Amantadine Versus Ritalin in the Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurobehavioural disorder of childhood. The investigators hypothesized that amantadine would be beneficial for treatment of ADHD, and this could be evaluated in a double blind, randomized, parallel group comparison of amantadine and ritalin. This will be a six-week, parallel group, randomized clinical trial undertaken in an outpatient child and adolescent clinic at Roozbeh Psychiatric Hospital in Tehran, Iran during April 2010-May 2010. 50 male and female subjects, ages 6 to 17 years with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of ADHD will be study population of this trial. At screening, investigators conduct a psychiatric evaluation with the DSM-IV-TR criteria for ADHD and the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime diagnostic interview and perform a complete medical history and physical examination. The diagnosis of ADHD will be confirmed by a child and adolescent psychiatrist before participants will be initiated into the study. All patients will be newly diagnosed. Parents were carefully interview and ask to rate the severity of the DSM-IV-TR ADHD symptoms that their children display at home. Children will be excluded if they have a history or current diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorders, schizophrenia or other psychiatric disorders(DSM-IV axis I); any current psychiatric comorbidity that required pharmacotherapy; any evidence of suicide risk and mental retardation (I.Q. \<70). In addition, patients will be excluded if they have a clinically significant chronic medical condition, including organic brain disorder, seizures and, current abuse or dependence on drugs within 6 months. Additional exclusion criteria will be hypertension, hypotension. To participate, parents and children have to be willing to comply with all requirements of the study. After a description of the procedures and purpose of the study, written informed consent will be obtained from each pati