Title |
Does methylphenidate improve academic performance? A systematic review and meta-analysis
|
---|---|
Published in |
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, January 2018
|
DOI | 10.1007/s00787-018-1106-3 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Anne Fleur Kortekaas-Rijlaarsdam, Marjolein Luman, Edmund Sonuga-Barke, Jaap Oosterlaan |
Abstract |
Academic improvement is amongst the most common treatment targets when prescribing stimulants to children with ADHD. Previous reviews on stimulant-related academic improvements are inconclusive and focus on task engagement. Recent literature suggests outcome-domain-specific medication effects that are larger for productivity than for accuracy. The aims of this study are quantifying methylphenidate effects on academic productivity and accuracy for math, reading, spelling; exploring the mediating or moderating effects of symptom improvements, demographic-, design- and disorder-related variables. PubMed, EMBASE, ERIC and PsycINFO were searched for articles reporting methylphenidate effects on academic productivity and accuracy. Thirty-four studies met entry criteria. Methylphenidate improved math productivity (7.8% increase, p < .001); math accuracy (3.0% increase, p = .001); increased reading speed (SMD .47, p < .001) but not reading accuracy. None of the mediators or moderators tested affected methylphenidate efficacy. Academic improvements were small compared to symptom improvements; qualitative changes limited to math. Clinicians should take this discrepancy into account when prescribing medication for ADHD. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 2 | 13% |
Spain | 1 | 7% |
Belgium | 1 | 7% |
Germany | 1 | 7% |
Canada | 1 | 7% |
Turkey | 1 | 7% |
Netherlands | 1 | 7% |
Colombia | 1 | 7% |
Japan | 1 | 7% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Unknown | 5 | 33% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 11 | 73% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 3 | 20% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 7% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 212 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 25 | 12% |
Student > Bachelor | 24 | 11% |
Student > Master | 23 | 11% |
Researcher | 20 | 9% |
Student > Postgraduate | 10 | 5% |
Other | 43 | 20% |
Unknown | 67 | 32% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Psychology | 53 | 25% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 29 | 14% |
Neuroscience | 15 | 7% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 5 | 2% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 5 | 2% |
Other | 30 | 14% |
Unknown | 75 | 35% |