Monitoring medication response in ADHD: what can continuous performance tests tell us?

Documenting effectiveness of ADHD medication is essential throughout the course of treatment. A rating scale and a continuous performance test (CPT) with motion tracking were used to study the effect of ADHD medication including compliance during one year. Children (N = 78, age 6–18 years) with ADHD were tested with the QbTest at baseline, visit 1 (1 month after baseline) and visit 5 (12 months after baseline). The ADHD-Rating scale was rated by investigator interview at the same visits. QbTest results and ADHD-RS ratings showed reductions in symptoms on all cardinal parameters of the QbTest and on all ADHD-RS subscales between baseline and 1 month and between baseline and 12 months. There was a weak but significant correlation between the total change scores on the two measures from baseline to 1 month. Eighteen participants dropped out of the study before visit 5; at baseline, these children showed significantly lower results on the inattention parameter of the QbTest, with faster reaction time and lower variation in reaction time, suggesting they suffered less problems with inattention. Both the QbTest and the ADHD-RS showed robust ADHD symptom improvements indicative of medication effect, and the QbTest results might also predict non-compliance of medication. Further research is warranted to increase knowledge about reliable monitoring of long-term medication and compliance.