A preliminary study on the effect of methylphenidate on motor performance in children with comorbid DCD and ADHD.

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) are two developmental disorders with considerable comorbidity. The impact of Methylphenidate (MPH) on ADHD symptoms is well documented. However, the effects of MPH on motor coordination are less studied. We assessed the influence of MPH on motor performance of children with comorbid DCD and ADHD. Participants were 18 children (13 boys, mean age 8.3 years) diagnosed with comorbid DCD and ADHD. A structured clinical interview (K-SADS-PL) was used to determine psychopathology and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Checklist were used to determine criterion for motor deficits. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC) was administrated to all participants once under the influence of MPH and once under a placebo pill condition. The motor tests were administered on two separate days in a double-blinded design. Participants' motor performance with MPH was significantly superior to their performance in the placebo condition. Significant improvement was observed in all the M-ABC sub-tasks except for static balance performance. The findings suggest that MPH improves motor coordination in children with comorbid DCD and ADHD but clinically significant improvement was found in only 33% of the children.

Bart O ，Podoly T ，Bar-Haim Y 《-》

Effects of methylphenidate on quality of life in children with both developmental coordination disorder and ADHD.

Flapper BC ，Schoemaker MM 《DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE AND CHILD NEUROLOGY》

Influence of methylphenidate on motor performance and attention in children with developmental coordination disorder and attention deficit hyperactive disorder.

Individuals with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) often have coexisting developmental coordination disorder (DCD). The positive therapeutic effect of methylphenidate on ADHD symptoms is well documented, but its effects on motor coordination are less studied. We assessed the influence of methylphenidate on motor performance in children with comorbid DCD and ADHD. Participants were 30 children (24 boys) aged 5.10-12.7 years diagnosed with both DCD and ADHD. Conners' Parent Rating Scale was used to reaffirm ADHD diagnosis and the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire was used to diagnose DCD. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 and the online continuous performance test were administrated to all participants twice, with and without methylphenidate. The tests were administered on two separate days in a blind design. Motor performance and attention scores were significantly better with methylphenidate than without it (p<0.001 for improvement in the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 and p<0.006 for the online continuous performance test scores). The findings suggest that methylphenidate improves both attention and motor coordination in children with coexisting DCD and ADHD. More research is needed to disentangle the causality of the improvement effect and whether improvement in motor coordination is directly affected by methylphenidate or mediated by improvement in attention.

Bart O ，Daniel L ，Dan O ，Bar-Haim Y ... -  《-》

Fine motor skills and effects of methylphenidate in children with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder and developmental coordination disorder.

Flapper BC ，Houwen S ，Schoemaker MM 《DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE AND CHILD NEUROLOGY》

Motor skills of children newly diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder prior to and following treatment with stimulant medication.

Motor difficulties are common in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Although preliminary evidence has suggested that methylphenidate can improve the motor skills in children with ADHD and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), the effect of stimulant medication on motor performance in children newly diagnosed with ADHD with or without motor impairment remains unclear. A cohort study of 49 medication-naïve children (39 male; mean age 8.4±1.3 years) with ADHD was conducted. Children were evaluated using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children and the developmental test of visual motor integration at diagnosis and again three months following daily treatment with a stimulant medication. Motor difficulties were highly present at baseline (73.5%) but resolved in a subset after treatment with stimulant medication, suggesting that their motor difficulties may be attributed in part to their attentional problems. Nevertheless, motor impairment persisted in 55.1% of the sample. The severity of the behavioural symptoms was significantly associated with balance skills in children without motor impairments (r(2)=0.30, p<0.01) and with visual motor integration skills in children with persisting motor difficulties (r(2)=0.27, p<0.01). Attentional difficulties negatively affect the motor skills of children with ADHD. Following the use of stimulant medication, an important subset continued to demonstrate motor difficulties. The improvement in behaviour was insufficient to resolve motor problems and these children should therefore be targeted for rehabilitation services.

Brossard-Racine M ，Shevell M ，Snider L ，Bélanger SA ，Majnemer A ... -  《-》