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A Dose‐Response Analysis of the Effects of Methylphenidate on the Peer Interactions and Simulated Classroom Performance of ADD Children with and without Conduct Problems
Author(s) -
Cunningham Charles E.,
Siegel Linda S.,
Offord David R.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1991.tb00322.x
Subject(s) - methylphenidate , psychology , developmental psychology , social relation , reciprocal , task (project management) , attention deficit , clinical psychology , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , social psychology , linguistics , philosophy , management , economics
To examine the social effects of methylphenidate, groups of 15 attention‐deficit disordered boys with (ADD) and 15 ADD boys without conduct problems (ADD/CP) were paired with normal peers. ADD and ADD/CP children showed a different pattern of responses to methylphenidate. While on task behavior in ADD/CP dyads increased at 0.15 mg/kg doses, increases in ADD dyads were not observed until doses reached 0.50 mg/kg. Although controlling interaction in ADD children decreased at 0.15 mg/kg, the controlling behavior of ADD/CP children did not decline at either dose. Peers of both ADD and ADD/CP children showed reciprocal declines in controlling behavior. In both free play and cooperative task situations, 0.15 mg/kg increased social interaction in ADD boys and decreased social interaction in ADD/CP boys.