Year: 2011
Type: article
Abstract: ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed Axis I mental health disorder in children with prevalence estimates of 3% to 5% of US children.The preponderance of ADHD research has focused on behavioral problems, while a much smaller proportion of research has focused on cognitive aspects.The purpose of this study was to examine stimulant medication effects on memory in children with ADHD.METHOD: Thirty-five children (26 males and 9 females) with the diagnosis of ADHD (subtypes included predominately inattentive, predominately hyperactive, and combined) were mostly obtained from local pediatric clinics.The Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning, 2 nd Edition (WRAML2) was administered along with the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) over 2 sessions, 1 of which the participants were on their prescribed medication, and 1 of which was a placebo condition.Participants and Examiner were blind to condition.CONCLUSION: Contrary to expectation, there was no difference between participant performance when on medication vs. placebo for the WRAML2 subtests (Wilks λ = .66,F(15, 19) = .65,p > .05)or WASI subtests (Wilks λ = .81,F(4, 30) = Effects of Medication on Memory iv 1.71, p > .05).Therefore, stimulant medication had no demonstrable effect on memory performance in children with ADHD.Implications of this finding were discussed.
Author: Benjamin J. Dunagan
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2138051372