Outpatient Treatment of Hyperactive School Children with Imipramine
JONAS WAIZER M.A.1,
STANLEY P. HOFFMAN PH.D.1,
POLIZOES POLIZOS M.D.2, , and
DAVID M. ENGELHARDT M.D.3
1 Instructors and Research Associates, Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11203
2 Clinical Assistant Professor and Research Child Psychiatrist, Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11203
3 Professor and Director of the Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11203
Nineteen hyperactive school children were treated in an outpatient clinic with imipramine for eight weeks, followed by four weeks of placebo. On the basis of ratings by a child psychiatrist, parents, and teachers, significant improvement was observed in hyperactivity as well as in defiance, inattentiveness, and sociability. Placebo treatment resulted in deterioration of behavior. The side effects of anorexia and insomnia were reported but represented no serious problem. The unique effects of imipramine and its advantages over central nervous systern stimulants in the treatment of hyperactive children are discussed.
