Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: the impact of methylphenidate on working memory, inhibition capacity and mental flexibility

Cristiana Bolfer; Sandra Pasquali Pacheco; Miriam Harumi Tsunemi; Walter Souza Carreira; Beatriz Borba Casella; Erasmo Barbante Casella

doi:10.1590/0004-282X20170030

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, Table of Contents

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2017; 75(04): 204-208
DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20170030

Article

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: the impact of methylphenidate on working memory, inhibition capacity and mental flexibility

Transtorno do déficit de atenção/hiperatividade (TDAH): o impacto do metilfenidato na memória operacional, capacidade inibitória e flexibilidade mental

Cristiana Bolfer

¹Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Neurologia, São Paulo SP, Brasil;

,

Sandra Pasquali Pacheco

²Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Pediatria, São Paulo SP, Brasil;

,

Miriam Harumi Tsunemi

³Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Matemática e Estatística, São Paulo SP, Brasil;

,

Walter Souza Carreira

⁴Centro Universitário de Maringá, Maringá PR, Brasil;

,

Beatriz Borba Casella

⁵Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Pediatria, São Paulo SP, Brasil;

,

Erasmo Barbante Casella

¹Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Neurologia, São Paulo SP, Brasil;

⁶Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas, Instituto da Criança, Clínica de Deficiência de Aprendizagem, São Paulo SP, Brasil.

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Objective

To compare children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), before and after the use of methylphenidate, and a control group, using tests of working memory, inhibition capacity and mental flexibility.

Methods

Neuropsychological tests were administrated to 53 boys, 9–12 years old: the WISC-III digit span backward, and arithmetic; Stroop Color; and Trail Making Tests. The case group included 23 boys with ADHD, who were combined type, treatment-naive, and with normal intelligence without comorbidities. The control group (n = 30) were age and gender matched. After three months on methylphenidate, the ADHD children were retested. The control group was also retested after three months.

Results

Before treatment, ADHD children had lower scores than the control group on the tests (p ≤ 0.001) and after methylphenidate had fewer test errors than before (p ≤ 0.001)

Conclusion

Methylphenidate treatment improves the working memory, inhibitory control and mental flexibility of ADHD boys.

RESUMO

Objetivo

Comparar crianças com transtorno de déficit de atenção/hiperatividade (TDAH) com controles, utilizando testes de memória de trabalho, capacidade inibitória e flexibilidade mental, em meninos de 9 a 12 anos.

Métodos

Testes neuropsicológicos administrados: teste de ordem inversa dos dígitos, teste aritmético (WISC-III), Teste Stroop e Teste de Trilhas. Grupo experimental meninos (n=23), com TDAH combinado, virgens de tratamento, inteligência normal sem comorbidades. Grupo controle (n = 30) com as mesmas características do grupo experimental em termos de idade e sexo. Após três meses com metilfenidato, os grupos TDAH e controle foram novamente testadas.

Resultados

Antes do tratamento, as crianças com TDAH apresentaram menor pontuação do que o grupo controle nos testes analisados (p≤ 0.001) e o grupo com TDAH apresentou menos erros nos testes após metilfenidato (p ≤ 0.001).

Conclusão

O tratamento com metilfenidato melhora a memória de trabalho, controle inibitório e flexibilidade mental de meninos com TDAH.

attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity - working memory - methylphenidate

transtorno de déficit de atenção com hiperatividade - memória de curto prazo - metilfenidato

Full Text

References

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