Biomaterial Database

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, creativity, and the effects of methylphenidate. 1993

J B Funk, and J B Chessare, and M T Weaver, and A R Exley

Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43699.

Given that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more impulsive than peers, this study explored whether they are correspondingly more creative, and whether creativity declines when impulsivity is decreased through methylphenidate (Ritalin) therapy. A repeated-measures quasi-experimental design was used to compare the performance of 19 boys with previously diagnosed ADHD and 21 comparison boys aged 8 through 11 on two administrations of alternate forms of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking-Figural (nonverbal). Boys with ADHD received prescribed methylphenidate only for the first session. Overall, mean Torrance summary scores for comparison boys (mean = 115.1, SD = 16.1) were higher than for boys with ADHD (mean = 107.6, SD = 12.7). However, the difference between means was small (7%) and did not meet the 25% criterion for a clinically significant difference. No changes in performance over time (comparison group) or medication state (ADHD group) were observed. These data suggest that, when measured nonverbally, the creative thinking performance of boys with ADHD is not superior to that of peers who do not have ADHD. Regarding the effects of methylphenidate, prescribed therapy did not influence performance on this measure of creative thinking.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007175	Impulsive Behavior	An act performed without delay, reflection, voluntary direction or obvious control in response to a stimulus.	Impulsivity,Behavior, Impulsive,Behaviors, Impulsive,Impulsive Behaviors,Impulsivities
D008297	Male		Males
D008774	Methylphenidate	A central nervous system stimulant used most commonly in the treatment of ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER in children and for NARCOLEPSY. Its mechanisms appear to be similar to those of DEXTROAMPHETAMINE. The d-isomer of this drug is referred to as DEXMETHYLPHENIDATE HYDROCHLORIDE.	Centedrin,Concerta,Daytrana,Equasym,Metadate,Methylin,Methylphenidate Hydrochloride,Phenidylate,Ritalin,Ritalin-SR,Ritaline,Tsentedrin,Hydrochloride, Methylphenidate,Ritalin SR
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D003405	Creativity	The ability to generate new ideas or images.	Creativeness,Innovativeness,Originality,Artistic Creativity,Creative Ability,Creative Thinking,Ability, Creative,Creative Abilities,Creativity, Artistic,Thinking, Creative
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001289	Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity	A behavior disorder originating in childhood in which the essential features are signs of developmentally inappropriate inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Although most individuals have symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity, one or the other pattern may be predominant. The disorder is more frequent in males than females. Onset is in childhood. Symptoms often attenuate during late adolescence although a minority experience the full complement of symptoms into mid-adulthood. (From DSM-V)	ADHD,Attention Deficit Disorder,Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,Brain Dysfunction, Minimal,Hyperkinetic Syndrome,Minimal Brain Dysfunction,ADDH,Attention Deficit Disorders with Hyperactivity,Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders,Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder,Attention Deficit Disorders,Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorders,Deficit Disorder, Attention,Deficit Disorders, Attention,Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, Attention,Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorders, Attention,Disorder, Attention Deficit,Disorder, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity,Disorders, Attention Deficit,Disorders, Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity,Dysfunction, Minimal Brain,Syndromes, Hyperkinetic
D016022	Case-Control Studies	Comparisons that start with the identification of persons with the disease or outcome of interest and a control (comparison, referent) group without the disease or outcome of interest. The relationship of an attribute is examined by comparing both groups with regard to the frequency or levels of outcome over time.	Case-Base Studies,Case-Comparison Studies,Case-Referent Studies,Matched Case-Control Studies,Nested Case-Control Studies,Case Control Studies,Case-Compeer Studies,Case-Referrent Studies,Case Base Studies,Case Comparison Studies,Case Control Study,Case Referent Studies,Case Referrent Studies,Case-Comparison Study,Case-Control Studies, Matched,Case-Control Studies, Nested,Case-Control Study,Case-Control Study, Matched,Case-Control Study, Nested,Case-Referent Study,Case-Referrent Study,Matched Case Control Studies,Matched Case-Control Study,Nested Case Control Studies,Nested Case-Control Study,Studies, Case Control,Studies, Case-Base,Studies, Case-Comparison,Studies, Case-Compeer,Studies, Case-Control,Studies, Case-Referent,Studies, Case-Referrent,Studies, Matched Case-Control,Studies, Nested Case-Control,Study, Case Control,Study, Case-Comparison,Study, Case-Control,Study, Case-Referent,Study, Case-Referrent,Study, Matched Case-Control,Study, Nested Case-Control