Poulton 2003.

Methods	A retrospective cohort study of growth data
Participants	Number of participants screened: not stated Number of participants included: 19 Number of participants followed up: 6 months: 19, 18 months: 13, 30 months: 6, 42 months: 4 Number of withdrawals: 6 months: 0, 18 months: 6, 30 months: 13, 42 months: 15 Diagnosis of ADHD: DSM‐IV (subtype: not stated) Age: range 3.1‐11.4 years old IQ: > 70 Sex: 17 males, 2 females Methylphenidate‐naïve: 100% Ethnicity: not stated Country: Australia Comorbidity: not stated Comedication: clonidine Sociodemographics: not stated Inclusion criteria ADHD diagnosis according to DSM‐IV Patients from a single private practice in Penrith prescribed methylphenidate in 1999 Exclusion criteria Methylphenidate for less than 6 months Previous experience with stimulant treatment
Interventions	Methylphenidate type: not stated Methylphenidate dosage: 10‐40 mg/day Mean methylphenidate dosage: 1.0 (SD 0.24) mg/kg per day, median 27.5 mg Administration schedule: not stated Duration of intervention: 6‐42 months Treatment compliance: many patients were taking less than the prescribed dose of stimulant medication, ceasing or reducing medication at weekends or during school holidays, but precise details were not available
Outcomes	Non‐serious adverse events: Height ‐ measured to the nearest 1 mm by the same observer using a wall‐mounted stadiometer, measured every 6th month or more frequently if clinically indicated Weight ‐ measured to the nearest 0.5 kg using electronic scales, measured every 6th month or more frequently if clinically indicated Both measures without shoes and outdoor clothing
Notes	Sample calculation: no Ethics approval: no Funding/vested interest: none Key conclusions of the study authors: stimulant medication is associated with a decrease in height and weight SD scores during the first 6‐30 months with a characteristic pattern on the growth chart Comments from the study authors: all children were started on dexamphetamine initially but were changed on to methylphenidate if the response was suboptimal or they experienced adverse effects. When weight loss occurred the parents were asked to reduce or omit the medication whenever possible and to encourage the child to eat more Exclusion of methylphenidate non‐responders/children who have previously experienced adverse events on methylphenidate: no Supplemental information regarding data received through personal email correspondence with the authors in November 2013 (Poulton 2013 [pers comm])