Objective: This study investigates children's views on positive and negative effects of stimulant medication for ADHD and the children's willingness to stop taking medication. Method: Questionnaire data were collected from 79 children with ADHD and one of each child's parents. Results/Conclusion: Swedish children treated with stimulants generally experienced positive treatment effects in many areas, especially in the school setting, and a majority wished to continue taking their medication. There was, however, a small group of children who reported a relatively large number of negative effects. Few differences between parents and children were found for positive effects, although parents reported higher levels of negative effects. Results also indicate that the child's knowledge of why he or she is on stimulant medication and the parent's views of medication are important factors to take into consideration as they influence the child's willingness to continue his or her medication. (J. of Att. Dis. 2009; 12(5) 460-468)
American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author .
2.
Barkley, R.A. (1977). A review of stimulant drug research with hyperactive children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 18, 137-165.
3.
Borgschatz, H., Frankenberger, W., & Eder, R. (1999). Effects of information on perceptions of stimulant medication efficacy for treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder . Psychology in the Schools, 36, 515-522.
4.
Bowen, J., Fenton, T., & Rappaport, L. (1991). Stimulant medication and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder: The child's perspective. Journal of Diseases of Children, 145, 291-295.
5.
Brown, T.E. (2000). Attention-deficit disorders and comorbidities in children, adolescents and adults. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.
6.
Conners, C.K. (1971). Recent drug studies with hyperkinetic children . Journal of Learning Disabilities, 4, 476-483.
7.
Conners, C.K. (1973). Rating scales for use in drug studies with children . Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 9, 24-84.
8.
Doherty, S.L., Frankenberger, W., Fuhrer, R., & Snider, V. (2000). Children's self-reported effects of stimulant medication. International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education, 47, 39-54.
9.
Douglas, V.I. (1972). Stop, look, and listen: The problem of sustained attention and impulse control in hyperactive and normal children. Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science, 4, 259-282.
10.
Fitzpatrick, P.A., Klorman, R., Brumaghim, J.T., & Borgstedt, A.D. (1992). Effects of sustained-release and standard preparations of methylphenidate on attention deficit disorder . Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , 31, 226-234.
11.
Flanery, R. (1990). Methodological and psychometric considerations in child reports. In A. M. La Greca (Eds.), Through the eyes of the child: Obtaining self-reports from children and adolescents (pp. 57-82). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
12.
Kazdin, A. (1990). Assessment of childhood depression. In A. M. La Greca (Eds.), Through the eyes of the child: Obtaining self-reports from children and adolescents (pp. 189-233). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
13.
Kazdin, A., Rodgers, A., Colbus, D., & Siegel, T. (1987). Children's Hostility Inventory: Measurement of aggression and hostility in psychiatric inpatient children. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 16, 320-328.
14.
Moline, S., & Frankenberger, W. (2001). Use of stimulant medication for treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A survey of middle and high school students' attitudes. Psychology in the Schools , 38, 569-584.
15.
MTA Cooperative Group. (1999). A 14-month randomized clinical trial of treatment strategies for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 56, 1073-1086.
16.
Muir, T., & Zegarac, M. (2001). Societal costs of toxic substances: Economic and health costs of four case studies that are candidates for environmental causation . Environmental Health Perspective, 109(Suppl. 6), 885-903.
17.
Muris, P., Vaesen, H., Roodenrijs, D., & Kelgterman, L. (2006). Treatment sensitivity for a brief rating scale for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms . Journal of Child and Family Studies, 15, 223-230.
18.
National Institutes of Health. (1998, November). Consensus development conference statement: Diagnosis and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Bethesda, MD: Author.
19.
Swanson, J.M., McBurnett, K., Wigal, T., Pfiffner, L., Lerner, M., Williams, L., et al. (1993). Effect of stimulant medication on children with attention deficit disorder: A "review of reviews." Exceptional Children, 60, 154-161.
20.
Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. ( 2002). ADHD hos barn och vuxna [ADHD among children and adults] . Stockholm, Sweden: Socialstyrelsen .
21.
U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. (1999). Yearly aggregate production quotas (1990-1999). Washington, DC: Author.
