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Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, methylphenidate, and epilepsy

M Tan and R Appleton

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr R Appleton
The Roald Dahl EEG Unit, Department of Neurology, Royal Liverpool Children’s Hospital (Alder Hey), Eaton Road, Liverpool L12 2AP, UK; Richard.Appleton{at}RLCH-TR.NWEST.NHS.UK

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterised by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The DSM-IV diagnosis of ADHD requires the presence of six of nine items or features that must have been present for at least six months, to have had an onset before 7 years of age, and to have resulted in significant distress or impairment.1 In the general population, the prevalence of ADHD is approximately 5%.2 There is a high co-morbidity of epilepsy and attentional and behavioural problems,3,4 including ADHD, and it has been estimated that at least 20% of patients with epilepsy may present with features of ADHD.5

Abbreviations: ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; AED, antiepileptic activity; CAE, childhood onset absence epilepsy; EEG, electroencephalogram

Keywords: attention deficit; hyperactivity; epilepsy; methylphenidate

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• Kaufmann, R., Goldberg-Stern, H., Shuper, A. (2009). Attention-Deficit Disorders and Epilepsy in Childhood: Incidence, Causative Relations and Treatment Possibilities. J Child Neurol 24: 727-733 [Abstract]  
• Bates, G. (2009). Drug treatments for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in young people. Adv. Psychiatr. Treat. 15: 162-171 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hendriksen, J. G. M., Vles, J. S. H. (2008). Neuropsychiatric Disorders in Males With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Frequency Rate of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Obsessive--Compulsive Disorder. J Child Neurol 23: 477-481 [Abstract]  
• Nutt, D. J., Fone, K., Asherson, P., Bramble, D., Hill, P., Matthews, K., Morris, K. A., Santosh, P., Sonuga-Barke, E., Taylor, E., Weiss, M., Young, S. (2007). Evidence-based guidelines for management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adolescents in transition to adult services and in adults: recommendations from the British Association for Psychopharmacology. J Psychopharmacol 21: 10-41 [Abstract]  
• Aldenkamp, A. P., Arzimanoglou, A., Reijs, R., Van Mil, S. (2006). Optimizing therapy of seizures in children and adolescents with ADHD. Neurology 67: S49-S51 [Abstract] [Full Text]  

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ADHD, psychostimulants and epilepsy

Somnath Banerjee

ADC Online, 10 Jan 2005 [Full text]