(NAPSA)—Anew study aims to answer important questions about girls and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a disorder that makesit difficult for children to control activity level, attention and behavior. For these children, every day can be a jumble of rapid-fire images, thoughts and sounds that interfere with daily life at school and at home. Although ADHD has been recognized for more than 100 years and is the most-studied childhood psychiatric disorder, most of the research has focused on boys, leaving girls at a disadvantage when it comes to appropriate diagnosis and treatment. The new study is the first to examine the effects of treatment, specifically Ritalin LA (methyIphenidate HCl) extended release capsules, in girls with ADHD. Known as G.R.A.C.E. (Girls, Ritalin LA, and ADHD: A Controlled Evaluation), the study will look at how Ritalin LA affects ADHD symptoms, peer and family relationships, self-esteem, mood, and school performance in girls with ADHD whoare between the ages of 12 and 17. “Although there is a significant body of research in ADHD, this trial will be the first to specifically examine the effects of treatment on girls’ ADHD symptoms, which can be different from boys’ symptoms,” said Scott West, M.D., President and CEO, CNS Healthcare and an investigator of the study. “The G.R.A.C.E. Study is an important step towards identifying and addressing the unique needsof girls with ADHD.” Compared to boys with the disorder, girls are less likely to show overt hyperactivity and aggressiveness and more likely to have less noticeable symptoms such as inattention, forgetfulness, poor organization, and being highly A new study will examine the effect of medication on girls’ ADHD symptoms. distractible. As a result, they may not be diagnosed until laterin life. In fact, research suggests that children with this subtype of ADHD(the inattentive subtype) are accurately diagnosed only 50 percent of the time. Research also suggests that girls are more likely to internalize symptoms and develop anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. “We hope that by bringing attention to the unique ways that ADHD manifests in girls we can help families appropriately address the difficulties caused by ADHD both in and out of the classroom,” said Dr. West. The G.R.A.C.E. Study will inelude more than 100 adolescent female patients who have been diagnosed with ADHD and will be conducted in 14 centers in the United States. Parents of study participants will assess improvements in attention and behavior using rating scales designed to measure improvement or worsen- ing of ADHD symptoms. In addition, girls in the study will complete self-assessment rating scales designed to measure ADHD symptoms as well as one that examines quality of life, including health, schoolwork, social activities, behavior, and family life. For more information about ADHD, visit www.adhdinfo.com. Note to editor: In a placebo controlled, double-blind study, the most commonly reported adverse events of Ritalin LA included anorexia, insomnia, sore throat, headache and vomiting. Ritalin LA is contraindicated in patients known to be hypersensitive to the drug or to Ritalin, in patients with glaucoma, in patients with motor tics, and in patients with a family history or diagnosis of Tourette’s syndrome. In addition, Ritalin LA is contraindicated during treat- ment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors and should not be taken until at least 14 days after discontinuation of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. Ritalin LA is a schedule II controlled substance and should be given cautiously to patients with a history of drug dependenceor alcoholism. The foregoing material contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by forward-looking terminology such as, “aims to,” “will look at,” “will be,” “will be conducted,” “will assess,” “will complete,” or similar expressions. Such statements involve known and unknownrisks, uncertainties and otherfactors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. In particular, management’s expectation regarding the commercial success of Ritalin LA could be affected by among other things, uncertainties relating to product development, regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally, the ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection and competition in general, as well as factors discussed in the Form 20F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Ritalin LA uses SODAS" technology, a proprietary drug delivery technology of Elan Corporation ple. SODAS"is a trademark of Elan Corporation, plc. deka
