Comparing the Effects of Buspirone and Methylphenidate in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

To investigate the efficacy and side effects of buspirone in comparison with methylphenidate for controlling symptoms of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A total of thirty two 6-12 years old children with ADHD were examined. The teacher and parent ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS) was used to gather data from both groups. Drug side effects were assessed based on side effect checklists for both drugs. Dosage of drug for patients was 0.5 mg/kg/day for the buspirone group and 0.3-1 mg/kg/day for the methylphenidate group. Data were analysed using paired t test, one way analysis of variance with repeated measures, independent t test and c2. In the end of six weeks, both groups showed decreases in the total score of ADHD-RS in subscales of attention deficit, hyper-activity, and impulsivity (p<0.001). No significant differences were observed between the two groups on the parent (p=0.77) and teacher (p=0.23) rating scale scores. The groups were different regarding the inattention subscale, with methylphenidate being superior to buspirone. Side effects of buspirone were mild and rare in comparison with that of methylphenidate. Buspirone has a favorable side effect profile and it improves ADHD symptoms significantly. These preliminary findings of efficacy of buspirone in children with ADHD need further studies.