Zinc sulfate as an adjunct to methylphenidate for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children: a double blind and randomized trial [ISRCTN64132371].

What Was Tested

The paper reports a study of Methylphenidate and Zinc Sulfate, published as a randomized controlled trial.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is an early-onset, clinically heterogenous disorder of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness.

In this 6-week double blind, placebo controlled-trial, the researchers assessed the effects of zinc plus methylphenidate in the treatment of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 44 children were involved.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were young children and children, both men and women.

Patients were assessed by a child psychiatrist at baseline, 14, 28 and 42 days after the medication started.

How the Study Was Run

The researchers set it up as a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got Methylphenidate and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

Neither the children nor the staff measuring them knew who was on Methylphenidate, so expectations could not easily colour the readings.

Some children received a placebo instead of Methylphenidate, giving a reference point.

The principal measure of the outcome was the Teacher and Parent ADHD Rating Scale.

What Was Measured

In this 6-week double blind, placebo controlled-trial, the researchers assessed the effects of zinc plus methylphenidate in the treatment of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

To the best of their knowledge, this study is the first double blind and placebo controlled clinical trial assessing the adjunctive role of zinc in ADHD.

PubMed files the paper under topics including Ambulatory Care, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Methylphenidate, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales and Zinc Sulfate.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Methylphenidate and Zinc Sulfate in 44 children.

The abstract goes on to report its results in about 6 sentences; this page does not restate them, so read the paper for the findings and their limits.

The publication is from 2004 (BMC psychiatry), a journal based in England.

More context: all human trials.