Thirty-seven adult patients meeting the Utah criteria for attention
deficit disorder, residual type, were entered into a double-blind crossover
trial of methylphenidate and placebo. A moderate-to-marked therapeutic
response occurred in 21 (57%) of the patients while receiving
methylphenidate and in four (11%) while receiving placebo, a highly
significant difference statistically and clinically. The responding
patients showed significant improvement in the following areas: attentional
difficulty, motor overactivity, affective lability, and impulsivity. The
diagnosis of attention deficit disorder, residual type, should be
considered in patients with prominent complaints of impulsivity,
restlessness, emotional lability, and hot temper who do not suffer from
schizophrenia or major mood disorder and do not have symptoms of
schizotypal or borderline personality disorders.Abstract Teaser