A comparison of medicated and nonmedicated attention-deficit disordered hyperactive boys

Sixty boys diagnosed as having attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity were divided into two equal groups, depending on whether or not they were taking medication for their disorder. These two groups were subdivided equally into younger and older groups, the cutoff being 11.5 years. All subjects were given the Children's Depression Inventory, the Coopersmith Self Esteem Inventory and the Children's Attributional Style Questionnaire. Teachers completed the Child Behaviour Checklist and Conners' Teacher Rating Scale. The results indicated that in the older subjects, the medicated group had lower social self-esteem than the nonmedicated group and in younger subjects the medicated group had higher academic self-esteem than the nonmedicated group. There were no significant differences among the groups with respect to depression; all four groups of subjects were mildly depressed. The younger subjects in general were more inattentive, nervous, impulsive and aggressive; and teachers did not report any less externalising behaviour in those subjects who were on medication. These results were interpreted in the light of findings from previous studies, and the lack of drug effect on externalising behaviour is discussed. Clinical recommendations are made for alleviating depression and improving self-concept by means of cognitive therapy, especially for older medicated ADDH children.