Positive effects of methylphenidate on social communication and self-regulation in children with pervasive developmental disorders and hyperactivity.

Author(s): Jahromi LB, Kasari CL, McCracken JT, Lee LS, Aman MG, McDougle CJ, Scahill L, Tierney E, Arnold LE, Vitiello B, Ritz L, Witwer A, Kustan E, Ghuman J, Posey DJ

Affiliation(s): School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University, Box 873701, Tempe, AZ 85287-3701, USA. Laudan.Jahromi@asu.edu

Publication date & source: 2009-03, J Autism Dev Disord., 39(3):395-404. Epub 2008 Aug 28.

Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

This report examined the effect of methylphenidate on social communication and self-regulation in children with pervasive developmental disorders and hyperactivity in a secondary analysis of RUPP Autism Network data. Participants were 33 children (29 boys) between the ages of 5 and 13 years who participated in a four-week crossover trial of placebo and increasing doses of methylphenidate given in random order each for one week. Observational measures of certain aspects of children's social communication, self-regulation, and affective behavior were obtained each week. A significant positive effect of methylphenidate was seen on children's use of joint attention initiations, response to bids for joint attention, self-regulation, and regulated affective state. The results go beyond the recent literature and suggest that methylphenidate may have positive effects on social behaviors in children with PDD and hyperactivity.