Neurobehavioral effects of amantadine after pediatric traumatic brain injury: a preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the safety and efficacy of a dopamine agonist, amantadine hydrochloride (AMH), in the treatment of neurobehavioral sequelae of pediatric TBI.


METHODS
Age- and severity-matched traumatic brain injury groups, randomized to AMH (n = 17) or usual care (n = 10), completed behavior scales and neuropsychological tests. Effect sizes measured the treatment effect within subjects and between groups. Side effects were tracked over the 12-week study course.


RESULTS
Behavior improved in the AMH group, but only those 2 years or fewer postinjury showed a treatment effect on cognitive tests.


CONCLUSIONS
After traumatic brain injury, a 12-week course of AMH was safe and, according to parent report, improved behavior. AMH may have the potential to improve cognition in more recently injured children.
Beers
Sue R
SR
Traumatic Brain Injury Program, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. beerssr@upmc.edu
Skold
Anna
A
Dixon
Clifton Edward
CE
Adelson
Philip David
PD
D000293:Adolescent; D000547:Amantadine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000547:Amantadine