Table 1.
Characteristics of the included studies
| Study | Mean age (range) years | Comorbid inclusion criteria | Psychiatric and neurological exclusion criteria | Male % | MDD (%) | Anxiety Disorder (%) | Trial design | Drug | Dosage | Length of trial weeks | Com-parison groups | Outcome measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean or range per day | ||||||||||||
| Aman et al. [43] | 8.8 (5–13) | ID | Motor handicap, ASD, psychotic symptoms, epilepsy, down syndrome | 71.4 | NR | NR | CO | MPH | 0.4 mg/kg. Fixed | 4 | Fenfluramine and PLAC | RBPC -Anxiety/ Withdrawal scale |
| Bangs et al. [44] | 14.4 (12–18) | MDD | In psychotherapy | 73.2 | 100 | NR | PG | ATX | 1.2–1.8 mg/kg. Flexible | 9 | PLAC | CDRS-R |
| Brown and Sexson [45] | 13.6 (12–14) | – | ID, gross neurological disorders | 100.0 | NR | NR | CO | MPH | 0.15–0.5 mg/kg. Fixed | 8 | PLAC | CPRS—Anxiety subscale |
| Buitelaar et al. [46] | 9.2 (6–13) | – | TD | 93.8 | 15 | 42 | CO | MPH | 20 mg. Fixed | 4 | Pindolol and PLAC | BSSERS |
| Daviss et al. [47] | 9.2 (7–12) | – | TD, MDD, PDD, ASD, ID, ED, psychosis | 79.7 | 0 | NR | PG | MPH | 30.2 mg. Flexible | 16 | Clonidine and PLAC | PSERS |
| Dell’Agnello et al. [48] | 9.8 (6–15) | ODD | ID, BD, psychosis, PDD, seizures, serious risk of suicide, drug/alcohol abuse, in psychotherapy | 92.7 | 1.5 | 11 | PG | ATX | 1.2 mg/kg. Flexible | 8 | PLAC | CDRS-R |
| SCARED | ||||||||||||
| Geller et al. [49] | 12.0 (8–17) | Anxiety disorder | PTSD, panic disorder, specific phobias, OCD, BD, psychosis, PDD, seizures, substance abuse, serious risk of suicide | 64.8 | 4.5 | 100 | PG | ATX | 1.2 mg/kg. Flexible | 10 | PLAC | MASC |
| Greenhill et al. [50] | 9.0 (6–16) | – | Any psychiatric diagnosis, seizure, TD, ID | 80.1 | NR | NR | PG | MPH | 40.7 mg. Flexible | 3 | PLAC | PSERS |
| Griffiths et al. [51] | 11.29 (6–17) | – | Any psychotic or neurologic condition, alcohol, nicotine or drug use | 78.5 | 2.6 | 38 | CO | ATX | 1.35 mg/kg. Flexible | 6 | PLAC | STAI and STAI-C |
| DASS | ||||||||||||
| Kurowski et al. [52] | 11.5 (6–17) | TBI | Preinjury diagnoses of developmental or neurological disorders, psychiatric inpatient in past 12 months | 76.9 | NR | NR | CO | MPH | 18–54 mg. Flexible | 4 | PLAC | PSERS |
| Lin et al. [53] | 10.92 (6–17) | – | BD, psychosis, seizure, PDD, TD, anxiety | 70.1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | PG | MPH | 18–54 mg. Fixed | 8 | Edivoxetine and PLAC | CBRS |
| Michelson et al. [54] | 11 (8–18) | – | ID, psychosis or BD, seizure disorder, ongoing use of psychoactive drugs | 71.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | PG | ATX | 0.5–1.8 mg/kg. Fixed | 8 | PLAC | CDRS-R |
| Pliszka et al. [55] | 7.95 (6–11) | – | MDD, depressed mood, manic episode, TD, psychosis or psychotic symptoms | NR | 0 | 16 | PG | MPH | 25–50 mg. Flexible | 3 | Adderrall (mixed amphetamines) and PLAC | MTA-SERS |
| Ramtvedt et al. [56] | 11.3 (9–14) | – | ID, psychosis, TBI, epilepsy, sensory deficits and/or motor impairment | 79.4 | NR | NR | CO | MPH | 40 mg. Fixed | 2 | Dextroamphetamine and PLAC | BSSERS |
NR not reported, ASD autism spectrum disorder, BD bipolar disorder, ED eating disorder, ID intellectual disability, MDD major depressive disorder, OCD obsessive compulsive disorder, ODD oppositional defiant disorder, PDD pervasive developmental disorder, PTSD post traumatic stress disorder, TBI traumatic brain injury, TD tic disorder, ATX atomoxetine, MPH methylphenidate, BSSERS barkley stimulant side effect rating scale, CBRS conners comprehensive behaviour rating scale, CDRS-R children’s depression rating scale revised, CPRS conners parent rating scale, DASS depression, anxiety and stress scale, MASC multidimensional anxiety scale for children, MTA-SERS multi-modality treatment of ADHD side effects scale, PSERS pittsburgh side effect rating scale, RBPC revised behaviour problem checklist, SCARED screen for child anxiety related emotional disorders, STAI state and trait anxiety index, STAI-C state and trait anxiety index for children