Relationship between Stimulant Effect, Electroencephalogram, and Clinical Neurological Findings in Hyperactive Children

Claims have been made that hyperactive children respond better to stimulant treatment if they have clinical indicators of neurological dysfunction. However, studies report conflicting results. The present placebo-controlled study examined the relationship between neurological abnormalities and stimulant medication efficacy in 80 pervasively hyperactive children. Treatment outcome measures, which were adjusted for both age and initial severity of the disorder, included teacher and psychiatric ratings. No evidence was found to indicate that clinical neurological status, including encephalographic and neurological soft signs, was predictive of drug responsivity.