Public-academic partnerships: a rapid small-grant program for policy-relevant research: motivating public-academic partnerships.

To help grow a cadre of researchers with the knowledge and skills to pursue topics of great utility to public mental health systems, the director of the Division of Mental Health Services and Policy Research at Columbia University used funding from the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) to create a rapid small-grant program called the OMH Policy Scholars Program. This column uses two case examples to describe how this public-academic partnership exposes early-career researchers to the needs and complexities of large public mental health systems while providing them with senior research and policy mentors to help ensure the success of the scholars' projects and oversee their introduction to and work within the public mental health system. This type of collaboration is one model of encouraging early-career psychiatric researchers to pursue policy-relevant research.

Clinical presentation of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in preschool children: the Preschoolers with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment Study (PATS).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical presentation of preschoolers diagnosed with moderate to severe attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) recruited for the multisite Preschool ADHD Treatment Study (PATS). The diagnosis and evaluation process will also be described. METHOD: A comprehensive multidimensional, multi-informant assessment protocol was implemented including the semistructured PATS Diagnostic Interview. Parent and teacher-report measures were used to supplement information from interviews. Consensus agreement by a cross-site panel on each participant's diagnoses was required. Analyses were conducted to describe the sample and to test associations between ADHD severity and demographic and clinical variables. RESULTS: The assessment protocol identified 303 preschoolers (3-5.5 years) with moderate to severe ADHD Hyperactive/Impulsive or Combined type. The majority of participants (n = 211, 69.6%) experienced co-morbid disorders, with oppositional defiant disorder, communication disorders, and anxiety disorders being the most common. Participants with co-morbid communication disorders were found to be more anxious and depressed. ADHD severity was found to correlate with more internalizing difficulties and lower functioning. Although boys and girls had similar symptom presentations, younger children had significantly higher ADHD severity. CONCLUSIONS: Preschoolers with moderate to severe ADHD experience high co-morbidity and impairment, which have implications for both assessment and treatment.

Methylphenidate effects on functional outcomes in the Preschoolers with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment Study (PATS).

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of methylphenidate (MPH) on functional outcomes, including children's social skills, classroom behavior, emotional status, and parenting stress, during the 4-week, double-blind placebo controlled phase of the Preschoolers with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatment Study (PATS). METHODS: A total of 114 preschoolers who had improved with acute MPH treatment, were randomized to their best MPH dose (M = 14.22 mg/day; n = 63) or placebo (PL; n = 51). Assessments included the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S), parent and teacher versions of the Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD-Symptoms and Normal Behaviors (SWAN), Social Competence Scale (SCS), Social Skills Rating System (SSRS), and Early Childhood Inventory (ECI), and Parenting Stress Index (PSI). RESULTS: Medication effects varied by informant and outcome measure. Parent measures and teacher SWAN scores did not differentially improve with MPH. Parent-rated depression (p < 0.02) and dysthymia (p < 0.001) on the ECI worsened with MPH, but scores were not in the clinical range. Significant medication effects were found on clinician CGI-S (p < 0.0001) and teacher social competence ratings (SCS, p < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Preschoolers with ADHD treated with MPH for 4 weeks improve in some aspects of functioning. Additional improvements might require longer treatment, higher doses, and/or intensive behavioral treatment in combination with medication.

Comorbidity moderates response to methylphenidate in the Preschoolers with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment Study (PATS).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether demographic or pretreatment clinical and social characteristics influenced the response to methylphenidate (MPH) in the Preschoolers with ADHD Treatment Study (PATS). METHODS: Exploratory moderator analyses were conducted on the efficacy data from the PATS 5-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled six-site titration trial. Children (N = 165, age 3-5.5 years) were randomized to 1 week each of four MPH doses (1.25, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 mg) and placebo administered three times per day (t.i.d.). We assessed the fixed effects on the average slope in the regression outcome on moderators, weight-adjusted dose, and the moderator-by-dose interaction using SAS PROC GENMOD. RESULTS: A significant interaction effect was found for a number of co-morbid disorders diagnosed in the preschoolers at baseline (p = 0.005). Preschoolers with three or more co-morbid disorders did not respond to MPH (Cohen's d at 7.5 mg dose relative to placebo = -0.37) compared to a significant response in the preschoolers with 0, 1, or 2 co-morbid disorders (Cohen's d = 0.89, 1.00, and 0.56, respectively). Preschoolers with more co-morbidity were found to have more family adversity. No significant interaction effect was found with the other variables. CONCLUSIONS: In preschoolers with ADHD, the presence of no or one co-morbid disorder (primarily oppositional defiant disorder) predicted a large treatment response at the same level as has been found in school-aged children, and two co-morbid disorders predicted moderate treatment response; whereas the presence of three or more co-morbid disorders predicted no treatment response to MPH.

