title: Stimulant drugs for severe hyperactivity in childhood.
abstract: It is estimated that 0.5-1.4% of school-aged children in England and Wales have severe hyperactivity, a syndrome characterised by impulsiveness, inattention and overactivity. In the UK, two CNS stimulants, methylphenidate and dexamfetamine (dexamphetamine), are licensed for treating childhood hyperactivity where non-drug measures along have proved insufficient. In 1995, we concluded that behavioural and educational approaches should be first-choice steps in most children with hyperactivity, with stimulant drugs being reserved for children in whom the disorder is severe or who are resistant to non-drug treatments. Here, we reassess the place of stimulant drugs in the management of severe hyperactivity in children.
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate; D003913:Dextroamphetamine