Stimulant drug treatment of hyperactive adolescents.

The characteristics and classroom behavior changes of hyperactive (HA) school children treated with stimulants during the years, 1969-1974, were evaluated in relation to the age of the child. Fourteen children who began taking stimulants before age 8 were compared to 11 who were initiated on stimulant treatment at age 13-16. Next, 13 children who continued on stimulants into their teens were studied to compare their pre-teen with their teenage drug response. The major findings were: 1) The therapeutic response of stimulants for hyperactivity did not significantly change from age 6 to age 16. 2) Pre-treatment teacher ratings indicated that as a group, teenage HA children were as inattentive as younger HA children, but less aggressive and overactive. 3) The mean dose of stimulant medication to achieve a successful classroom response for school age HA children did not significantly increase with age. 4) Parental resistances to stimulants were not related to the age of the HA child, but behavioral resistances by the child increased significantly during the teens. 5) There were no reports of abuse of stimulants by HA teenagers.