Do EEG background abnormalities at ADHD assessment influence the use of methylphenidate for ADHD?

Abstract

We investigated whether the occurrence of electroencephalography (EEG) background abnormalities (BA) at the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment influenced the use of methylphenidate (MPH) during one-year follow-up. In our study, subjects were 517 ADHD children (82.4% male), aged between 5 and 14 years who were diagnosed between January 2000 and December 2005. EEG findings were coded as either EEG with or without BA. We compared age, sex, initial positive response to MPH treatment and the use of MPH at one year in cases with and without BA. The EEG BA were found in 262 (51.3%) cases, significantly higher than expected in healthy children. The cases with BA were on average 9.2 year old at assessment compared to 9.5 year (the cases without BA) and had more often girls (59.1% vs. 48.8%). Initial positive response to MPH was similar (82% vs. 79%) as the use of MPH at one-year follow-up. No statistical differences were found between the groups with respect to age, gender or the use of MPH respectively. The EEG BA occur more often in ADHD children than in healthy children. Children with and without BA did not differ with respect to age, gender, and the use of MPH during one year follow-up.