Effectiveness of methylphenidate in the 10-month continuation phase of the Preschoolers with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment Study (PATS).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine immediate-release methylphenidate effectiveness during the 10-month open-label continuation phase of the Preschoolers with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatment Study (PATS). METHODS: One hundred and forty preschoolers with ADHD, who had improved with acute immediate-release methylphenidate (IR-MPH) treatment, entered a 10-month, open-label medication maintenance at six sites. Assessments included the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S), CGI-Improvement (CGI-I), Children's Global Assessment Scale (C-GAS), Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham Questionnaire (SNAP), Scale Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD-Symptoms and Normal Behaviors (SWAN), Social Competence Scale, Social Skills Rating System (SSRS), and Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF). RESULTS: For the 95 children who completed the 10-month treatment, improvement occurred on the CGI-S (p = 0.02), CGI-I (p < 0.01), C-GAS (p = 0.001), and SSRS (p = 0.01). SNAP and SWAN scores remained stable. Forty five children discontinued: 7 for adverse effects, 7 for behavior worsening, 7 for switching to long-acting stimulants, 3 for inadequate benefit, and 21 for other reasons. The mean MPH dose increased from 14.04 mg/day +/- SD 7.57 (0.71 +/- 0.38 mg/kg per day) at month 1 to 19.98 mg/day +/- 9.56 (0.92 +/- 0.40 mg/kg per day) at month 10. CONCLUSIONS: With careful monitoring and gradual medication dose increase, most preschoolers with ADHD maintained improvement during long-term IR-MPH treatment. There was substantial variability in effective and tolerated dosing.

Factor structure of parent- and teacher-rated attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in the Preschoolers with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment Study (PATS).

OBJECTIVE: This study examines one-, two-, and three-factor models of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using the existing 18 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, 4th edition (DSM-IV) symptoms in a sample of symptomatic preschoolers. METHODS: Parent and/or teacher ratings of DSM-IV symptoms were obtained for 532 children (aged 3-5.5) who were screened for the Preschool ADHD Treatment Study (PATS). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using symptoms identified on the Conners' Parent and Teacher Rating Scales was conducted to assess a two-factor model representing the DSM-IV dimensions of inattention (IN) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (H/I), a three-factor model reflecting inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, and a single-factor model of all ADHD symptoms. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was subsequently used to examine the latent structure of the data. RESULTS: For parent ratings, the two-factor and three-factor models were marginally acceptable according to several widely used fit indices, whereas the one-factor model failed to meet minimum thresholds for goodness-of-fit. For teachers, none of the models was a solid fit for the data. Maximum likelihood EFAs resulted in satisfactory two and three-factor models for both parents and teachers, although all models contained several moderate cross loadings. Factor loadings were generally concordant with those published for older children and community-based samples. CONCLUSION: ADHD subtypes according to current DSM-IV specifications may not be the best descriptors of the disorder in the preschool age group.

Parent versus teacher ratings of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in the Preschoolers with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment Study (PATS).

