Does Comorbid Disruptive Behavior Modify the Effects of Atomoxetine on ADHD Symptoms as Measured by a Continuous Performance Test and a Motion Tracking Device?. (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wehmeier, Peter M.; Kipp, Laura; Banaschewski, Tobias; Dittmann, Ralf W.; Schacht, Alexander
• Is Part Of: Journal of attention disorders. Volume 19:Number 7(2015:Jul.)
• Page Start: 591
• Page End: 602
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: ADHD -- ODD/CD -- atomoxetine -- quantitative behavioral measurement; Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder -- Periodicals; Attention -- Periodicals; 616.8589
• DOI: 10.1177/1087054712456739
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1087-0547

Abstract

Objective: To compare the reduction of ADHD symptoms under atomoxetine in patients with and without comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or conduct disorder (CD) using a computer-based continuous performance test (cb-CPT) combined with an infrared motion tracking (MT) device.Method: Secondary analysis of a placebo-controlled study in ADHD patients (6-12 years old) treated with atomoxetine (target dose: 1.2 mg/kg per day). Cb-CPT/MT scores were analyzed using ANCOVA (last observation carried forward [LOCF]).Results: The data ( N = 125) suggested a more pronounced atomoxetine effect in the group with comorbid ODD/CD as measured by all cb-CPT/MT parameters except for "normalized variation of reaction time" (nVRT).Conclusion: The results showed that atomoxetine reduced ADHD severity as measured by cb-CPT and MT parameters regardless of whether comorbid ODD/CD was present. The treatment effect of atomoxetine on hyperactivity appears to be more pronounced in the subgroup of patients with comorbid ODD/CD than in the subgroup without this comorbidity.