Background
We systematically examined potential aggression/hostility-related events in a meta-analysis
of acute clinical trials of atomoxetine for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD).
Methods
Pediatric patients from 14 trials of atomoxetine were subdivided into a placebo-controlled
(atomoxetine n = 1308, placebo n = 806) or active comparator databases (atomoxetine
n = 566, methylphenidate n = 472). A third database comprised adult patients from
placebo-controlled studies (atomoxetine n = 541, placebo n = 405). A computerized
search of adverse events and comments identified patients with potential aggression/hostility
events. Mantel–Haenszel incidence differences (MHID) were calculated.
Results
In the placebo-controlled database, we observed 21 atomoxetine and 9 placebo patients
with reported aggression/hostility events, MHID of .6% (95% confidence interval [CI]:
–.4, 1.7). In the active comparator database, there were seven events in atomoxetine
and four in methylphenidate patients, MHID = .2% (95% CI: –1.0,1.3). In the adult
database, there were no events in 0 atomoxetine and one placebo patient, MHID = –.3%
(95% CI: –.8, .2).
Conclusions
Aggression/hostility-related events occurred in less than 2% of patients and were
more frequent in pediatric patients treated with atomoxetine versus placebo (risk
ratio of 1.33; not statistically significant). The risk of aggression/hostility events
was similar in patients treated with atomoxetine or methylphenidate.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 25, 2006
Accepted:
May 23,
2006
Received in revised form:
May 16,
2006
Received:
January 19,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
