A Dose‐Response Analysis of the Effects of Methylphenidate on the Peer Interactions and Simulated Classroom Performance of ADD Children with and without Conduct Problems

To examine the social effects of methylphenidate, groups of 15 attention-deficit disordered boys with (ADD) and 15 ADD boys without conduct problems (ADD/CP) were paired with normal peers. ADD and ADD/CP children showed a different pattern of responses to methylphenidate. While on task behavior in ADD/CP dyads increased at 0.15 mg/kg doses, increases in ADD dyads were not observed until doses reached 0.50 mg/kg. Although controlling interaction in ADD children decreased at 0.15 mg/kg, the controlling behavior of ADD/CP children did not decline at either dose. Peers of both ADD and ADD/CP children showed reciprocal declines in controlling behavior. In both free play and cooperative task situations, 0.15 mg/kg increased social interaction in ADD boys and decreased social interaction in ADD/CP boys.