Comparison of Therapeutic Effects of Omega-3 and Methylphenidate (Ritalin®) in Treating Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

authors:

avatar Naser Dashti 1 , avatar Hoda Hekmat 2 , avatar Hamid Reza Soltani 3 , * , avatar Abolghasem Rahimdel 4 , avatar Mohammad Javaherchian 5

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Yazd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran
Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
Ali Eben Abitaleb Medical School, Islamic Azad University, Safaeiyeh, Yazd, Iran
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran
School of Medicine, Yazd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran
Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences: Vol.8, issue 4; 7-11
published online: December 30, 2014
article type: Original Article
received: August 12, 2013
revised: June 09, 2014
accepted: May 06, 2014

How To Cite Dashti N, Hekmat H, Soltani H R, Rahimdel A, Javaherchian M. Comparison of Therapeutic Effects of Omega-3 and Methylphenidate (Ritalin®) in Treating Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Iran J Psychiatry Behav Sci. 2014;8(4): 7-11. 

Abstract

Objective: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a fixed pattern of disregard and hyperactivity that is much more severe than what is normal in children of the same age. Multiple drugs are used for the treatment of children with ADHD; however, their side effects and efficacy are not clearly known. This study was designed to evaluate and compare the therapeutic effects of two drugs, that is, omega-3 and methylphenidate hydrochloride (Ritalin® ), used to treat patients with ADHD.
Methods:In a randomized, placebo control clinical trial in Yazd, Iran, 85 ADHD children were divided into two experimental and one control groups. Thus, 29 subjects were treated with Ritalin® , 28 subjects received omega-3, and the remaining 28 received placebo. The data collection tools used in this study consisted of the Conners' Parent Rating Scale and Teacher Rating Scale. The scores obtained from these questionnaires were analyzed using chi-square test and paired t-test in PASW Statistics.
Results: The average age of the population was 8.22 (± 1.65) years. Significant associations were observed between Ritalin® therapy and the changes before and after the treatment, and the omega-3 treatment and the changes before and after treatment (p < 0.001). There was no significant association between the placebo group and the changes before and after the treatment (p > 0.050). Omega-3 had considerable efficacy as well as Ritalin® (P = 0.001).
Conclusions: More attention should be given to screening, prevention, and treatment with omega-3 and its effective role in the development of the brain and mental health, and increasing children's attention span and thinking ability.
Declaration of interest: None.
Clinical Trial Registration-URL: http://www.irct.ir. IRCT Code: IRCT201304035393N3.
Citation: Dashti N, Hekmat H, Soltani HR, Rahimdel A, Javaherchian M. Comparison of therapeutic effects of omega-3 and methylphenidate (Ritalin® ) in treating children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Iran J Psychiatry Behav Sci 2014; 8(4): 7-11.

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