The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2009 , Vol 51 , Num 5
Pregnancy and Delivery Complications and Treatment Approach in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
1Department of Psychiatry, Süleyman Demirel University Faculty of Medicine, Isparta, and 2Rize State Hospital, Rize, and
3Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey
Pregnancy, delivery complications and treatment approach were evaluated
in 153 cases diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the
State Hospital of Antalya in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Polyclinic.
Most of the cases had been delivered vaginally (74.5%). The most frequent
delivery complication was asphyxia/hypoxia (15.6%). The agent most frequently
preferred in the treatment regimen was methylphenidate (82.4%), which is
a psychostimulant. The other drugs used were risperidone (29.4%), selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors (16.4%) and imipramine (4.6%). The most
frequent side effect resulting from methylphenidate use was a decrease in
appetite (34.9%). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder often presents with
comorbid disorders; in these cases, nonstimulant agents had to be added to
methylphenidate for better treatment outcomes. Use of selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors in combined treatment and in cases with comorbidities
is in agreement with the literature. Further studies of combined treatment
regimens in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are needed.om/
Keywords :
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, methylphenidate, pregnancy/delivery
complications.