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A review of Cochrane reviews on pharmacological treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Revisão de revisões Cochrane sobre o tratamento farmacológico para transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade

ABSTRACT.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most frequent childhood psychiatric problems.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to identify, synthesize the results, and critically evaluate all Cochrane systematic reviews (SRs) on the pharmacological interventions for children and adolescents (up to age 18) diagnosed with ADHD.

Methods:

The search was performed in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (via Wiley) in July 2020.

Results:

The search strategy resulted in four SRs of high methodological quality, analyzing 51 randomized clinical trials (9,013 participants). Compared to placebo, treatment with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) (desipramine), amphetamine, and methylphenidate showed improvement in symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, impulsivity, and hyperactivity in the short term (up to 6 months). There was an increase in the occurrence of adverse events, such as reduced appetite, difficulty sleeping, and abdominal pain. Insufficient evidence was found to support the effects of supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Conclusions:

The use of TCAs, amphetamine, and methylphenidate in children and adolescents with ADHD seems to present positive effects and higher rates of minor adverse events when compared to placebo.

Keywords:
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; systematic review; desipramine; amphetamine; methylphenidate

RESUMO.

Déficit de atenção e hiperatividade (TDAH) é uma das mais frequentes condições psiquiátricas da infância.

Objetivo:

O objetivo deste artigo foi identificar, sintetizar os resultados e avaliar criticamente todas as revisões sistemáticas (RS) da Cochrane sobre as intervenções farmacológicas para crianças e adolescentes (até 18 anos de idade) diagnosticados com transtorno do déficit de atenção com hiperatividade.

Métodos:

A pesquisa foi realizada na base de dados Cochrane de Revisões Sistemáticas — CDSR (via Wiley) em julho de 2020.

Resultados:

A estratégia de busca resultou em quatro RS de alta qualidade metodológica, que analisavam 51 ensaios clínicos randomizados (9.013 participantes). Comparado ao placebo, o tratamento com antidepressivos tricíclicos (desipramina), anfetamina e metilfenidato apresentou melhora nos sintomas, como dificuldade de concentração, impulsividade e hiperatividade no curto prazo (até seis meses). Houve aumento na ocorr≖ncia de eventos adversos, como redução do apetite, dificuldade para dormir e dor abdominal. Foram encontradas evid≖ncias insuficientes para apoiar os efeitos da suplementação com ácidos graxos poli-insaturados.

Conclusões:

Com base nos resultados de revisões sistemáticas Cochrane, o uso de antidepressivos tricíclicos, anfetamina e metilfenidato em crianças e adolescentes com TDAH parece apresentar efeitos positivos e taxas mais elevadas de eventos adversos menores quando comparado ao placebo. Dado o alto risco de viés nos estudos primários incluídos nessas RS, ainda são necessários novos ensaios clínicos randomizados com rigor metodológico para apoiar esses achados.

Palavra-chave:
transtorno do déficit de atenção com hiperatividade; revisão sistemática; desipramina; anfetamina; metilfenidato

INTRODUCTION

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most diagnosed and treated childhood psychiatric problems. The worldwide prevalence of ADHD in children and adolescents varies between 5.3 and 9.4%,11. Cortese S, Adamo N, Del Giovane C, Mohr-Jensen C, Hayes AJ, Carucci S, et al. Comparative efficacy and tolerability of medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, adolescents, and adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(9):727-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30269-4
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
,22. Polanczyk G, de Lima MS, Horta BL, Biederman J, Rohde LA. The worldwide prevalence of ADHD: a systematic review and metaregression analysis. Am J Psychiatry. 2007;164(6):942-8. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.2007.164.6.942.
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,33. Vacher C, Goujon A, Romo L, Purper-Ouakil D. Efficacy of psychosocial interventions for children with ADHD and emotion dysregulation: a systematic review. Psychiatry Res. 2020;291:113151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113151
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with a predominance in males and ages 2–5 years.44. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Data and Statistics About ADHD [cited on July 15, 2020]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html.
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.htm...
,55. Lecendreux M, Konofal E, Faraone. SV. Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and associated features among children in France. J Atten Disord. 2011;15(6):516-24. https://doi.org/10.1177/1087054710372491
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Depending on the classification system used for diagnosis, these aspects may vary slightly.33. Vacher C, Goujon A, Romo L, Purper-Ouakil D. Efficacy of psychosocial interventions for children with ADHD and emotion dysregulation: a systematic review. Psychiatry Res. 2020;291:113151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113151
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,66. Thomas R, Sanders S, Doust J, Beller E, Glasziou P. Prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 2015;135(4):e994-1001. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2014-3482
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1542/...

Individuals with ADHD have a neurodevelopmental disorder, showing cognitive deficits and a significant deficiency in the family, social, and academic spheres. These children and adolescents have levels of inattention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity, either in a separate or associated manner, which are not appropriate for their age.11. Cortese S, Adamo N, Del Giovane C, Mohr-Jensen C, Hayes AJ, Carucci S, et al. Comparative efficacy and tolerability of medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, adolescents, and adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(9):727-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30269-4
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
,33. Vacher C, Goujon A, Romo L, Purper-Ouakil D. Efficacy of psychosocial interventions for children with ADHD and emotion dysregulation: a systematic review. Psychiatry Res. 2020;291:113151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113151
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
,77. Brassett-Harknett A, Butler N. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: an overview of the etiology and a review of the literature relating to the correlates and life course outcomes for men and women. Clin Psychol Rev. 2007;27(2):188-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2005.06.001
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Their difficulty in planning, solving problems, and maintaining attention and memory adds to factors such as motivational delays and mood dysregulation. Altogether, these aspects result in lasting effects on the lives of these individuals, leading to worse quality of life.77. Brassett-Harknett A, Butler N. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: an overview of the etiology and a review of the literature relating to the correlates and life course outcomes for men and women. Clin Psychol Rev. 2007;27(2):188-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2005.06.001
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...

ADHD symptoms improve significantly with an appropriate treatment. For it to be effective, a well-elaborated and specific plan is needed to describe treatment methods and goals, as well as means of monitoring care over time and specific follow-up plans. In most cases, associated pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions (e.g., behavioral and psychosocial therapies) are recommended.11. Cortese S, Adamo N, Del Giovane C, Mohr-Jensen C, Hayes AJ, Carucci S, et al. Comparative efficacy and tolerability of medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, adolescents, and adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(9):727-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30269-4
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
,88. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management. 2018 [cited on July 15, 2020. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87...
The National Institute of Clinical Excellence recommends that clinicians consider the presence of coexisting conditions, potential side effects, cognitive ability, drug abuse, cost–benefit, and the preferences of parents and/or patients.88. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management. 2018 [cited on July 15, 2020. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87...
Drugs considered first line to treat ADHD symptoms include methylphenidate and amphetamine psychostimulants, followed by nonstimulants (atomoxetine and alpha-agonists: clonidine and guanfacine).99. Osland ST, Steeves TDL, Pringsheim T. Pharmacological treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children with comorbid tic disorders. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;6(6):CD007990. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007990.pub3
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/...
Stimulant drugs seem to have a potential protective effect on functional and behavioral outcomes, especially in adolescents with ADHD.1010. Biederman J, DiSalvo M, Fried R, Woodworth KY, Biederman I, Faraone SV. Quantifying the Protective Effects of Stimulants on Functional Outcomes in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Focus on Number Needed to Treat Statistic and Sex Effects. J Adolesc Health. 2019;65(6):784-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.05.015
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
In addition, as the deficiency of polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6) seems to be associated with a potential pathogenic mechanism in ADHD, some studies recommend this supplement as an adjuvant.1111. Chang JP, Su KP, Mondelli V, Pariante CM. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in youths with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials and biological studies. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2018;43(3):534-45. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2017.160
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1038/...

