Attention deficit disorder children with or without hyperactivity. Which behaviors are helped by stimulants?

Each patient with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), with or without hyperactivity, is unique in the variety and severity of the handicapping conditions associated with ADD. The use of a well-designed teacher rating scale can provide the clinician with a behavioral profile of each patient. The importance of knowing the child's specific problems is emphasized by the results of this research, which show that methylphenidate has a major effect in improving attention, is helpful in decreasing activity level, but often has only a minor effect on deficient social skills and oppositional (aggressive) behavior.