective parameters of the OPTAx reflected the clinical improvement found in children with HKD or attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity during stimulant treatment. This suggests a greater role for objective measurements such as OPTAx in daily clinical practise.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Washington D (1994) American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edn. (DSM-IV) Washington D (1994) American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edn. (DSM-IV)
2.
go back to reference World Health Organization Geneva (1993) The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders. Diagnostic criteria for research. World health organization, Geneva World Health Organization Geneva (1993) The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders. Diagnostic criteria for research. World health organization, Geneva
3.
go back to reference Faraone SV, Doyle AE (2001) The nature and heritability of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am 10:299–2ixPubMed Faraone SV, Doyle AE (2001) The nature and heritability of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am 10:299–2ixPubMed
4.
go back to reference Carlson CL, Tamm L, Gaub M (1997) Gender differences in children with ADHD, ODD, and co-occurring ADHD/ODD identified in a school population. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 36:1706–1714PubMedCrossRef Carlson CL, Tamm L, Gaub M (1997) Gender differences in children with ADHD, ODD, and co-occurring ADHD/ODD identified in a school population. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 36:1706–1714PubMedCrossRef
5.
go back to reference Graetz BW, Sawyer MG, Baghurst P (2005) Gender differences among children with DSM-IV ADHD in Australia. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 44:159–168PubMedCrossRef Graetz BW, Sawyer MG, Baghurst P (2005) Gender differences among children with DSM-IV ADHD in Australia. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 44:159–168PubMedCrossRef
6.
go back to reference Biederman J, Mick E, Faraone SV, Braaten E, Doyle A, Spencer T, Wilens TE, Frazier E, Johnson MA (2002) Influence of gender on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children referred to a psychiatric clinic. Am J Psychiatry 159:36–42PubMedCrossRef Biederman J, Mick E, Faraone SV, Braaten E, Doyle A, Spencer T, Wilens TE, Frazier E, Johnson MA (2002) Influence of gender on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children referred to a psychiatric clinic. Am J Psychiatry 159:36–42PubMedCrossRef
7.
go back to reference Biederman J, Monuteaux MC, Doyle AE, Seidman LJ, Wilens TE, Ferrero F, Morgan CL, Faraone SV (2004) Impact of executive function deficits and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on academic outcomes in children. J Consult Clin Psychol 72:757–766PubMedCrossRef Biederman J, Monuteaux MC, Doyle AE, Seidman LJ, Wilens TE, Ferrero F, Morgan CL, Faraone SV (2004) Impact of executive function deficits and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on academic outcomes in children. J Consult Clin Psychol 72:757–766PubMedCrossRef
8.
go back to reference Dalsgaard S, Mortensen PB, Frydenberg M, Thomsen PH (2002) Conduct problems, gender and adult psychiatric outcome of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Br J Psychiatry 181:416–421PubMedCrossRef Dalsgaard S, Mortensen PB, Frydenberg M, Thomsen PH (2002) Conduct problems, gender and adult psychiatric outcome of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Br J Psychiatry 181:416–421PubMedCrossRef
9.
go back to reference Jadad AR, Booker L, Gauld M, Kakuma R, Boyle M, Cunningham CE, Kim M, Schachar R (1999) The treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: an annotated bibliography and critical appraisal of published systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Can J Psychiatry 44:1025–1035PubMed Jadad AR, Booker L, Gauld M, Kakuma R, Boyle M, Cunningham CE, Kim M, Schachar R (1999) The treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: an annotated bibliography and critical appraisal of published systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Can J Psychiatry 44:1025–1035PubMed
10.
go back to reference Rapoport JL, Buchsbaum MS, Zahn TP, Weingartner H, Ludlow C, Mikkelsen EJ (1978) Dextroamphetamine: cognitive and behavioral effects in normal prepubertal boys. Science 199:560–563PubMedCrossRef Rapoport JL, Buchsbaum MS, Zahn TP, Weingartner H, Ludlow C, Mikkelsen EJ (1978) Dextroamphetamine: cognitive and behavioral effects in normal prepubertal boys. Science 199:560–563PubMedCrossRef
11.
go back to reference Zito JM, Safer DJ, dosReis S, Gardner JF, Boles M, Lynch F (2000) Trends in the prescribing of psychotropic medications to preschoolers. JAMA 283:1025–1030PubMedCrossRef Zito JM, Safer DJ, dosReis S, Gardner JF, Boles M, Lynch F (2000) Trends in the prescribing of psychotropic medications to preschoolers. JAMA 283:1025–1030PubMedCrossRef
12.
go back to reference Marwick C (2003) US doctor warns of misuse of prescribed stimulants. BMJ 326:67–68CrossRef Marwick C (2003) US doctor warns of misuse of prescribed stimulants. BMJ 326:67–68CrossRef
13.
go back to reference Eaves L, Rutter M, Silberg JL, Shillady L, Maes H, Pickles A (2000) Genetic and environmental causes of covariation in interview assessments of disruptive behavior in child and adolescent twins. Behav Genet 30:321–334PubMedCrossRef Eaves L, Rutter M, Silberg JL, Shillady L, Maes H, Pickles A (2000) Genetic and environmental causes of covariation in interview assessments of disruptive behavior in child and adolescent twins. Behav Genet 30:321–334PubMedCrossRef
14.
