All included treatments result ed in ADHD improvement .
On the basis of this literature review , a consistent pattern of improvement in pediatric ADHD patients ' core symptoms emerged across studies , study design s , and recommended treatment approaches .
OBJECTIVE The 2011 American Academy of Pediatrics attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) guideline emphasizes monitoring and measuring outcomes of children diagnosed with ADHD ; however , recommendations for how to measure improvement are less clear .
A long-term goal was to develop an outcome measure that assesses the quality of care for children with ADHD .
As a first step in that process , we conducted a literature synthesis on the efficacy and effectiveness of guideline -recommended ADHD treatments on patient outcomes .
Multisite controlled study of OROS methylphenidate in the treatment of adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
BACKGROUND Despite the persistence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) into adolescence , little is known about the efficacy and tolerability of stimulant medications in this age group . OBJECTIVE To report the results of a multisite controlled study among adolescents with ADHD evaluating the efficacy and tolerability of osmotic-release oral system ( OROS ) methylpheni date . DESIGN Adolescents ( N = 220 ) having a confirmed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Fourth Edition diagnosis of ADHD underwent dose titration to identify dosages of OROS methylpheni date that improved symptoms to predefined criteria . Subjects successfully completing the dose titration phase ( n = 177 ) ( ie , tolerated and responded to treatment and adhered to the protocol ) were r and omized to receive 2 weeks ' treatment with their individualized dosage of OROS methylpheni date ( 18 , 36 , 54 , or 72 mg once daily ) or placebo .  Treatment effectiveness was measured using investigator , parent , and adolescent assessment s of ADHD . RESULTS A significant reduction from baseline in the investigator-rated ADHD Rating Scale , the primary efficacy measure , was found with OROS methylpheni date treatment compared with placebo . Similar findings were noted with parent- and adolescent-report measures . Based on a Clinical Global Impression improvement subscale score of much or very much improved , 52 % of subjects in the OROS methylpheni date group improved compared with 31 % receiving placebo . Thirty-seven percent of subjects required the maximum dosage of 72 mg/d . The incidence of drug-related adverse events was similar between the 2 study groups . CONCLUSION In adolescents , once-daily OROS methylpheni date significantly reduced ADHD symptoms and was well tolerated using dosages up to 72 mg/d
All included treatments result ed in ADHD improvement .
On the basis of this literature review , a consistent pattern of improvement in pediatric ADHD patients ' core symptoms emerged across studies , study design s , and recommended treatment approaches .
OBJECTIVE The 2011 American Academy of Pediatrics attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) guideline emphasizes monitoring and measuring outcomes of children diagnosed with ADHD ; however , recommendations for how to measure improvement are less clear .
A long-term goal was to develop an outcome measure that assesses the quality of care for children with ADHD .
As a first step in that process , we conducted a literature synthesis on the efficacy and effectiveness of guideline -recommended ADHD treatments on patient outcomes .