Given the wide range of pharmacological interventions available for the treatment of ADHD and the high number of studies published in this regard, it is necessary to systematically synthetize all high-quality evidence. Summarizing the results of these studies in a single document helps the decision-making by the health professional. Thus, the purpose of this review was to identify, synthesize the results, and critically evaluate all Cochrane systematic reviews (SRs) on the pharmacological interventions for children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD.

METHODS

This review of SRs followed the recommendations of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Review of Interventions.1212. Higgins JPT, Thomas J, Chandler J, Cumpston M, Li T, Page MJ, et al, editors. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. 2nd ed. Chichester (UK): John Wiley & Sons; 2019.

Criteria for inclusion of systematic reviews

We included all SRs published by Cochrane on pharmacological treatment for children (up to 12 years) and adolescents (up to 18 years, not adults) diagnosed with ADHD. There was no restriction on the date of publication of the review. SR protocols and those marked as “withdrawn” from the Cochrane Library were excluded. SRs addressing any pharmacological intervention, regardless of dose, duration, and frequency of treatment, compared to placebo, no treatment, or other interventions, were included. Clinical outcomes, such as symptom improvement and safety (report of adverse events), were analyzed.

Search strategy for the identification of systematic reviews

The search was performed in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (via Wiley), on July 28, 2020. The search strategy used the Mesh term “Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity” and synonyms.

Selection of studies and data extraction

The identified SRs were independently selected by two researchers (GMS and ALCM), who analyzed the eligibility of reviews by reading titles and abstracts. The eligible studies were then evaluated in full text and classified as included or excluded studies. Divergences were decided by consensus. The selection process was done through the Rayyan online platform.1313. Ouzzani M, Hammady H, Fedorowicz Z, Elmagarmid A. Rayyan — a web and mobile app for systematic reviews. Syst Rev. 2016;5(1):210. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-016-0384-4
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1186/...

The included SRs had their data extracted by two independent researchers (GMS and EMS), through a standardized form with information on methodological characteristics of the reviews, characteristics of the participants, and results of the outcomes evaluated.

Methodological quality assessment

SRs were evaluated for their methodological quality using the AMSTAR-2 tool (Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews),1414. Shea BJ, Reeves BC, Wells G, Thuku M, Hamel C, Moran J, et al. AMSTAR 2: a critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews that include randomised or non-randomised studies of healthcare interventions, or both. BMJ. 2017;21;358:j4008. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j4008
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1136/...
which was applied by two researchers (GMS and EMS) independently. The AMSTAR-2 is a tool composed of 16 items related to the research question, study planning, justification for the choice of the design of the included primary study, search strategies, selection of studies and extraction of data in pairs, description of excluded studies, characteristics of the included studies, methods of risk of bias assessment, sources of funding, methods used to combine the results in meta-analysis, assessment of the impact of the risk of bias in the meta-analyses and discussion, explanation of heterogeneity, investigation of publication bias, and declaration of conflict of interest of authors. Each item is classified as appropriate (“yes”), partially adequate (“partially yes”), inadequate (“no”), or not applicable (“NA”). AMSTAR-2 uses a structure based on the 16 items to classify the SR according to the following degrees of confidence: critically low, low, moderate, and high. The evaluation used the checklist available on the AMSTAR-2 website (http://amstar.ca/Amstar_Checklist.php).

Data analysis

The results of the included SRs were presented narratively, considering the quality of the studies evaluated by AMSTAR-2. As the included reviews addressed different interventions, it was not necessary to analyze the overlapping of results, that is, when the same primary study was included in more than one SR.

RESULTS

The search strategy resulted in 22 Cochrane SRs. However, after reading the titles and abstracts, 16 were excluded since they did not meet the inclusion criteria. Thus, four SRs were included and analyzed in this review.1515. Storebø OJ, Pedersen N, Ramstad E, Kielsholm ML, Nielsen SS, Krogh HB, et al. Methylphenidate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents – assessment of adverse events in non-randomised studies. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;5(5):CD012069. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012069.pub2
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/...
1616. Punja S, Shamseer L, Hartling L, Urichuk L, Vandermeer B, Nikles J, et al. Amphetamines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;2:CD009996. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009996.pub2
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/...
,1717. Otasowie J, Castells X, Ehimare UP, Smith CH. Tricyclic antidepressants for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(9):CD006997. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD006997.pub2
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/...
,1818. Gillies D, Sinn JKH, Lad SS, Leach MJ, Ross MJ. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;2012(7):CD007986. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007986.pub2
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/...

