Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Controlled and uncontrolled, retrospective and prospective studies. Open-label and double blind designs were included. Details of whether studies were controlled, and what the control groups were, were unclear.
Specific interventions included in the review
Stimulants: methylphenidate/ Ritalin (MPH); pemoline/ Cylert.
Antidepressants: deprenyl; pargyline/ Eutonyl; desipramine/ Norpramine; bupropion/ Wellbutrin; venlafaxine/ Effexor; fluoxetine/ Prozac; sertraline/ Zoloft; tomoxetine.
Studies which combined treatments (e.g. an antidepressant and a stimulant) were excluded.
Some studies were placebo controlled, it is not clear what other controls were used.
Participants included in the review
Adults with ADHD. It is not clear whether the trial participants were self-diagnosed or whether the diagnosis of ADHD was confirmed by clinicians. All fulfilled the criteria for ADHD but these criteria varied over the 22 year span of the articles.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Response, no further details given.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The author does not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many of the reviewers performed the selection.