OBJECTIVE: To assess parent-teacher concordance on ratings of DSM-IV symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a sample of preschool children referred for an ADHD treatment study. METHODS: Parent and teacher symptom ratings were compared for 452 children aged 3-5 years. Agreement was calculated using Pearson correlations, Cohen's kappa, and conditional probabilities. RESULTS: The correlations between parent and teacher ratings were low for both Inattentive (r = .24) and Hyperactive-Impulsive (r = .26) symptom domains, with individual symptoms ranging from .01-.28. Kappa values for specific symptoms were even lower. Conditional probabilities suggest that teachers are only moderately likely to agree with parents on the presence or absence of symptoms. Parents were quite likely to agree with teachers' endorsement of symptoms, but much less likely to agree when teachers indicated that a symptom was not present. CONCLUSIONS: Results provide important data regarding base rates and concordance rates in this age group and support the hypothesis that preschool-aged children at risk for ADHD exhibit significant differences in behavior patterns across settings. Obtaining ratings from multiple informants is therefore considered critical for obtaining a full picture of young children's functioning.

Effects of source of DNA on genotyping success rates and allele percentages in the Preschoolers with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment Study (PATS).

OBJECTIVE: In children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their parents, who were participants of the Preschool ADHD Treatment Study (PATS), we assessed the effect of source of DNA (from buccal or blood cells) on the genotyping success rate and allele percentages for the five polymorphisms in three candidate genes (DAT1, DRD4, and SNAP 25) investigated in the PATS pharmacogenetic study of response to stimulant medication. METHOD: At baseline assessment, 241 individuals (113 probands and 128 parents) consented to participate; 144 individuals (52 probands and 92 parents) provided blood samples from venipuncture, and 97 individuals (61 probands and 36 parents) provided buccal samples from cheek swab as specimens for isolation of DNA. Three types of polymorphisms-variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism, tandem duplication polymorphism (TDP), and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-were evaluated, including the DRD4 gene 48-bp VNTR in exon III, the DAT1 gene 40-bp VNTR in 3'-untranslated region, the DRD4 gene TDP 120-bp duplication in the promoter region, the SNAP-25 gene TC-1069 SNP, and the SNAP-25 gene TG-1065 SNP. Standard procedures were used to genotype individuals for each of these five polymorphisms. RESULTS: Using the methods available in 2004, the genotyping success rate was on the average much greater for DNA from blood cells than buccal cells (e.g., 91% vs. 54% in probands). For some polymorphisms (DRD4-VNTR, DRD4-TDP, and SNAP25-TC SNP), allele proportion also varied by blood versus buccal source of DNA (e.g., 26.5% vs. 18.6% for the 7-repeat allele of the DRD4 gene). CONCLUSIONS: The much lower success rate for genotyping based on DNA from buccal than blood cells is likely due to the quality of DNA derived from these two sources. The observed source differences in allele proportion may be due to self-selection related to choice of how specimens were collected (from cheek swab or venipuncture), or to a selective detection of some alleles based on differences in DNA quality.

Safety and tolerability of methylphenidate in preschool children with ADHD.

OBJECTIVE: To report on the safety and tolerability of methylphenidate (MPH) 3- to 5-year-old children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during 1 year of treatment. METHOD: Exactly 183 children (3-5 years old) entered a treatment study of MPH, consisting of a 1-week open-label lead-in (n=183); a 5-week placebo-controlled, double-blind phase (n=165); a 5-week double-blind, parallel phase (n=114); and 10 months of open-label maintenance (n=140 entered, 95 completed). Mean total daily MPH doses rose from the titration trial best dose, 14.1 (+/-8.1) mg/day, to 20.5 (+/-9.7) mg/day mean total daily dose at the end of maintenance. Pulse, blood pressure, and the presence of treatment emergent adverse events (AEs), parent and teacher AE ratings, and vital signs were recorded in each phase. RESULTS: Thirty percent of parents spontaneously reported moderate to severe AEs in all study phases after baseline. These included emotional outbursts, difficulty falling asleep, repetitive behaviors/thoughts, appetite decrease, and irritability. During titration, decreased appetite (chi=5.4, p<.03), trouble sleeping (chi=5.4, p<.03), and weight loss (chi=4.0, p<.05) occurred statistically more often on MPH than on placebo. During maintenance, trouble sleeping and appetite loss persisted and other MPH-related AEs decreased. There were transient, one-time pulse and blood pressure elevations in five children. Twenty-one children (11%) discontinued because of drug-attributed AEs. CONCLUSIONS: Eleven percent of preschoolers discontinued treatment because of intolerable MPH AEs. Of the serious AEs reported, one occurred in baseline, two in lead-in, three in titration, one in parallel, and one in maintenance. Only one was possibly related to MPH.

