Brown 1985.

Study characteristics
Methods	12‐week, randomised, parallel trial Cognitive training MPH combined with cognitive training No treatment (not randomly assigned) Cognitive training programme: individual, twice‐weekly, 1‐h sessions for a total of 24 sessions spanning a 3‐month period
Participants	Number of participants included: MPH + cognitive training 10, cognitive training 10 Number of participants followed up: MPH + cognitive training 10, cognitive training 10 Number of withdrawals: MPH + cognitive training 0, cognitive training 0 Diagnosis of ADHD: DSM‐III (types not stated) Age: mean 11.36 years (range 6.4‐11.9) IQ: 101.92 (range 91‐136) MPH‐naive: not stated Ethnicity: not stated Country: USA Setting: not stated Comorbidity: not stated Comedication: no. No child was receiving any psychopharmacological treatment Other sociodemographics: none. No significant differences in baseline demographics between the 2 groups Inclusion criteria Demonstrating ADHD symptoms in serious and persistent form, agreed by parents and teachers Symptoms present for ≥ 12 months (parents to verify) Meeting criteria for ADD including hyperactivity According to DSM‐III Reading deficit of ≥ 2 grade levels Exclusion criteria Symptoms seem to stem from stress at home or from inconsistent child management No major diseases or obvious physical defects (gross neurological, sensory, motor impairment or psychosis)
Interventions	Participants were randomly assigned to MPH + cognitive training or to cognitive training only Mean MPH dosage: 0.3 mg/kg (range 5 mg/d‐15 mg/d) Administration schedule: twice daily (morning and lunch) Duration of intervention: 12 weeks + 3 months (only with medication) Titration period: none Treatment compliance: not stated Cognitive training programme: individual, twice‐weekly, 1‐h sessions for a total of 24 sessions spanning a 3‐month period
Outcomes	ADHD symptoms CPRS and CTRS‐Abbreviated: baseline, 12 weeks, 3 months Teacher Rating of Attention: baseline, 12 weeks, 3 months Teacher Rating of Impulsivity: baseline, 12 weeks, 3 months
Notes	Sample calculation: no Ethics approval: no information Key conclusion of trial authors Children in the 2 medication treatment conditions demonstrated improvement in attentional deployment and in behavioural ratings Exclusion of MPH non‐responders/children who have previously experienced AEs while taking MPH before randomisation: no Any withdrawals due to AEs: no Funding source: research supported by US Public Health Services Grant from the NIMH, and by the Biomedical Research Award from the NIH. MPH provided by CIBA‐GEIGY Corporation, Summit, New Jersey
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Randomly assigned
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	No information
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	High risk	Open‐label MPH
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	High risk	Not blinded
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	All participants followed up Selection bias (e.g. titration after randomisation → exclusion of MPH non‐responders or placebo responders): no
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	No protocol/design published