Pre-Existing Comorbid Emotional Symptoms Moderate Short-Term Methylphenidate Adverse Effects in a Randomized Trial of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

We sought to ascertain whether baseline anxiety/depression and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms impacted the experience of short-term methylphenidate (MPH) adverse effects (AEs) in 7- to 11-year-old children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) ( = 171) undergoing a double-blind MPH crossover trial. The Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale measured baseline child anxiety/depression and ODD symptomology. The parent-completed Pittsburgh Side Effect Rating Scale assessed the AEs of anxiety, sadness, and irritability at baseline, on placebo, and on three MPH dosages.