The four SRs were published between 2012 and 2016 and assessed different medications for the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents. The main features of the included SRs included are detailed in the subsequent section.

Methylphenidate

This SR1515. Storebø OJ, Pedersen N, Ramstad E, Kielsholm ML, Nielsen SS, Krogh HB, et al. Methylphenidate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents – assessment of adverse events in non-randomised studies. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;5(5):CD012069. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012069.pub2
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/...
evaluated the benefits and harms of methylphenidate for children and adolescents with ADHD. It included 38 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) with parallel design (5,111 participants) and 147 with crossover design (7,134 participants). Age ranged from 13 to 18 years, there was a predominance of males (5:1), and the duration of treatment was 75 days. Table 1 presents the main results of the meta-analyses performed in this SR. The results of the meta-analyses suggest that methylphenidate may improve the ADHD symptoms reported by the teacher, the general behavior reported by the teacher, and the quality of life reported by parents. However, the low certainty evidence evaluated by the GRADE approach due to high risk of bias, imprecision, and inconsistency means that we cannot be sure of the magnitude of the effects. A previous version of the SR1919. Storebø OJ, Ramstad E, Krogh HB, Nilausen TD, Skoog M, Holmskov M, et al. Methylphenidate for children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(11):CD009885. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009885.pub2
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/...
had been incorporated into the newer one.1515. Storebø OJ, Pedersen N, Ramstad E, Kielsholm ML, Nielsen SS, Krogh HB, et al. Methylphenidate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents – assessment of adverse events in non-randomised studies. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018;5(5):CD012069. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012069.pub2
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/...

Table 1.
Summary of the main outcomes: methylphenidate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Amphetamine

The objective of this SR1616. Punja S, Shamseer L, Hartling L, Urichuk L, Vandermeer B, Nikles J, et al. Amphetamines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;2:CD009996. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009996.pub2
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/...
was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of amphetamines for ADHD in children and adolescents. Twenty-three RCTs totaling 2,675 participants between the ages of 3 and 17 years and mean duration of treatment of 28 days were included. The certainty of the body of evidence was classified by the GRADE approach as very low to low due to a high risk of bias for most of the included studies and the presence of substantial heterogeneity, indicating that the results should be interpreted with caution and that future methodologically rigorous studies are still needed. Table 2 presents the results of the main meta-analyses related to the evaluation of symptom improvement and the occurrence of adverse events. Although amphetamine seems effective in reducing ADHD symptoms in the short term, some related adverse events have been observed. Future studies should monitor patients in the long term (more than 12 months), include psychosocial outcomes (e.g., quality of life), and have greater methodological rigor.

Table 2.
Summary of the main outcomes: amphetamine for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Tricyclic antidepressants

The objective of this SR1717. Otasowie J, Castells X, Ehimare UP, Smith CH. Tricyclic antidepressants for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(9):CD006997. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD006997.pub2
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/...
was to evaluate the efficacy of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in reducing hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention in children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD. Six RCTs with a total of 216 participants, between 6 and 18 years old, were included. The duration of treatment ranged from 2 to 9 weeks. These RCTs evaluated the effects of three TCAs (desipramine, clomipramine, and nortriptyline) on the main symptoms of ADHD. The certainty of evidence evaluated by the GRADE approach varied from very low to low, due to methodological limitations of RCTs, small sample size, wide confidence interval, and heterogeneity between included studies. The results of the main meta-analyses are described in Table 3. Symptom improvement outcomes were evaluated using ADHD-related behavioral change scales and treatment response rates. Overall, the results from meta-analyses showed beneficial effects in favor of TCAs, but for some outcomes, these estimated effects were imprecise due to a wide confidence interval.

