title: Recovery in pediatric brain injury: is psychostimulant medication beneficial?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of methylphenidate on attention, memory, behavior, processing speed, and psychomotor skills of children with closed head injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design.
  
  
  METHODS
  An outpatient facility of a children's hospital medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten pediatric subjects identified through chart review. Subjects met baseline scores for hyperactivity (Conner's Hyperactivity Index greater than or equal to 60) and intellectual functioning (Verbal Intelligence Quotient greather than or equal to 70) and achieved minimal scores on two psychometric tests. All subjects evidenced head injury by focal lesions on computed tomography scan and/or sequelae reported at the time of injury. Severity of injury ranged from mild to severe. All subjects were medically stable at the time of testing. Mean time post injury was 2 years, 8 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Administration of methylphenidate and placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Percentage change in scores was calculated to assess differences between baseline and end of methylphenidate/placebo trials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences between methylphenidate and placebo on measures assessing behavior, attention, memory, and processing speed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the study call into question the effectiveness of methylphenidate in the pediatric head injury population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California 94305, USA. sharonw@leland.Stanford.edu
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ris
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ayyangar
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Schefft
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate