Methods of Evaluating Methylphenidate in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Acceptability, Satisfaction, and Compliance

Compared two methods of evaluating methylphenidate (MPH) onmeasures of parental acceptance, satisfaction, and compliancewith the treatment. Twenty-four 6- to 10-year-old children withAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were randomlyassigned to either a blind, placebo-controlled medication trial(MT) or to a typical clinical procedures (TCP) evaluation thatwas nonblind and without a placebo control. Ratings of satisfactionwere significantly higher in the MT condition than in the TCPcondition; however, all parents became more accepting of MPHafter participating in an evaluation. Both during the evaluationand at 6-week and 3-month follow-ups, approximately 20% of caseswere not complying with treatment. However, rates of compliancedid not differ between the MT and TCP conditions.