Table 3.
Summary of the main outcomes: tricyclics for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Although no serious adverse events have been identified in patients using desipramine, there have been slight increases in diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. In addition, patients treated with desipramine had higher appetite reduction rates compared to placebo, while nortriptyline resulted in weight gain. The results of this SR suggest that, in the short term, desipramine improves ADHD symptoms, but its cardiovascular effects continue to be a clinical concern.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6)

The aim of this SR1818. Gillies D, Sinn JKH, Lad SS, Leach MJ, Ross MJ. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;2012(7):CD007986. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007986.pub2
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/...
was to analyze the efficacy of the use of omega-3 and omega-6 in the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents, compared to other treatments or placebo. Three RCTs with a total of 1,011 participants, aged between 6 and 18 years, were included. The duration of treatments ranged from 4 to 16 weeks. The risk of bias was classified as unclear for most RCTs because the methods of randomization and allocation concealment were not adequately described. There was a high risk of attrition bias because eight RCTs had lost participants during follow-up and did not perform intention-to-treat analysis. The results of meta-analyses for the improvement of symptoms (lack of attention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, socialization), quality of life, adverse events (dermatitis, diarrhea, gastrointestinal discomfort, among others), and losses during follow-up are detailed in Table 4. There was little evidence that fatty acid supplementation provided any benefit to the improvement of ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents. However, no adverse effects resulting from the intervention were identified. It is important that future RCTs present adequate sample sizes, use reliable selection criteria, and avoid the potential methodological biases identified in the clinical trials included in this SR.

Table 4.
Summary of the main outcomes: polyunsaturated fatty acids for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Methodological quality assessment of the included systematic reviews

The methodological quality of the included SRs was evaluated by the AMSTAR-2 tool, and because these are Cochrane SRs whose methodology is rigorous and transparent, all were classified as high quality. Supplementary file presents the details of the assessment.

DISCUSSION

This review included four SRs published by Cochrane on different pharmacological interventions for the treatment of children and adolescents with ADHD. Compared to placebo, the three drugs analyzed (TCA, amphetamine, and methylphenidate) showed improvement in symptoms reported by parents, clinicians, and teachers, especially in relation to difficulty concentrating, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. However, there was an increase in the occurrence of adverse events common to these medications, such as reduced appetite, difficulty sleeping, and abdominal pain. Considering the use of polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation (omega-3 and omega-6), there is little evidence of benefits or risks. It is important to note that some outcomes analyzed presented an imprecise estimated effect due to a wide confidence interval. It probably occurred due to the small sample size and heterogeneity between RCTs.

Serious adverse events occurred to a lesser extent, but it is suspected that these results may have been underreported in the studies included in the reviews, for example, in the methylphenidate review, in which only 9 of the 185 clinical trials included reported this outcome. According to the study by Hennissen et al.,2020. Hennissen L, Bakker MJ, Banaschewski T, Carucci S, Coghill D, Danckaerts M, et al; ADDUCE consortium. Cardiovascular effects of stimulant and non-stimulant medication for children and adolescents with ADHD: a systematic review and meta-analysis of trials of methylphenidate, amphetamines and atomoxetine. CNS Drugs. 2017;31(3):199-215. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40263-017-0410-7
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/...
undesirable effects such as increased blood pressure and heart rate caused by medications such as amphetamine or methylphenidate in children can be interpreted as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in adulthood; for this reason, these patients should be monitored periodically. Storebø et al.1919. Storebø OJ, Ramstad E, Krogh HB, Nilausen TD, Skoog M, Holmskov M, et al. Methylphenidate for children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;(11):CD009885. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009885.pub2
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/...
reported results from an SR of non-RCTs and suggested that methylphenidate may be associated with a series of serious adverse events in children and adolescents, which lead to discontinuation of treatment. However, the certainty of the evidence was considered very low, given the heterogeneity and poor methodological quality of the studies included (unclear to high risk of selection, attrition, reporting performance, and detection bias), and it was not possible to accurately estimate the true risk of adverse events. The authors report the need to identify the most susceptible individuals, in addition to conducting new RCTs of higher quality and with long-term analysis.

