Methylphenidate use in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Authors

  • Felipe Salles Neves Machado Universidade Federal de São Paulo; Departamento de Psiquiatria; Unidade de Psiquiatria da Infância e Adolescência
  • Sheila Cavalcante Caetano Universidade Federal de São Paulo; Departamento de Psiquiatria; Unidade de Psiquiatria da Infância e Adolescência
  • Ana Gabriela Hounie Universidade Federal de São Paulo; Departamento de Psiquiatria; Unidade de Psiquiatria da Infância e Adolescência
  • Sandra Scivoletto Universidade de São Paulo; Instituto de Psiquiatria
  • Mauro Muszkat Universidade Federal de São Paulo; Departamento de Psicobiologia; Núcleo de Atendimento Neuropsicológico Interdisciplinar
  • Ivete Gianfaldoni Gattás Universidade Federal de São Paulo; Departamento de Psiquiatria; Unidade de Psiquiatria da Infância e Adolescência
  • Erasmo Barbante Casella Universidade Federal de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Pediatria
  • Ênio Roberto de Andrade Universidade de São Paulo; Instituto de Psiquiatria
  • Guilherme Vanoni Polanczyk Universidade de São Paulo; Instituto de Psiquiatria
  • Maria Conceição do Rosário Universidade Federal de São Paulo; Departamento de Psiquiatria; Unidade de Psiquiatria da Infância e Adolescência

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-8910.2015049005966

Abstract

A Brazilian Health Technology Assessment Bulletin (BRATS) article regarding scientific evidence of the efficacy and safety of methylphenidate for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has caused much controversy about its methods. Considering the relevance of BRATS for public health in Brazil, we critically reviewed this article by remaking the BRATS search and discussing its methods and results. Two questions were answered: did BRATS include all references available in the literature? Do the conclusions reflect the reviewed articles? The results indicate that BRATS did not include all the references from the literature on this subject and also that the proposed conclusions are different from the results of the articles chosen by the BRATS authors themselves. The articles selected by the BRATS authors showed that using methylphenidate is safe and effective. However, the BRATS final conclusion does not reflect the aforementioned and should not be used to support decisions on the use of methylphenidate.

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Published

2015-01-01

Issue

Vol. 49 (2015)

Section

Comments

How to Cite

Machado, F. S. N., Caetano, S. C., Hounie, A. G., Scivoletto, S., Muszkat, M., Gattás, I. G., Casella, E. B., Andrade, Ênio R. de, Polanczyk, G. V., & Rosário, M. C. do. (2015). Methylphenidate use in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Revista De Saúde Pública, 49, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-8910.2015049005966