Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic Of Iran

en A Comparison of Combined Methylphenidate with Common Figs and Almond Syrup, Methylphenidate with Sweet Almond Syrup, and Methylphenidate with Placebo Syrup in the Treatment of Children and Adolescents with ADHD: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group Clinical Trial Neurology Neurology Original Research: Clinical Science Original Research: Clinical Science     Background: One of the most common health disorders among children is attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Some patients do not respond to current treatments or are unable to tolerate their side effects. In Persian medicine, both sweet almonds and figs are brain tonics and are helpful for neurological diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of fig and sweet almond syrup on children with ADHD.    Methods: The patients with ADHD (age 6 to 14 years) were randomly assigned to 3 groups. All groups received the standard drug methylphenidate. The first group (A) received almond and fig syrup, the second group (B) received sweet almond syrup, and the third group (C) received a placebo syrup. The outcomes were assessed using a short and revised version of the Connors Rating Scale (CPRS-R-S) and the Parent ADHD Rating Scale every 4 weeks for 12 weeks.    Results:  This study showed that, based on the CPRS-R-S, cognitive problems/inattention scores changed from baseline to week 12 in group A (10.87 ± 5.06 to 6.55 ± 2.63), group B (11.57 ± 3.52 to 6.20 ± 2.28), and group C (8.05 ± 5.22 to 8.10 ± 3.56). Significant improvement was observed in groups A and B (P = 0.009).    Conclusion:  This study found that a syrup combining figs and sweet almonds may serve as a complementary treatment for children with inattentive ADHD. When used alongside methylphenidate, the syrup significantly improved inattention and cognitive/attention difficulties.   Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Complementary Medicine, Ficus carica, Persian Medicine, Sweet Almond 1154 1163 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-9582-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Hoorieh Mohammadi kenari mohammadikenari.h@gmail.com 200319475328460094282 200319475328460094282 No Institute for Studies in Medical History, Persian and Complementary Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Effatpanah m-effatpanah@tums.ac.ir 200319475328460094283 200319475328460094283 No Pediatric Department, School of Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, National Center for Health Insurance Research, Tehran, Iran Mir Saeed Yekaninejad yekaninejad@tums.ac.ir 200319475328460094284 200319475328460094284 No Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mehrdad Karimi mehrdadkarimi@yahoo.com 200319475328460094285 200319475328460094285 No Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Gholamreza Kordafshari hmk1358@gmail.com 200319475328460094286 200319475328460094286 No Masiha Teb Shomal Knowledge-based Cooperation, Sari, Iran Jale Aliasl jaliasl@yahoo.com 200319475328460094287 200319475328460094287 No Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran Gilda Rajabi Damavandi gildarajabi@yahoo.com 200319475328460094288 200319475328460094288 No Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Alireza Mahjoub mahjoub.a@iums.ac.ir 200319475328460094289 200319475328460094289 Yes Institute for Studies in Medical History, Persian and Complementary Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran