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Atomoxetine Effective in Treating Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity in Girls
A DGReview of :"Efficacy of Atomoxetine Versus Placebo in School-Age Girls With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder."
Pediatrics Electronic Pages
12/12/2002
By Elda Hauschildt
Atomoxetine is effective and well tolerated by girls aged 7 to 13 years who have been diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
"Atomoxetine significantly decreased ADHD signs and symptoms in girls with ADHD and may offer an alternative to stimulants in the treatment of this disorder," say researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, United States.
"The data reported from this subset analysis of two identical placebo-controlled clinical trials address an important void in what is known about the treatment of school-age girls with ADHD."
Investigators point out that because girls are less likely than boys to have comorbid externalising disorders such as oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder, they are less likely to be identified with ADHD and referred for further assessment.
They suggest that doctors, psychiatrists and other healthcare professionals should be aware of the possible diagnosis of ADHD in girls presenting with symptoms of inattentiveness, disorganisation, distractibility and failure to finish tasks.
Atomoxetine is a potent inhibitor of the pre-synaptic norepinephrine transporter with minimal affinity for other noradrenergic receptors or for other neurotransmitter transporters or receptors.
Two hundred and ninety one children participated in one of two combined double-blind, multi-site, identical clinical trials. There were 51 girls in an intent-to-treat subset randomised to atomoxetine (30 patients) or placebo (21 patients) for nine weeks.
Parent- and investigator-rated scales were used to assess ADHD symptoms in participants.
Results indicate atomoxetine was superior to placebo on five measures, including the total score for the Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale- IV - Parent Version: Investigator Administered And Scored.
"Statistically significant efficacy was seen one week after randomisation and remained for the duration of the study," the investigators point out.
Pediatrics Electronic Pages, 2002; 110: e75.
"Efficacy of Atomoxetine Versus Placebo in School-Age Girls With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder."
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