Evaluación de la expresión emocional en pacientes diagnosticados de TDAH y en tratamiento con metilfenidato.

Introduction: Although investigation and clinical experience have demonstrated that stimulants are effective medication for the basic treatment of the symptoms on the ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), a commonly described but quite slightly studied side effect of this type of medication, is the effect on the emotional expression of patients. Objectives: The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the effect of the treatment with Methylphenidate on the affective/emotional expression in children diagnosed with ADHD. Data and methods: It is a descriptive study of several cases series, from a center and about a unique group, where "n" will be 15 children diagnosed with ADHD at the University Hospital of the Canary Islands, who were required beginning treatment with methylphenidate (MPH), with a daily dose of at least 0,3mg/Kg. In this study it will be evaluated the emotional expression of the group, according to the scale Expression and Emotion Scale for Children (EESC)making a comparison between the previous moment to the treatment and a subsequent month from its beginning. Results: The evaluation of the total result of the EESC conducted by the parent did not show statistically significant differences between scores previously of the treatment and results after a month with it. The dominions (positive emotions, emotional flatness and emotional lability) did not show differences between both periods of time, nevertheless, the positive emotions showed a tendency of reduction more showy than the rest, without getting to be statistically significant (p=0.0638). Conclusion: Statistically there have not been significant changes in the emotional expression of the children caused by the treatment with methylphenidate. Nevertheless, the data show that there is a tendency to an improvement in it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]