Psicofarmacologia na infância e na adolescência / Psychopharmacology in childhood and in adolescence

A farmacoterapia está sendo estudada sistematicamente para o tratamento de crianças e adolescentes com psicopatologias variadas. Tem se mostrado como um instrumento importante para auxiliar estas crianças, junto com outras modalidades de tratamento. Este artigo tem como objetivo revisar os medicamentos usados para diferentes patologias, utilizando a nomenclatura do DSM-IV com o código equivalente do CID-10

Evaluation of BR-16 A (Mentat) in cognitive and behavioural dysfunction of mentally retarded children--a placebo-controlled study.

It is important to control abnormal behaviour and hyperactivity, and improve cognition in mentally retarded children (MRC), which would help in their education, training and subsequent rehabilitation. Recently it has become known that amongst other side-effects, protracted use of anti-convulsant medication induces cognitive and behavioural dysfunction, which is a major problem in mentally retarded epileptics. In a placebo-controlled study, we confirmed the efficacy of a herbal preparation, BR-16A (Mentat) in controlling such behavioural and cognitive deficits in 40 mentally retarded children. The efficacy of this remedy was further evaluated in 19 MRCs with epilepsy. Twelve patients had generalised seizure, 4 with partial and 3 with mixed seizure pattern was continued. Inspite of the usual antiepileptic treatment, the frequency of seizures ranged from 1 to 7 attacks in periods from 1 week to 1 year. With active drug Br-16A, it was possible to note a reduction in seizure frequency. Patients with higher frequency responded better. There was no further increase in the dosage of antiepileptic drugs. There was significant control of other abnormal behaviour as shown by reduction in rating score on the Children's Behavioural Inventory test. BR-16A was effective in controlling abnormal behaviour, especially hyperactivity and incongruous behaviour in mentally retarded children with and without epilepsy.

Psicofarmacos na infancia: seu uso nos principais disturbios psiquiatricos / Psychotropic drugs in childhood: use in the principal psychiatric disorders

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo uma revisao critica da literatura nacional e internacional no que se refere ao uso de psicofarmacos na infancia. Apresentam-se os principais diagnosticos psiquiatricos, pelo DSM-III-R, onde o uso de medicacao e indicado. Discutem-se a indicacao, a eficacia, os principais efeitos adversos, as doses e os cuidados no uso de psicofarmacos nestas patologias. Conjuntamente, sugerem-se varias regras gerais que norteiam o uso dessas drogas em criancas

Uso del haloperidol y el metilfenidato en niños retrasados mentales con trastornos de conducta / Use of haloperidol and methylphenydate in mentally retarded children with behavioral problems

Se realiza un estudio en el Centro de Diagnóstico y Orientación CDO de Sancti Spiritus con niños retrasados mentales que además de la dificultad en el aprendizaje presentaron trastornos de conducta. Se señalan como conclusiones el efecto selectivo del metilfenidato en el aprendizaje, y del haloperidol en los trastornos de conducta, y ambos en la hiperkinesia. Se destaca el bajo porcentaje de reacciones desagradables, lo cual apoya su utilización en el tratamiento de estos niños