• Home
  • Store
    • Newsletter Subscriptions
    • Multimedia Subscriptions
    • Books
    • eBooks
    • ABPN SA Courses
  • CME Center
  • Multimedia
    • Podcast
    • Webinars
    • Blog
  • Newsletters
    • General Psychiatry
    • Child Psychiatry
    • Addiction Treatment
    • Hospital Psychiatry
    • Geriatric Psychiatry
  • Log In
  • Register
  • Welcome
  • Sign Out
  • Subscribe
Home » Can Strattera Improve Reading Skills in Children With Dyslexia?

Can Strattera Improve Reading Skills in Children With Dyslexia?

September 1, 2017
Ricardo Arechiga, PharmD candidate (2018)
From The Carlat Child Psychiatry Report
Issue Links: Learning Objectives | Editorial Information | PDF of Issue
Ricardo Arechiga, PharmD candidate (2018) Mr. Arechiga has disclosed that he has no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.
Review of: Shaywitz S et al, J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2016;27(1):19–28.

Dyslexia, a learning disability characterized by difficulty in reading skills, is highly prevalent, with rates between 5% and 17%. Treatments include non-medical interventions, which have limited success. Research suggests a critical role for attentional mechanisms in the development of dyslexia. Previous small studies have shown stimulants as well as atomoxetine may improve reading in patients who have comorbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and dyslexia (ADHD+D). This new study is a larger, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate atomoxetine’s efficacy in patients with ADHD+D as well as those with dyslexia or ADHD only.

The researchers randomized 209 children and adolescents, aged 10–16 years, into a placebo group (n = 89) and a treatment group (n = 120). The placebo group consisted of dyslexia-only (n = 29) and ADHD+D patients (n = 60), while the treatment arm consisted of dyslexia-only (n = 29), ADHD+D (n = 64), and ADHD-only (n = 27) patients. The patients were treated with either atomoxetine (starting at 0.5 mg/kg daily for 3 days, then 1.0–1.4 mg/kg per day) or placebo. Reading abilities were measured with a variety of standardized tests after 16 weeks. Both ADHD+D and dyslexia-only patients receiving atomoxetine showed statistically significant improvement in phonologic processing (sounding out words), basic reading skills, and reading vocabulary compared to those receiving placebo. Effect sizes were moderate to high (ranging from 0.5 to 0.73), and literacy improvement in comorbid patients was not correlated with improvements in ADHD symptoms.

CCPR’s take
While the study shows promising results, it’s not clear whether the improvement seen is clinically significant, whether it would be seen in a range of kids with varying levels of dyslexia, or whether it would be sustained over time. Nonetheless, atomoxetine is a well-tolerated medication and is one of the few agents shown to be helpful for dyslexia. Readers should know that the study was funded by Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Strattera (atomoxetine), although there were no obvious signs of bias in research design or analysis.
Child Psychiatry
KEYWORDS child-psychiatry research-update
Ricardo Arechiga, PharmD candidate (2018)

Aripiprazole Augmentation May Improve Remission Rates in MDD

More from this author
www.thecarlatreport.com
Issue Date: September 1, 2017
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Table Of Contents
Take The CME Post-Test for ADHD in Children and Adolescents, CCPR, September/October 2017
Choosing Medications for ADHD
Is Modafinil an Effective Alternative for the Treatment of ADHD?
Can Strattera Improve Reading Skills in Children With Dyslexia?
Understanding Tantrums in Autism Spectrum Disorder
New Editor-in-Chief, Joshua D. Feder!
An Integrative Approach to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Official 2017 Carlat ADHD Pediatric Stimulant Comparison Table
DOWNLOAD NOW
Featured Book
  • CMFB2e_Cover.png

    Child Medication Fact Book for Psychiatric Practice, Second Edition (2023)

    All the important facts covering child and adolescent psychopharmacology.
    READ MORE
Featured Video
  • therapist_canstockphoto9201097.jpg
    General Psychiatry

    Using SAMe In Clinical Practice with Garrett Rossi, MD

    Read More
Featured Podcast
  • canstockphoto29377983.jpg
    Child Psychiatry

    Anxiolytics in Children and Adolescents

    Learn about the pros and cons of the main categories of medications that clinicians typically use to treat anxiety in children and adolescents.

    Listen now
Recommended
  • Approaches to Autism Intervention

    January 31, 2022
    canstockphoto2240982_child-bubbles_thumb.jpg
  • Currently Available Cannabis Products

    September 1, 2022
  • Interpreting Assessment Discrepancies from Multiple Sources

    October 17, 2022
    ChildAssessment.png
  • Approaches to Autism Intervention

    January 31, 2022
    canstockphoto2240982_child-bubbles_thumb.jpg
  • Currently Available Cannabis Products

    September 1, 2022
  • Interpreting Assessment Discrepancies from Multiple Sources

    October 17, 2022
    ChildAssessment.png
  • Approaches to Autism Intervention

    January 31, 2022
    canstockphoto2240982_child-bubbles_thumb.jpg
  • Currently Available Cannabis Products

    September 1, 2022
  • Interpreting Assessment Discrepancies from Multiple Sources

    October 17, 2022
    ChildAssessment.png

About

  • About Us
  • CME Center
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us

Shop Online

  • Newsletters
  • Multimedia Subscriptions
  • Books
  • eBooks
  • ABPN Self-Assessment Courses

Newsletters

  • The Carlat Psychiatry Report
  • The Carlat Child Psychiatry Report
  • The Carlat Addiction Treatment Report
  • The Carlat Hospital Psychiatry Report
  • The Carlat Geriatric Psychiatry Report

Contact

info@thecarlatreport.com

866-348-9279

PO Box 626, Newburyport MA 01950

Follow Us

Please see our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, Subscription Agreement, Use of Cookies, and Hardware/Software Requirements to view our website.

© 2023 Carlat Publishing, LLC and Affiliates, All Rights Reserved.