The effects of fluoxetine in improving the neurocognitive functioning of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder attending the psychiatric clinic of the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia

Abstract

Introduction: Stimulants are medicines approved to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents and are considered the first-line pharmacological agents in ADHD management. These medicines are highly controlled and are usually unavailable in Zambia. Therefore, it is important to seek some supplementary therapy that may substitute stimulants. Fluoxetine has been used for its purpose in Zambia. Objective: The main aim of this study was to find out the effects of fluoxetine in improving the neurocognitive functioning of children with ADHD attending our local psychiatric clinic. Two specific objectives guided the study: to identify the effects of fluoxetine in improving attention and executive functioning in children with ADHD and to find out the effects of fluoxetine in improving memory in children with ADHD. Methodology: The study used a causal-comparative study design and a purposive sampling method. 10 patients (aged 7-11) meeting DSM-5 criteria for ADHD were required in this study. The participants were assessed before they started their treatment with fluoxetine and 4 weeks after the therapy started. The research participants' memory, attention, and executive functioning were specifically considered in this study. Results: The analysis of the results for test 2 using ANOVA were as follows; α = 0.05, the critical value for an F with d. f. (4, 40) being 2.61, the F ratio is 9.96 and total mean square is 272.18, and the total sum of squares is 13337. Since α = .05 and d. f. = 4, 40, (we reject H0 since F4,40 ≤2.61). The computed value of the F statistic is 9.96. The null hypothesis was rejected in the second assessment, and the alternative hypothesis was accepted. Conclusion: There was a significant difference in the neurocognitive functioning performance of children with ADHD before and after taking fluoxetine. The results of this study indicated that the executive functioning, attention, and memory of ADHD children showed improvement after commencing 4-week fluoxetine therapy.