Prevalence and pattern of drug treatment for behavior and seizure disorders of TMR students.

The prevalence and pattern of psychotropic and antiepileptic drug treatment for TMR children and adolescents in public schools were determined from teacher questionnaires and parent interviews. The relationship between drug use and age, race, and sex was also examined. The findings, indicated that during the school year, 10 percent of the students received medication for seizure disorders and 4.9 percent were treated for behavior disorders. An additional 1.8 percent were treated concurrently for both a seizure and a behavior disorder. The data also suggested that dosages of methylphenidate (Ritalin), the most frequently prescribed drug for persons with behavior disorders, were conservative. The results were interpreted with regard to drug use among nonretarded and severely and profoundly mentally retarded populations.