In the present review, most clinical trials included in the reviews analyzed short-term outcomes with a maximum follow-up time of 3 months, a fact that may have been influenced by the cross-design of many of the included studies. Thus, it was not possible to verify the effects of a longer exposure on the overall behavior of children and whether any beneficial effects can be decreased or compensated by an increased risk of harm. Short-term clinical trials are particularly problematic for chronic diseases such as ADHD, as children are likely to use stimulant medications for longer periods than those studied. In view of the above, the clinical decision to start and continue with treatment should consider the balance between the improvement of symptoms and reports of adverse events, in an individualized and careful way, since the lack of sleep, for example, can impact the quality of life and the child’s ability and learning.

Although the SRs of this review include many clinical trials, the methodological quality of these studies was classified as low to very low, a fact that compromises confidence in the estimates of effect and robustness of the evidence. Criteria such as the absence of allocation concealment and blinding of participants and outcome assessors can directly impact the results, especially on subjective outcomes that depend on the participants’ reports, and may be consciously or unconsciously modified in view of the knowledge of the allocation to the placebo group. Another relevant point to be considered is the uncertainty regarding the assessment reported by parents, which may present a certain degree of incoherence depending on social exposure.

A recent network meta-analysis11. Cortese S, Adamo N, Del Giovane C, Mohr-Jensen C, Hayes AJ, Carucci S, et al. Comparative efficacy and tolerability of medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, adolescents, and adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(9):727-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30269-4
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/...
provided updated evidence on drug treatment for ADHD, supporting the use of methylphenidate for children and adolescents and amphetamine for adults as the first choice of short-term treatment. The authors also described the need for further clinical trials to evaluate long-term effects of these drugs.

It is worth mentioning that despite approval of some drugs (and not others) to treat ADHD by North American and European agencies, not all countries have access to all drugs. Therefore, the unexpensive tricyclic molecules may be used in developing countries to treat ADHD. The present review focused on describing the efficacy and safety of any drug indicated for ADHD according to high-quality evidence.

In view of this scenario, the four SRs included in this review indicated the need for new RCTs, with adequate methodology based on CONSORT statement (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials),2121. Schulz KF, Altman DG, Moher D, for the CONSORT Group: CONSORT 2010 Statement: updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomised trials. Ann Intern Med. 2010;152(11):726-32. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-152-11-201006010-00232
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.7326/...
and higher sample sizes. It is recommended that the comparison be made between the drug of interest and placebo or another first-line drug, with evaluation of outcomes such as clinical improvement of symptoms by clinicians and/or teachers, using validated scales, and the occurrence of adverse events in the long term to analyze both the effectiveness and safety of interventions.

Based on the results of Cochrane SRs with high methodological quality, the use of TCAs, amphetamine, and methylphenidate showed improvement in symptoms of children and adolescents with ADHD compared to placebo. There was an increase in the occurrence of adverse events, such as reduced appetite, difficulty sleeping, and abdominal pain. Considering the use of polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation (omega-3 and omega-6), there is little evidence of benefits or risks. Given the high risk of bias in the primary studies included in these reviews, new RCTs with methodological rigor are still needed to support these findings. Future clinical trials should evaluate long-term outcomes, in addition to measuring the impact of treatment on the quality of life of children and adolescents with ADHD.

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  • This study was conducted by the Postgraduate Program in Health and Environment of the Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, SP, Brazil.
  • Funding: none.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    03 Dec 2021
  • Date of issue
    Oct-Dec 2021

History

  • Received
    19 Nov 2020
  • Accepted
    07 May 2021
Academia Brasileira de Neurologia, Departamento de Neurologia Cognitiva e Envelhecimento R. Vergueiro, 1353 sl.1404 - Ed. Top Towers Offices, Torre Norte, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, CEP 04101-000, Tel.: +55 11 5084-9463 | +55 11 5083-3876 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: revistadementia@abneuro.org.br | demneuropsy@uol.com.br