Efficacy and safety of immediate-release methylphenidate treatment for preschoolers with ADHD.

OBJECTIVE: The Preschool ADHD Treatment Study (PATS) was a NIMH-funded, six-center, randomized, controlled trial to determine the efficacy and safety of immediate-release methylphenidate (MPH-IR), given t.i.d. to children ages 3 to 5.5 years with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD: The 8-phase, 70-week PATS protocol included two double-blind, controlled phases, a crossover-titration trial followed by a placebo-controlled parallel trial. The crossover-titration phase's primary efficacy measure was a combined score from the Swanson, Kotkin, Atkins, M-Flynn, and Pelham (SKAMP) plus the Conners, Loney, and Milich (CLAM) rating scales; the parallel phase's primary outcome measure was excellent response, based on composite scores on the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham (SNAP) rating scale. RESULTS: Of 303 preschoolers enrolled, 165 were randomized into the titration trial. Compared with placebo, significant decreases in ADHD symptoms were found on MPH at 2.5 mg (p<.01), 5 mg (p<.001), and 7.5 mg (p<.001) t.i.d. doses, but not for 1.25 mg (p<.06). The mean optimal MPH total daily dose for the entire group was 14.2 +/- 8.1 mg/day (0.7+/-0.4 mg/kg/day). For the preschoolers (n=114) later randomized into the parallel phase, only 21% on best-dose MPH and 13% on placebo achieved MTA-defined categorical criterion for remission set for school-age children with ADHD. CONCLUSIONS: MPH-IR, delivered in 2.5-, 5-, and 7.5-mg doses t.i.d., produced significant reductions on ADHD symptom scales in preschoolers compared to placebo, although effect sizes (0.4-0.8) were smaller than those cited for school-age children on the same medication.

Stimulant-related reductions of growth rates in the PATS.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate growth of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the Preschool ADHD Treatment Study (PATS) before and after initiation of treatment with methylphenidate at titrated doses (average, 14.2 mg/day) administered three times daily, 7 days/week for asymptotically equal to1 year. METHOD: The heights and weights of 140 children with ADHD were measured up to 29 times in the PATS protocol, starting at an average age of 4.4 years. The relationship between standard (z) scores and time on medication was examined using mixed-effect regression to estimate change in relative size (slope). RESULTS: Average relative size at baseline was significantly (p<.0001) greater than zero for z height (+0.45) and z weight (+0.78), indicating greater than expected height (by 2.04 cm) and weight (by 1.78 kg). During treatment, slopes were significantly (p<.0001) less than zero for z height (-0.304/yr) and z weight (-0.530/yr), indicating reduction of growth rates. For 95 children who remained on medication, annual growth rates were 20.3% less than expected for height (5.41 cm/yr-6.79 cm/yr=-1.38 cm/yr) and 55.2% for weight (1.07 kg/yr-2.39 kg/yr=-1.32 kg/yr). CONCLUSIONS: Risks of reduced growth rates should be balanced against expected benefits when preschool-age children are treated with stimulant medication.

Rationale, design, and methods of the Preschool ADHD Treatment Study (PATS).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the rationale and design of the Preschool ADHD Treatment Study (PATS). METHOD: PATS was a National Institutes of Mental Health-funded, multicenter, randomized, efficacy trial designed to evaluate the short-term (5 weeks) efficacy and long-term (40 weeks) safety of methylphenidate (MPH) in preschoolers with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Three hundred three subjects ages 3 to 5.5 years old who met criteria for a primary DSM-IV diagnosis of ADHD entered the trial. Subjects participated in an 8-phase, 70-week trial that included screening, parent training, baseline, open-label safety lead-in, double-blind crossover titration, double-blind parallel efficacy, open-label maintenance, and double-blind discontinuation. Medication response was assessed during the crossover titration phase using a combination of parent and teacher ratings. Special ethical considerations throughout the trial warranted a number of design changes. RESULTS: This report describes the design of this trial, the rationale for reevaluation and modification of the design, and the methods used to conduct the trial. CONCLUSIONS: The PATS adds to a limited literature and improves our understanding of the safety and efficacy of MPH in the treatment of preschoolers with ADHD, but changes in the design and problems in implementation of this study impose some specific limitations that need to be addressed in future studies.

