This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Importance of Diagnostic Categories in Evaluating Treatment

Barbara Fish, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1971;25(3):193-203.

Abstract
The myth of "one child, one drug" is that "stimulants are the drugs for the hyperactive child." Contrary to this popular myth, there are many types of hyperactive children and stimulants are the drugs of choice for only some of them; furthermore, stimulants may be equally effective, if not more so, in certain nonhyperactive children; they have also been effective in children with minimal or gross brain dysfunctions, as well as those without. The ambiguities and oversimplifications in the literature can be avoided, if we distinguish between diagnoses which define the type of total personality disorder and terms which define major developmental symptoms, including the symptom of hyperactivity and the varying combinations of symptoms called "minimal brain dysfunction." In diagnosing children's disorders, both dimensions are essential.

Author Affiliations
New York

From the Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication April 28, 1971.

Reprint requests to Department of psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Ave, New York 10016.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Pharmacotherapy in Infantile Autism
Harty
Focus Autism Other Dev Disabl 1990;5:1-15.
 

Psychopharmacologic Treatment: A Note on Classroom Effects
Forness and Kavale
J Learn Disabil 1988;21:144-147.
ABSTRACT  

Hyperkinesis : Myth, Mystery, and Matter
Schworm
Journal of Special Education 1982;16:129-148.
ABSTRACT  

The Efficacy of Stimulant Drug Treatment for Hyperactivity: A Meta-Analysis
Kavale
J Learn Disabil 1982;15:280-289.
ABSTRACT  

Dextroamphetamine: Its Cognitive and Behavioral Effects in Normal and Hyperactive Boys and Normal Men
Rapoport et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1980;37:933-943.
ABSTRACT  

Hyperactivity: Symptom Complex or Complex Symptom?
Levine and Oberklaid
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1980;134:409-414.
ABSTRACT  

Methylphenidate vs Dextroamphetamine vs Caffeine in Minimal Brain Dysfunction: Controlled Comparison by Placebo Washout Design With Bayes' Analysis
Arnold et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1978;35:463-473.
ABSTRACT  

Neurobiologic Antecedents of Schizophrenia in Children: Evidence for an Inherited, Congenital Neurointegrative Defect
Fish
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1977;34:1297-1313.
ABSTRACT  

Behavioral Treatment of Hyperkinetic Children: An Experimental Evaluation of Its Usefulness
O'Leary et al.
CLIN PEDIATR 1976;15:510-515.
 

Levoamphetamine vs Dextroamphetamine in Minimal Brain Dysfunction: Replication, Time Response, and Differential Effect by Diagnostic Group and Family Rating
Arnold et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1976;33:292-301.
ABSTRACT  

Methylphenidate and Haloperidol in Children: Effects on Attention, Memory, and Activity
Werry and Aman
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1975;32:790-795.
ABSTRACT  

A Longitudinal Study of Three Brain Damaged Children: Infancy to Adolescence
Thomas and Chess
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1975;32:457-462.
ABSTRACT  

Behavior Checklist Factor Analysis for Children and Adolescents
Arnold and Smeltzer
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1974;30:799-804.
ABSTRACT  

Response to Methylphenidate in Low Socioeconomic Hyperactive Children
Hoffman et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1974;30:354-359.
ABSTRACT  

Liothyronine Treatment in Psychotic and Nonpsychotic Children Under 6 Years
Campbell et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1973;29:602-608.
ABSTRACT  

The Art of Medicating Hyperkinetic Children: A Number of Practical Suggestions
Arnold
CLIN PEDIATR 1973;12:35-41.
ABSTRACT  

Treating Hyperactive Children
Fish
JAMA 1971;218:1427-1427.
ABSTRACT