go back to reference Greenberg LM (1987) An objective measure of methylphenidate response: clinical use of the MCA. Psychopharmacol Bull 23:279–282PubMed Greenberg LM (1987) An objective measure of methylphenidate response: clinical use of the MCA. Psychopharmacol Bull 23:279–282PubMed
15.
go back to reference Teicher MH, Anderson CM, Polcari A, Glod CA, Maas LC, Renshaw PF (2000) Functional deficits in basal ganglia of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder shown with functional magnetic resonance imaging relaxometry. Nat Med 6:470–473PubMedCrossRef Teicher MH, Anderson CM, Polcari A, Glod CA, Maas LC, Renshaw PF (2000) Functional deficits in basal ganglia of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder shown with functional magnetic resonance imaging relaxometry. Nat Med 6:470–473PubMedCrossRef
16.
go back to reference Teicher MH, Lowen SB, Polcari A, Foley M, McGreenery CE (2004) Novel strategy for the analysis of CPT data provides new insight into the effects of methylphenidate on attentional states in children with ADHD. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 14:219–232PubMedCrossRef Teicher MH, Lowen SB, Polcari A, Foley M, McGreenery CE (2004) Novel strategy for the analysis of CPT data provides new insight into the effects of methylphenidate on attentional states in children with ADHD. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 14:219–232PubMedCrossRef
17.
go back to reference Teicher MH, Ito Y, Glod CA, Barber NI (1996) Objective measurement of hyperactivity and attentional problems in ADHD. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 35:334–342PubMedCrossRef Teicher MH, Ito Y, Glod CA, Barber NI (1996) Objective measurement of hyperactivity and attentional problems in ADHD. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 35:334–342PubMedCrossRef
18.
go back to reference Barkley RA (1991) The ecological validity of laboratory and analogue assessment methods of ADHD symptoms. J Abnorm Child Psychol 19:149–178PubMedCrossRef Barkley RA (1991) The ecological validity of laboratory and analogue assessment methods of ADHD symptoms. J Abnorm Child Psychol 19:149–178PubMedCrossRef
19.
go back to reference Heiser P, Frey J, Smidt J, Sommerlad C, Wehmeier PM, Hebebrand J, Remschmidt H (2004) Objective measurement of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention in children with hyperkinetic disorders before and after treatment with methylphenidate. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 13:100–104PubMedCrossRef Heiser P, Frey J, Smidt J, Sommerlad C, Wehmeier PM, Hebebrand J, Remschmidt H (2004) Objective measurement of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention in children with hyperkinetic disorders before and after treatment with methylphenidate. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 13:100–104PubMedCrossRef
20.
go back to reference Losier BJ, McGrath PJ, Klein RM (1996) Error patterns on the continuous performance test in non-medicated and medicated samples of children with and without ADHD: a meta-analytic review. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 37:971–987PubMedCrossRef Losier BJ, McGrath PJ, Klein RM (1996) Error patterns on the continuous performance test in non-medicated and medicated samples of children with and without ADHD: a meta-analytic review. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 37:971–987PubMedCrossRef
21.
go back to reference Matier K, Halperin JM, Sharma V, Newcorn JH, Sathaye N (1992) Methylphenidate response in aggressive and non-aggressive ADHD children: distinctions on laboratory measures of symptoms. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 31:219–225PubMedCrossRef Matier K, Halperin JM, Sharma V, Newcorn JH, Sathaye N (1992) Methylphenidate response in aggressive and non-aggressive ADHD children: distinctions on laboratory measures of symptoms. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 31:219–225PubMedCrossRef
22.
go back to reference Guy W (2005) ECDEU Assessment Manual for Psychopharmacology—Revised (DHEW Publ No ADM 76–338). Rockville, MD. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration, NIMH Psychopharmacology Research Branch, Division of Extramural Research Programs, 1976, pp 218–222 Guy W (2005) ECDEU Assessment Manual for Psychopharmacology—Revised (DHEW Publ No ADM 76–338). Rockville, MD. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration, NIMH Psychopharmacology Research Branch, Division of Extramural Research Programs, 1976, pp 218–222
23.
go back to reference StataCorp. 2003. Stata Statistical Software: Release 8.0. 2005. College Station, TX: Stata Corporation. Ref Type: Computer Program StataCorp. 2003. Stata Statistical Software: Release 8.0. 2005. College Station, TX: Stata Corporation. Ref Type: Computer Program
Metadata
Title
Is OPTAx™ useful for monitoring the effect of stimulants on hyperactivity and inattention?
A brief report
Authors
Janne Tabori-Kraft
Merete Juul Sørensen
Martin Kærgaard
Søren Dalsgaard
Prof. Per Hove Thomsen
Publication date
01-08-2007
Publisher
D. Steinkopff-Verlag
Published in
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry / Issue 5/2007
Print ISSN: 1018-8827
Electronic ISSN: 1435-165X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-006-0571-2

Other articles of this Issue 5/2007

European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 5/2007 Go to the issue