Methylphenidate in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Hyperactivity in children (with or without attention disorder) is estimated at approximately 3% of the prepubertal population, occurring more frequently in boys than in girls (9 for 1). Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant drug, which has been used to treat this disorder for more than 25 years in the USA. It has recently been introduced in France. Important controversies occur concerning the use of methylphenidate, as all professionals of health are afraid of a drift. With hindsight on the situation in North America, it has been clearly demonstrated that methylphenidate does not affect children’s growth and does not induce addiction, which is always dreaded by Europeans.