A brief overview is given of recent controlled studies of the effects of stimulent drugs on general behavior, motor organizaition, cognition and learning, physiololigical responsiveness and attentions in hyperkinetic children. Emphasis is placed on objective methods of assessment of drug effects which have began to allow standing clinical lore to become documented and to contribute to the understanding of basic psychological and physioloicial process involed in the heterogenous disorders lumped under the label of “hyperkinetics syndrome.”
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Barnes, K. R.: Effects of methylphenidate and thioridazine on learning, reaction time and activity level in hyperactive emotionally disturbed children. Unpublished bachelor's thesis, University of Illinois, 1968.
2.
Cohen, N. J., Douglas, V. I., and Morgenstern, G.: The effect of methylphenidate on attentive behavior and autonomic activity in hyperactive children. Unpublished doctorate dissertation, McGill University.
3.
Conners, C. K.: A teacher rating scale for use in drug studies with children. Amer. J. Psychiat., 1969, 126, 152–156.
4.
Conners, C. K.: Stimulant drugs and cortical evoked responses in learning behavior disorders in children. Paper presented at the 2nd Annual Cerebral Function Symposium, Denver, 1970, in press.
5.
Conners, C. K.: Pharmacotherapy of behavior disorders in children. Chapter to appear in H. Quay & J. Werry (Eds,),Psychopathological Disorders of Children, New York: Wiley & Sons, in press. (a)
6.
Conners, C. K.: Management of the brain damaged child: drug therapy. Chapter to appear in P. Black (Ed.),Brain Damage in Children: Etiology, Diagnosis, Management. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins Co., in press, (b)
7.
Conners, C. K.: The use of stimulant drugs in enhancing performance and learning. In W. L. Smith (Ed.), Drugs and Cerebral Function. Fort Lauderdale: Charles C Thomas, in press. (c)
8.
Conners, C. K., Eisenberg, L., and Barcai, A.: Effect of dextroamphetamine in children. Arch. Gen. Psychiat., 1967, 17, 478–485.
9.
Conners, C. K., and Rothschild, G. H.: Drugs and learning in children. In: Learning Disorders, Vol. 3. Seattle: Special Child Publ., 1968; pp. 191–224.
10.
Conners, C. K., et al.: Dextroamphetamine sulfate in children with learning disorders: Effects on perception, learning and achievement. Arch. Gen. Psychiat., 1969, 21, 182–190.
11.
Eisenberg, L.: The role of drugs in treating psychiatric disorders in children. Children, 1964, 11, 167–173.
12.
Epstein, L., et al.: Correlation of dextroamphetamine excretion and drug response in hyperkinetic children. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis., 1968, 146, 136–146.
13.
Finnerty, D., Greaney, J., Soltys, J., and Cole, J.: The use of d-amphetamine with hyperkinetic children. Psychopharmacologia, 1971, 21, 302–308.
14.
Freeman, R. D.: Review of Drug Effects: Selected Papers on Learning Disabilities. Fifth Annual International Conference of the Association for Children with Learning Disabilities. Feb. 1968, Boston, Mass. San Rafael: Academic Therapy Publ., 1969, pp. 505–507.
15.
Helper, M., Wilcott, R. C, and Garfield, S. L.: Effects of chlorpromazine on learning and related processes in emotionally disturbed children. J. Consult. Psychol.1963, 27, 1–9.
16.
Knights, R. M., and Hinton, G.: The effects of methylphenidate (Ritalin) on the motor skills and behavior of children with learning problems. Res. Bull. No. 102, Univ. of Western Ontario, Oct., 1968.
17.
Millichap, J. G., and Boldrey, E. E.: Studies in hyperkinetic behavior. Neurology, 1967, 17, 467–417.
18.
Millichap, J. G., and Fowler, G.: Treatment of “minimal brain dysfunction” syndromes. Pediat. Clin. N. Amer. 1967, 14, 767–778.
19.
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, 615–628.
20.
Sprague, R. L., and Toppe, L. K.: Relationship between activity level and delay of reinforcement. Exper. Child Psychol., 1966, 3, 390–397.
21.
Sprague, R. L., Werry, J. S., and Davis, K. V.: Psychotropic drug effects on learning and activity level of children. Paper presented at Gatlinburg Conference on Research and Theory in Mental Retardation, March, 1969.
Werry, J. S., and Sprague, R. L.: Hyperactivity. In: C. Costello (Ed.),Symptoms of Psychopathology. New York: Wiley, 1970.
24.
Witt, P. A., Ellis, M. J., and Sprague, R. L.: Methylphenidate and free range activity in hyperactive children. Unpublished paper written in support of NIMH grant #MH18909, Children's Research Center, University of III., Urbana.
