Levoamphetamine and Dextroamphetamine: Differential Effect on Aggression and Hyperkinesis in Children and Dogs
L. EUGENE ARNOLD M.D.1,
VLADIMIR KIRILCUK M.D., PH.D.2,
SAMUEL A. CORSON PH.D.3, , and
ELIZABETH O'L. CORSON M.S.2
1 Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
2 Research Associate in Psychiatry, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
3 Professor of Psychiatry (Physiology) and Biophysics, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210
In laboratory experiments with hyperkinetic, untrainable dogs and in a comparison of levoamphetamine, dextroamphetamine, and placebo in children, levoamphetamine and dextroamphetamine were found to be approximately equal in calming an aggressive, hostile dog and in benefiting "unsocialized-aggressive" children: dextroamphetamine was more effective than levoamphetamine in calming "nervousness" and hyperactivity in dogs and in overanxious-hyperkinetic children. These data suggest that in the hyperkinetic syndrome, aggression and hostility may be benefited equally by levoamphetamine or dextroamphetamine via a dopaminergic mechanism, while anxiety and overactivity may be benefited significantly only by the dextro isomer via a norepinephrinergic mechanism.
