Behavioral Treatment, Drug Treatment, and Combined Treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD Treatment: Comparative and Combined Dosage Effects

The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of behavioral treatment, drug treatment, and combined treatment for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This study will also examine the interactions between different levels of behavioral and drug treatments.

Participants attend a summer treatment program each Monday-Friday for 9 weeks. They participate in group recreational and classroom activities, with 12 children and 5 staff per group. Three behavioral conditions (no behavioral modification, low-intensity behavioral modification, and high-intensity behavioral modification) are delivered in random order, with each condition lasting 3 weeks. Along with the behavioral treatment conditions, children receive 1 of 4 medication doses (placebo, 0.15 mg/kg methylphenidate, 0.3 mg/kg methylphenidate, or 0.6 mg/kg methylphenidate) in random order, with each dose varied daily and repeated 3 or 4 times within each behavioral treatment condition.

Measures include frequency counts of positive and negative behaviors, academic productivity and accuracy in the classroom, and counselor, parent, and teacher ratings of benefits and side effects. Parents attend training sessions and implement behavioral programs at home.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• IQ >= 80

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of seizures or other neurological problems
• Medical history that would involve considerable risk in taking stimulant medication
• History or concurrent diagnosis of any of the following disorders: pervasive developmental disorder, schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders, sexual disorder, organic mental disorder, or eating disorder