The Efficacy of Stimulant Drug Treatment for Hyperactivity

Abstract

This investigation reviews 135 studies examining the efficacy of stimulant drug treatment for hyperactivity. Meta-analysis, the analysis of analyses, is the methodological procedure used to integrate research findings. General findings indicate positive effects for drug intervention. In addition, subsets of data illustrating important behavioral, cognitive, and physiological outcomes were examined. Finally, variation among studies in terms of study features, subject characteristics, and design variables were investigated. Findings were compared and comrasted with previous reviews and showed that the extant literature provides a basis for concluding that stimulant drugs are an effective treatment for hyperactivity.