The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 2011/08, 111(8):492-493. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2011.111.8.487, type of study: ,exs,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Full text    (https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.7556/jaoa.2011.111.8.487/html)

Keywords:

ADHD [18]
children [321]
explorative study [28]
OMT [3925]
osteopathic manipulative treatment [3946]
pediatrics [573]

Abstract:

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral developmental disorder affecting children and teenagers, characterized by the co-existence of attentional problems and impulsivity/hyperactivity. Hypothesis: Aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) on children affected by ADHD syndrome. Differences between study and control groups in terms of score from the bells test, including subdomains accuracy (A) and rapidity (R), were detected. Methods: An exploratory prospective study was performed in a cohort of children consecutively admitted at a single neuropsychiatry unit between 2008 and 2009. Out of 28 subjects, aged 5 to 15 years, enrolled with confirmed diagnosis of ADHD following routine medical/psychological care, 14 received OMT. ADHD was diagnosed through a psychiatric assessment following the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV). Statistical analyses were based on univariate tests and multivariate linear regression. Results: Univariate statistical analysis showed no significant imbalances among study and control groups in terms of main characteristics measured at baseline, except for the psychological treatment (study group, N=6; control group, N=12; P=.05). At the end of the study, the following characteristics were found to be associated with bells test A: OMT, gender, age, medications. None of the measured variables were associated to the bells test R. After adjusting for all potential confounders, multivariate regression showed an association between OMT and changes in bells test A [1.256; 95% CI, 0.277-2.235; P<.01] but not in bells test R. Conclusion: According to the bells test, this study showed that OMT may improve the score of the test in children affected by ADHD. However, further studies are needed based on a stronger study design and a broader population.