The Froehlich Lab is studying how medication and behavioral treatments affect individuals with ADHD and related challenges, focusing on predictors of benefits and side effects—especially in complex cases like Down syndrome and preschoolers.
We are evaluating the impact of the medication methylphenidate in children and teens with Down syndrome and ADHD, including effects on inattention, hyperactivity, and other behavioral issues. We are also investigating methylphenidate side effects and impact on cardiac safety in children with Down syndrome.
This project is funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and is a collaboration with Boston Children’s Hospital, University of California-Davis, and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
The purpose of this study is to determine efficacy of guanfacine immediate release (GIR) for the treatment of hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention in children 6-12 years of age with Down syndrome (DS) after 8 weeks of treatment.
This project is funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and is a collaboration with Duke University Hospital, Akron Children’s Hospital, Virginia Center for Children, University of Washington, and University of Wisconsin Madison.
As the Chair of the DBPNet ADHD Node, Dr. Froehlich leads projects related to ADHD for the 16-site national developmental and behavioral pediatrics research network. These include projects related to treatment of ADHD in preschool age children.
This work is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and is a collaboration with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (prime site), Boston Children’s Hospital, Stanford University, and Children’s Mercy Kansas City.
Although methylphenidate (MPH) is a common medication utilized for children with ADHD, some children require an unusually high dosage to reach the desired effects or experience especially prominent side effects on very low doses, possibly due to differences in their rates of metabolizing MPH via the hepatic enzyme Carboxylesterase 1 (CES 1).
To understand this possible difference in MPH pharmacokinetics, this study investigated how genetic differences within the CES 1 enzyme may determine individual response to different doses of MPH.
This study was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and was a collaboration with the University of Florida (prime site), University of Michigan, Mount Sinai Hospital, and Seattle Children’s Hospital.
The purpose of this study was to understand neurobehavioral effects of abruptly discontinuing methylphenidate, the most commonly medication treatment for ADHD in children via randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, two-site trial.
The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and was a collaboration with Seattle Children’s Hospital.
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