Stimulant medication for the child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Stimulant medications have been used to manage the associated symptoms of A DHD including inattention, developmentally inappropriate levels of activity , distractibility, and impulsivity. To date, clinical trials clearly have e stablished the efficacy of the stimulants on the core symptoms of ADHD and associated aggression. Although the stimulants improve classroom productivi ty and behavior, few data have demonstrated the effectiveness of the stimul ants on academic achievement. Finally, there has been a paucity of data on the long-term efficacy and safety of stimulants. Recommendations are made f or future research studies that examine the integration of stimulant medica tion with other psychosocial therapies, particularly behavior management.