Do these stimulant drugs make a difference in the long-term outcome of the minimal brain dysfunction?
A comprehensive examination of this subject carried out at the Montreal Children’s Hospital discovered a starling fact. At the end of five years, hyper kinetic children who received drugs (either Ritalin or Chloropromazine) did not differ significantly from children who had not received. Although it appeared that hyperactive kids treated with Ritalin were initially more manageable, the degree of improvement and emotional adjustment was essentially identical at the end of five years to that seen in a group of kids who had received no medication at all.