[Ritalin: a stimulating drug in the treatment of children with minimal brain dysfunction (MBD)]

Abstract

Children with Minimal Brain Dysfunction (MBD) are vulnerable in society. Therapy consists of a combination of behaviour modification techniques, function training, psychotherapy, family therapy and counseling of parents and teachers. This way of treatment is not appropriate for all children with MBD. Some of them need additional therapy with a psychotropic drug e.g. methylphenidate (Ritalin). We describe a procedure to establish, whether Ritalin improves the therapeutic impact in a specific child. Eight children enrolled the program. In seven Ritalin improved the therapeutic possibilities for a longer period of time. The dose for an optimal therapeutic effect varied individually, and was relatively low (0.4-0.8 kg/kg/dg). The hypothesis concerning the effect of psychotropic drugs in MBD and the pharmacological properties of Ritalin are discussed. We believe this procedure to be applicable in any multidisciplinary setting, experienced with behavioural and learning problems in childhood.