Abstract
The effects of short-term treatment of dextroamphetamine on hyperkinetic children were investigated on twenty children who were enrolled in a normal school setting. The study was carried out double-blind. Students were evaluated medically, psychiatrically, neurologically, and administered psychological testing consisting of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children and Wide Range Achievement Test. Parents and teachers also evaluated the child on questionnaires. Students were given 5 mg of dextroamphetamine in the morning by a nurse, and this was increased 5 mg weekly until the maximum dose of 15 mg was reached in the third week.
Results indicated that there was a significant difference at the p<0.05 level in classroom behavior and attitude toward authority on teacher's ratings. No significant differences were found on variables measured by the parents' questionnaires. WISC results indicated significant differences on pre-post measurements for placebo and drug; however, there were no significant differences in improvement scores when between group comparisons were made. WRAT results also remained unchanged.
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Carried out under N.I.M.H. grant 16128 Boston State Hospital, 591 Morton Street, Boston, Mass. Medication supplied by Smith, Kline & French.
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Finnerty, R.J., Soltys, J.J. & Cole, J.O. The use of d-amphetamine with hyperkinetic children. Psychopharmacologia 21, 302–308 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403869
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00403869