CME Credit

1. Listen to Talking ADHD Program 3 – Preschool ADHD Treatment Study and, if you wish, view the accompanying materials online
2. At the conclusion of the activity, go to www.cecentral.com/getcredit             
3. Enter the program code:
   MEN07039-03                
4. Follow the online instructions to obtain credit

GOAL

The core symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattentiveness – are consistent with typical developmental variations in preschool children. Physicians must decide which children fall outside expected behavioral norms, and the prevalence of ADHD in preschool-age children is estimated to be 2–5%. Currently no methylphenidate medications are approved by the FDA for use in children younger than six years old with ADHD. While studies have demonstrated superior efficacy of methylphenidate to placebo in the preschool population, there is a lack of comprehensive data concerning the safety and tolerability of such pharmacotherapy in preschool children. The multicenter Preschool ADHD Treatment Study (PATS) addressed this using eight phases (parent training, open-label lead-in, crossover titration, parallel efficacy, open-label maintenance, and discontinuation) and followed preschoolers for almost a year. While methylphenidate may be effective in preschool children, PATS confirmed that several important factors, including growth-rate reduction and side effects, must be considered when making the decision to use the medication. Primary care pediatricians should use caution before prescribing ADHD medication for a preschool child and should consider the potential benefits of methylphenidate against the relatively high rate of adverse events. Physicians need to be informed about the available options for preschool children with ADHD, both in terms of diagnosis and treatment to enable them to provide sufferers with appropriate, safe treatment to improve quality of life.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to describe the performance, safety, benefits, and challenges of using methylphenidate to treat preschool children with ADHD with reference to PATS.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS