ADHD News & Update: Guanfacine Improves ADHD Symptoms And Functional Impairment [Study]

A new study on guanfacine extended release (ER) has found reductions in attention deficit disorder symptoms (ADHD) as well as on functional impairment.

Pharmacotherapy may improve ADHD-associated functional impairments related to social and family dynamics as well as academic performance, in addition to ADHD symptoms.  However, just a few studies and clinical trials have focused on function.

In the new ADHD study, a multicenter team of researchers evaluated the impact of guanfacine extended release compared with placebo, as measured by the Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale-Parent Report (WFIRS-P), according to PubMed. The research was the substudy of an  eight weeks placebo-controlled randomized trial. The substudy was aimed at examining the efficacy and tolerability of once-daily guanfacine ER administered morning or evening.

According to Psychiatric Times, a number of 333 North American and Canadian children with a diagnosis of ADHD, aged 6 to 12 years, participated in the study. The population of the study group was randomized into 3 groups: twice-daily placebo (n=112); placebo in the morning, guanfacine (1 to 4 mg) in the evening (n = 114); guanfacine (1 to 4 mg) in the morning, placebo in the evening (n = 107).

The study population was rated in the current study at screening, baseline, the end of dose optimization and the final on-treatment assessment, according to the WFIRS-P. The WFIRS-P 50-item questionnaire has been completed by the patient's parent or guardian. The questionnaire is grouped into domains such as: self-concept, social activities, life skills, school, learning, family and risky activities.

Significant improvements from baseline were seen in WFIRS-P total scores at the final on-treatment assessment, for both guanfacine treatment groups combined (P < .001) and separately (P = .001). The study concluded that self-concept and life skills domains may be less sensitive to measuring change or else require longer treatment or more tailored psychosocial interventions to evidence change.

The study authors noted that further research using longer treatment periods are needed to determine whether ongoing guanfacine therapy could strengthen or sustain functional improvements. Future studies are also necessary to asses whether these effects extend to other ADHD pharmacotherapies.