The effect of methylphenidate and placebo on eye-hand coordination functioning and handwriting of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Author(s): Lufi D, Gai E

Affiliation(s): Department of Behavioral Sciences, Emek Yezreel College, Israel. dubi_lufi@yifat.org.il

Publication date & source: 2007-10, Neurocase., 13(5):334-41.

Publication type: Randomized Controlled Trial

Israeli children who were diagnosed as having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder participated in the study. The children were assessed three times in a specially constructed battery of tests. The battery of tests included variables assessing eye-hand coordination skills, writing, and behavioral assessment of the teacher. The design was in the format of a double blind, randomized, crossover, placebo-control procedure. The results showed that methylphenidate (MPH) improved some cognitive functions of eye-hand coordination slightly better than placebo. In addition, behavior variables assessed by the teachers improved only under the influence of MPH.