Abstract | OBJECTIVE: METHOD: Subjects from a specialty tic disorders clinic were randomly assigned to receive 8 weeks of treatment with guanfacine or placebo under double-blind conditions. Follow-up visits occurred every 2 weeks for safety monitoring and dose adjustment. RESULTS: Thirty-four medication-free subjects (31 boys and three girls with a mean age of 10.4 years) with ADHD, combined type, and a tic disorder participated. After 8 weeks of treatment, guanfacine was associated with a mean improvement of 37% in the total score on the teacher-rated ADHD Rating Scale, compared to 8% improvement for placebo. Nine of 17 subjects who received guanfacine were blindly rated on the Clinical Global Improvement scale as either much improved or very much improved, compared with none of 17 subjects who received placebo. The mean score on the parent-rated hyperactivity index improved by 27% in the guanfacine group and 21% in the placebo group, not a significant difference. On the Continuous Performance Test, commission errors decreased by 22% and omission errors by 17% in the guanfacine group, compared with increases of 29% in commission errors and of 31% in omission errors in the placebo group. Tic severity decreased by 31% in the guanfacine group, compared to 0% in the placebo group. One guanfacine subject with sedation withdrew at week 4. Guanfacine was associated with insignificant decreases in blood pressure and pulse. CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | L Scahill, P B Chappell, Y S Kim, R T Schultz, L Katsovich, E Shepherd, A F Arnsten, D J Cohen, J F Leckman |
Journal | The American journal of psychiatry
(Am J Psychiatry)
Vol. 158
Issue 7
Pg. 1067-74
(Jul 2001)
ISSN: 0002-953X [Print] United States |
PMID | 11431228
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
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Chemical References |
- Adrenergic alpha-Agonists
- Placebos
- Guanfacine
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adrenergic alpha-Agonists
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
(diagnosis, drug therapy, epidemiology)
- Child
- Comorbidity
- Double-Blind Method
- Drug Administration Schedule
- Female
- Guanfacine
(administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
- Humans
- Male
- Placebos
- Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
(statistics & numerical data)
- Severity of Illness Index
- Teaching
- Tic Disorders
(diagnosis, drug therapy, epidemiology)
- Treatment Outcome
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