Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry
Volume 25, Issue 6 , Pages 820-825, November 1986

Relationship between Stimulant Effect, Electroencephalogram, and Clinical Neurological Findings in Hyperactive Children

Dr. Halperin is Director, Child Psychology Unit, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, The Mount Sinai Medical Center; Assistant Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Gittelman is Director, Department of Psychology, New York State Psychiatric Institute; Professor of Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Katz is Director, Outpatient Clinic and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Downstair Medical Center. Dr. Struve is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, and Director of Experimental Encephalography, Eastern Virginia Medical School

Received 19 June 1985; accepted 29 July 1985.

Article Outline

Claims have been made that hyperactive children respond better to stimulant treatment if they have clinical indicators of neurological dysfunction. However, studies report conflicting results. The present placebo-controlled study examined the relationship between neurological abnormalities and stimulant medication efficacy in 80 pervasively hyperactive children. Treatment outcome measures, which were adjusted for both age and initial severity of the disorder, included teacher and psychiatric ratings. No evidence was found to indicate that clinical neurological status, including encephalographic and neurological soft signs, was predictive of drug responsivity.

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References 

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 This research was supported in part by Mental Health Clinical Research Grant MH-30906 at the N. Y. State Psychiatric Institute, and by U.S. Public Health Service grant MH-18579 to Dr. Gittelman.

PII: S0002-7138(09)60201-6

doi:10.1016/S0002-7138(09)60201-6

Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry
Volume 25, Issue 6 , Pages 820-825, November 1986

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