Stimulant drugs are commonly prescribed in this country for children presenting with hyperactive, disruptive, excitable and distractible behaviour. Whilst this treatment can be beneficial for a considerable proportion of cases in the short term, it has a number of disadvantages and apparently does not improve the long-term outcome. In this paper a number of significant issues concerning drug treatment for problem children are discussed including diagnosis, drug effect parameters, and psychological factors, and alternative intervention strategies outlined.
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