Psychostimulant drugs have been used for the past 30 years in the treatment of children with behavior disorders, hyperactivity, and learning problems. Difficulties with operational definitions and complicated methodology which haw hampered the determination of efficacy of such medication are discussed. Research on the site and mechanism of action of psychostimulant drugs is reviewed. The decision to initiate drug therapy for children with minimal cerebral dysfunction is now complicated by the climate the times - the social revolution, particularly among the young, and above ail, the present drug culture. A discussion of the therapeutic regimen is included.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Anton, A. H., and Greer, M.: Dextroamphetamine, catecholamines, and behavior. Arch, Neurol., 1969, 21, 248–252.
2.
Bradley, C.: Behavior of children receiving Benzedrine, Amer. J. Psychiat., 1937, 94, 577–585.
3.
Bradley, C.: Benzedrine and Dexedrine in the treatment of children's behavior disorders, Pediatrics, 1950, 5, 24–37.
4.
Conners, C. K., Eisenberg, L., and Barcai, A.: Effect of dextroamphetamine on children. Arch. Gen. Psychiat., 1967, 17, 478–485.
5.
Conners, C. K., and Rothschild, G.H.: Drugs and learning in children. In: Learning Disorders, Vol. 3, Special Child Publications, Seattle, Wash., 1968.
6.
Eisenberg, L.: The management of the hyperkinetic child. Develop. Med. Child. Neurol., 1966, 8, 593–598.
7.
Knights, R. M., and Hinton, G. G.: The effects of methylphenidate (Ritalin) on the motor skills and behavior of children with learning problems. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis., 1969, 148, 643–653.
8.
Knobel, M.: Psychopharmacology for the hyperkinetic child. Arch. Gen. Psychiat., 1962, 6, 198–202.
9.
Kornetsky, C.: Psychoactive drugs in the immature organism. Psychopharmacologia (Berlin), 1970, 17, 105–136.
10.
Ladd, E. T.: Pills for classroom peace?Saturday Review, Nov. 21, 1970, pp. 66–68, 81–83.
11.
Laufer, M. W., Denhoff, E., and Solomons, G.: Hyperkinetic impulse disorder in children's behavior problems. Psychosom. Med., 1957, 19, 39–49.
12.
Marazzi, A. S., and Hart, E. R.: Comparison of the effects on evoked cortical synaptic response of mescaline, amphetamine and adrenalin, Elect-roenceph. Clin. Neurophysiol., 1953, 5, 317–318.
13.
Menkes, M. M., Rowe, J. S., and Menkes, J. H.: A twenty-five year follow-up study on the hyperkinetic child with minimal brain dysfunction. Pediatrics, 1967, 39, 393–399.
14.
Millichap, J. G., and Fowler, G. W.: Treatment of “minimal brain dysfuction” syndromes. Pediat. Clin. N. Amer., 1967, 14, 767–777.
15.
Solomons, G.: The hyperactive child. J. Iowa Med. Soc., 1965, 55, 464–469.
16.
Solomons, G.: Monitoring drug therapy by telephone. Med. Times, 1968, 96, 205–210.
17.
Sprague, R. L., Barnes, K. R., and Werry, J. S.: Methylphenidate and thioridazine: learning, reaction time, activity and classroom behavior in disturbed children. Amer. J. Orthopsychiat., 1970, 40 (4), 615–628.
18.
Zimmerman, F. T., and Burgemeister, B. B.: Action of methylphenidylacetate (Ritalin) and reserpine. in behavior disorders in children and adults. Amer. J. Psychiat., 1958, 115, 323–328.
