title: Evaluation of Brāhmī ghṛtam in children suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity. In view of the adverse effects associated with psycho-stimulants used for the treatment of this disorder, efficacy of Brāhmī ghṛtam was evaluated in this condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  After following due ethical considerations, children of either sex between the age group of 6 and 12 years diagnosed to be suffering from mixed variety of ADHD as per The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) IV criteria irrespective of other co-morbid psychiatric illnesses were recruited in the study. Initially a pilot study (n = 10) was carried out to confirm the efficacy of the identified dose of Brāhmī ghṛtam. Using this dose, further therapeutic confirmatory study (n = 27) was carried out, wherein Brāhmī ghṛtam was compared with methylphenidate. Effect on ADHD symptoms was assessed using the Dupaul ADHD rating scale and this was the main efficacy parameter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the pilot exploratory study, Brāhmī ghṛtam showed 66% decrease in total ADHD score. In the therapeutic confirmatory study, only 16% improvement was seen with Brāhmī ghṛtam, which was similar to methylphenidate, standard treatment for ADHD that was used as a comparator in the present study. No side-effects were reported in both studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study thus has adequately demonstrated efficacy and safety of Brāhmī ghṛtam in ADHD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, TNMC and BYL Nair Ch. Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Supriya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhalerao
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, TNMC and BYL Nair Ch. Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Renuka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Munshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dravyaguna, Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Tanuja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nesari
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, TNMC and BYL Nair Ch. Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Heenal
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shah
keywords: Dupaul Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder rating scale; psychometry