1. Predicting methylphenidate response in long-term survivors of childhood cancer: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.
- Author
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Conklin HM, Helton S, Ashford J, Mulhern RK, Reddick WE, Brown R, Bonner M, Jasper BW, Wu S, Xiong X, and Khan RB
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Brain Neoplasms epidemiology, Child, Cognition drug effects, Comorbidity, Cross-Over Studies, Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors administration & dosage, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Learning Disabilities epidemiology, Learning Disabilities psychology, Male, Methylphenidate administration & dosage, Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma epidemiology, Predictive Value of Tests, Psychological Tests, Severity of Illness Index, Survivors psychology, Tennessee epidemiology, Treatment Outcome, Attention drug effects, Brain Neoplasms drug therapy, Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors therapeutic use, Learning Disabilities drug therapy, Methylphenidate therapeutic use, Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma drug therapy
- Abstract
Objective: To investigate the methylphenidate (MPH) response rate among childhood survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and brain tumors (BTs) and to identify predictors of positive MPH response., Methods: Cancer survivors (N = 106; BT = 51 and ALL = 55) identified as having attention deficits and learning problems participated in a 3-week, double-blind, crossover trial consisting of placebo, low-dose MPH (0.3 mg/kg), and moderate-dose MPH (0.6 mg/kg). Weekly teacher and parent reports on the Conners' Rating Scales were gathered., Results: Following moderate MPH dose, 45.28% of the sample was classified as responders. Findings revealed that more problems endorsed prior to the medication trial on parent and teacher ratings were predictive of positive medication response (p < .05)., Conclusions: MPH significantly reduces attention problems in a subset of childhood cancer survivors. Parent and teacher ratings may assist in identifying children most likely to respond to MPH so prescribing may be optimally targeted.
- Published
- 2010
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