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

Assessment by Target Symptoms

L. Eugene Arnold, MD; Paul H. Wender, MD; Keith McCloskey, MD; Solomon H. Snyder, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1972;27(6):816-822.

Abstract
In a nine-week double-blind crossover comparison of dextroamphetamine, levoamphetamine (Cydril), and placebo with 11 hyperkinetic children, effects were assessed by an established teacher rating scale, a parent rating scale, and a new tool, weekly quantification of parent-selected target symptoms. Both active drugs were significantly more effective than placebo. Dextroamphetamine seemed consistently superior to levoamphetamine, though not to a significant degree (on this size sample). Levoamphetamine seemed "slower starting," requiring three weeks to show significant benefit on target symptoms, whereas dextroamphetamine showed nearly its maximum benefit the first week. Levoamphetamine seemed better for hyperactivity and aggressiveness than for inattentiveness, whereas dextroamphetamine seemed equally beneficial for all three. These data are consistent with the possibility that therapeutic effects of amphetamine on hyperkinetic children are mediated, at least in some, by dopaminergic systems.

Author Affiliations
Columbus, Ohio; Washington, DC; Arlington Heights, Ill; Baltimore

From the Department of Psychiatry, Ohio State University, Columbus (Dr. Arnold); the departments of psychiatry (Dr. Wender) and pharmacology and experimental therapeutics (Dr. Snyder), Johns Hopkins University College of Medicine; and the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md (Dr. Wender). Dr. McCloskey is in private practice.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Oct 6, 1971.

Reprint requests to the Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Johns Hopkins University College of Medicine, 725 N Wolfe St, Baltimore 21205 (Dr. Snyder).

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

A Comparison of Ritalin and Adderall: Efficacy and Time-course in Children With Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Pelham et al.
Pediatrics 1999;103:43e-43.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

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  

Differential Effect of Amphetamine Optical Isomers on Bender Gestalt Performance of the Minimally Brain Dysfunctioned
Arnold et al.
J Learn Disabil 1978;11:127-132.
ABSTRACT  

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  

Neurochemical, Endocrine, Pharmacological, and Genetic Studies
Arch Neurol 1974;30:8-23.
ABSTRACT