Pharmacogenetics of methylphenidate response in preschoolers with ADHD.

OBJECTIVE: The authors explored genetic moderators of symptom reduction and side effects in methylphenidate-treated preschool-age children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD: DNA was isolated from 81 subjects in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover methylphenidate titration. Parents and teachers completed ADHD symptom scales and side effect ratings for each of five randomly administered weekly conditions that included immediate-release methylphenidate 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 mg and placebo given three times daily. Candidate genes hypothesized to influence stimulant effects or individual risks for ADHD were genotyped. RESULTS: Although the primary analysis did not indicate significant genetic effects, secondary analyses revealed associations between symptom response and variants at the dopamine receptor (DRD4) promoter (p=.05) and synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP25) allelesT1065G (p=.03) andT1069C (p=.05). SNAP25 variants were also associated with tics (p=.02), buccal-lingual movements (p=.01), and irritability (p=04). DRD4 variants were also associated with picking (p=.03). Increasing dose predicted irritability (p=.05) and social withdrawal (p=.03) with DRD4 variants. There were no significant effects for the dopamine transporter (DAT1). CONCLUSIONS: Emerging evidence suggests the potential for understanding the individual variability of response to and side effects of ADHD medications from the study of genetics, although additional research is required before these findings are proven to have clinical utility.

Sequential pharmacotherapy for children with comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity and anxiety disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often accompanied by clinically significant anxiety, but few empirical data guide treatment of children meeting full DSM-IV criteria for ADHD and anxiety disorders (ADHD/ANX). This study examined the efficacy of sequential pharmacotherapy for ADHD/ANX children. METHOD: Children, age 6 to 17 years, with ADHD/ANX were titrated to optimal methylphenidate dose and assessed along with children who entered the study on a previously optimized stimulant. Children with improved ADHD who remained anxious were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of double-blind stimulant + fluvoxamine (STIM/FLV) or stimulant + placebo (STIM/PL). Primary efficacy measures were the Swanson, Nolan, Atkins, and Pelham IV Parent and Teacher Rating Scale ADHD score and the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale total score. ADHD, ANX, and overall Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scores were also obtained. RESULTS: Of the 32 medication-naive children openly treated with methylphenidate, 26 (81%) improved as to ADHD. Twenty-five children entered the randomized trial. Intent-to-treat analysis indicated no differences between the STIM/FLV (n = 15) and STIM/PL groups on the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale or Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement-defined responder rate. Medications in both arms were well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Children with ADHD/ANX have a response rate to stimulants for ADHD that is comparable with that of children with general ADHD. The benefit of adding FLV to stimulants for ANX remains unproven.

Developing methodologies for monitoring long-term safety of psychotropic medications in children: report on the NIMH conference, September 25, 2000.

OBJECTIVE: To improve the methods for long-term assessment of drug-associated side effects and advance knowledge of the safety profile of psychotropic medications in children and adolescents. METHOD: A multidisciplinary, interactive workshop was hosted by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology network. Participants were experts in child and adolescent psychiatry, psychopharmacology, pharmacoepidemiology, and statistics from academia, the pharmaceutical industry, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the NIMH. Evaluation of drug safety was examined from five perspectives: research design and methods, industry, regulatory requirements, bioethics, and practice settings. For each of these areas, special emphasis was placed on identifying barriers and generating solutions. RESULTS: A major obstacle is the lack of standardization of the methods used for collecting safety data. The limitations of both randomized clinical trials and passive postmarketing surveillance in assessing long-term safety were recognized. The need to consider alternative approaches, such as registries and trend analysis of population-based databases, was highlighted. Recommendations were proposed together with possible approaches to implementation. CONCLUSIONS: A concerted effort by academic researchers, industry, FDA, practitioners, and NIMH is needed to standardize methods and lay the foundations for systematic research on the long-term safety of psychotropic medications in children.