Double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with at least 2 weeks' follow-up that compared drug treatments with placebo in youths with ADHD diagnosed using the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-III-R or DSM-IV criteria, and with at least 20 patients in each treatment group, were eligible for inclusion. Studies had to report means and standard deviations of either change or end point scores for treatment groups. Studies were excluded if behaviour was assessed in laboratory conditions, they were dose-exploration studies, or were in selected samples of patients with co-morbid conditions.
The included studies evaluated 14 drugs using 19 different measures of ADHD symptoms (the abstract stated 15 drugs and 17 different outcomes). In the review, drugs were grouped into three categories: immediate-release stimulants, including mixed amphetamine salts (MAS), dextroamphetamine (d-Amp), methylphenidate (MPH), pemoline and dexmethylphenidate; long-acting stimulants including MAS extended release, d-Amp extended release, MPH modified release, MPH using osmotic-release oral system, MPH transdermal system and MPH-long acting; and nonstimulants or others, including atomoxetine, bupropion and modafinil. The majority of studies comprised predominantly males. The mean age of the patients ranged from 8 to 15 years.
The authors did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection.