title: Diagnosis and treatment of minimal brain dysfunction in adults: a preliminary report.
abstract: Minimal brain dysfunction (MBD) has long been considered a disorder limited to childhood. A number of longitudinal and adoption studies suggest that MBD may persist into adult life where its existence is concealed by the application of a variety of diagnostic labels. In order to test the hypothesis that MBD does persist into adulthood, 15 putative MBD adults were identified on the basis of current MBD-like complaints, self-description of MBD characteristics in childhood, and a parental rating (on a standardized form) of "hyperactivity" in childhood. Eleven of the 15 subjects were given a double-blind trial of methylphenidate hydrochloride, and all 15 were given an open trial of pemoline, imipramine hydrochloride, or amitryptiline hydrochloride. Eight of the 11 showed a significant response to the double-blind trial of methylphenidate. Of the 15, eight showed a good response to stimulants or tricyclic antidepressants, two showed a moderately favorable response, and five were unresponsive to drug therapy.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003527:Cyclothymic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010389:Pemoline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D008774:Methylphenidate; D010389:Pemoline