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Atomoxetine Appears to Improve Quality of Life for Patients with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Presented at AACAP

By Jerry Ingram

WASHINGTON, DC -- October 22, 2004 -- Atomoxetine appears to improve both symptoms and overall mental health in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to information presented here on October 20^th at the 51^st Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

"ADHD patients experienced significant improvements in several aspects of their mental health including vitality and overall mental health," said lead investigator Lenard Adler, Psychiatrist and Director, Department of Neurology, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Program, and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Neurology, New York University School of Medicine, New York.

"This study looked at not only improvement in symptoms of ADHD but improvements in quality of life," he added.

Dr. Adler and colleagues assessed whether atomoxetine treatment would improve the lives of adults with ADHD by examining 172 patients aged 18 to 50 years who were diagnosed with ADHD.

Patients were treated with atomoxetine 80mg per day and were evaluated with standardized semi-structured interviews. The researchers then assessed patients using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey, 4-week recall (SF-36) self-report questionnaires, and the Conners' ADHD Rating Scale-Investigator Rated: Screening Version (CAARS-Inv:SV) both at baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment.

There was a modest improvement in SF-36 normative scores for scales reflecting physical health (Pain: P < .021; general health: P < .008; physical functioning: P = .691; role physical: P = .919).

However, significant improvements were noted at end point for scales reflecting mental health (role emotional: P < .001; mental health: P < .001; social function: P < .001; vitality: P < .001).

There were also improvements in ADHD symptoms, with a mean decrease in CAARS-Inv:SV total ADHD symptom score of 15.34 (P < .001).

Atomoxetine treatment in this particular patient group resulted in significant improvements in overall quality of life as well as symptoms of ADHD, the researchers concluded.


[Presentation title: "Quality-of-Life Assessment in Atomoxetine-Treated Adult Patients with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder." Poster A3]

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