Modafinil improves symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder across subtypes in children and adolescents

This secondary analysis evaluated the efficacy of modafinil in children and adolescents by subtype of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using pooled data from 3 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies.

The patients were boys and girls age 6 to 17 years. ADHD subtype diagnoses (ie, inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, combined) were based on criteria published in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Patients received modafinil (170 to 425 mg) or placebo once daily for 7 to 9 weeks. Efficacy assessment used the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS-IV) School and Home Versions, Clinical Global Impression of Improvement scale (CGI-I), and Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised: Short Form (CPRS-R:S).

A total of 638 patients received modafinil (n = 423) or placebo (n = 215). The inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and combined subtypes included 187 (30%), 27 (4%), and 403 (65%) patients, respectively. Modafinil (vs placebo) significantly improved mean total scores for the ADHD-RS-IV School and Home Versions for the inattentive (change from baseline: School, modafinil, -15.7, placebo, -7.1; Home, modafinil, -13.8, placebo, -5.9) and combined subtypes (School, -16.5 vs -8.8; Home, -15.7 vs -7.6). Modafinil was associated with greater improvements on the CGI-I and improved CPRS-R:S subscale scores in inattentive and combined subtypes.

Modafinil improved ADHD symptoms and behaviors in patients with the inattentive and combined subtypes as determined by teachers, investigators, and parents.