Response of Adolescents with Minimal Brain Dysfunction to Methylphenidate

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Abstract
Sixteen of 27 adolescents with minimal brain dysfunction showed subjective and objective evidence of improvement following a 60-day trial of methylphenidate (Ritalin). Positive objective changes were demonstrated in these patients by improvement in behavior as recorded by parents and teachers completing the Conners' Abbreviated Teacher Rating Scale, by improvement in performance on the Bender-Gestalt Test, and by improvement in academic achievement. Subjective improvement included increased ability to attend and to concentrate and decreased symptoms of anxiety and nervousness. No specific parameters were identified retrospectively which could have been of value in predicting which adolescents with minimal brain dysfunction were more likely to exhibit positive responses to methylphenidate therapy. These findings demonstrate that a trial of methylphenidate therapy may prove helpful for underachieving adolescents with a documented history of hyperactivity.

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