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Biomedical subjects

B G Winsberg

Publications and source records attributed to B G Winsberg.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

Mismatch negativity in hyperactive children: effects of methylphenidate.

This pilot study investigates electrophysiological correlates of methylphenidate (MP) treatment among hyperkinetic children who are clinical responders to therapy. Event-related potentials were obtained from a small sample (6 hyperactive and 5 controls) during an auditory "oddball" task. In the ignore condition, oddball tones elicited a frontocentral "mismatch" negativity (MMN) during the 100- to 200-msec latency range following stimulus presentation. In the attend condition, oddball target tones elicited a centroparietal P3 as well. MP significantly decreased hyperkinetic behaviors. Preliminary analyses of the electrophysiological data indicated a decreased amplitude of the P3 waveform among hyperkinetic children and a trend toward normalization on MP. Waveform abnormalities in the latency range of control MMN suggested either a decrease in MMN amplitude or an increase in MMN latency in hyperactive subjects along with a trend toward normalization by MP. The preliminary data are suggestive of information-processing abnormalities among hyperactive children that may be sensitive to MP therapy.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗
PubMed1992

Methylphenidate augmentation therapy in schizophrenia.

Eight schizophrenic inpatients participated in a 2-week double-blind crossover study to test the efficacy of methylphenidate treatment for patients on a stabilized neuroleptic dose. All were young men with a childhood history of hyperactivity. The instruments used, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms, Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms, and Nurses Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation, showed no significant differences between stimulant and placebo conditions. One patient suffered a repeated pressor effect and was removed from the protocol. However, staff and self-report found some improvement in 3 patients and a slight worsening in 1.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Effects of respite on mothers of school-age and adult children with severe disabilities.

The immediate and short-term effects of a preplanned, 10-day overnight respite on 14 mothers of school-age and adult children with multiple disabilities were evaluated. Change in maternal mood, well-being, and activity patterns was measured before, during, and after respite. The data indicate that during respite, mothers experienced increased feelings of well-being and less depressed mood. Concomittant changes in activity patterns were also found. After respite, increased feelings of well-being continued, and there was a strong tendency for mothers to be less depressed. Results suggest that researchers should conduct controlled evaluation, using standardized measures, to assess the effectiveness of respite on enhancing the quality of life of mothers caring for children with disabilities at home.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1989

Efficacy of benztropine therapy for drooling.

This study assessed the efficacy of synthetic anticholinergic benztropine and incidence of side-effects in 20 developmentally-disabled patients with severe drooling. The double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover protocol included one-week baseline, two-week placebo and two-week benztropine conditions (mean dose 3.8 mg). A significant decrease in drooling during the benztropine condition relative to placebo was demonstrated and conservative response rates (calculated by deleting placebo responders), ranged up to 65 to 70 per cent. For patients completing the protocol the incidence of side-effects did not differ across conditions and minor problems such as a dry mouth were eliminated by small dose adjustments. More serious cholinergic side-effects, which resolved within 24 to 48 hours, necessitated discontinuation of the drug in three patients. This study demonstrates that synthetic anticholinergics can provide an important therapeutic alternative to surgical and behavioral therapies for drooling.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Mianserin pharmacokinetics and behavior in hyperkinetic children.

The present study was conducted to derive pediatric mianserin pharmacokinetic parameters, which were compared to those from healthy young adults, and to obtain preliminary information regarding the utility of mianserin for the management of hyperkinesis in children. The sample consisted of six prepubescent children with hyperkinetic behavior disorders who had not responded, or had developed tolerance to, stimulant medication. Mianserin pharmacokinetics were derived from plasma samples obtained over a 36- to 50-hour period following a single oral dose which ranged from 0.28 to 0.72 mg/kg. Children evidenced a significantly faster elimination half-life and a significantly smaller apparent kinetic volume of distribution than did adults, whereas maximum plasma concentration, time to maximum concentration, and apparent oral plasma clearance were similar. Ratings of behavioral deviance were obtained from teachers and parents during placebo and mianserin titration to a maximum dose of 40 mg/day. Although half the children showed some decrease in hyperactivity ratings, the small sample size and high variability of response preclude conclusions regarding the efficacy of mianserin for childhood hyperkinesis. Possible side effects in our sample included akathisia, excitability, insomnia, and migraine-like headache, as well as cardiovascular effects of tachycardia and two instances of minor electrocardiographic change. Our pharmacokinetic findings will be of import should mianserin prove useful for such childhood disorders as depression and/or enuresis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗
PubMed1985

Psychostimulant plasma concentration and learning performance.

Six normal adults were administered an oral dose of 0.25 mg/kg of dextroamphetamine, and their learning performance on a paired-associate task and drug blood level were measured at hourly intervals for 5 hours postdrug intake. Dextroamphetamine plasma concentration peaked at 2 to 3 hours following the oral dose, and learning errors were lowest during the same period. A self-report measure of mood also yielded findings consistent with peak plasma concentration. Similar findings obtained with hyperactive children treated with methylphenidate (Ritalin) lead the authors to conclude that the paired-associate learning task may be useful as an indicator of psychostimulant plasma levels, as a predictor of clinical response after an acute dose, and as a highly controlled task for studying psychostimulant drug effects on learning.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1982

Methylphenidate oral dose plasma concentrations and behavioral response in children.

The relationship between methylphenidate (MP) oral dose and plasma concentration to social and cognitive behaviors was studied in 25 boys diagnosed as having "attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity". Children were administered successive 1-week treatment conditions under the following schedule of fixed oral doses given twice daily: placebo; 0.25 mg/kg; 0.50 mg/kg; 1.0 mg/kg; placebo. Teacher and parent ratings showed increased improvement in social behavior as a function of MP dose. No drug effects were obtained on cognitive performance. MP plasma concentrations were significantly associated with oral dose and with measures of social behavior. No relationship was found with cognitive behavior. Side effects at the largest dose were severe enough to require discontinuation of treatment for five children, but were relatively mild for the remaining children.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1980

Home vs hospital care of children with behavior disorders. A controlled investigation.

A controlled investigation was conducted to assess and compare the treatment outcomes of community and hospital care for children with behavior disorders. Findings showed that (1) community care was effective with regard to behavioral control, and (2) both treatments were comparable concerning educational achievement, parent role function, family adjustment, and parent satisfaction with treatment. It was noted that many severely disturbed children who are in dire socioeconomic predicaments can be maintained in the community with special care and intervention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Effects of methylphenidate on learning a 'beginning reading vocabulary' by normal adults.

The effects of methylphenidate on reading was studied by having nine adults learn a beginning vocabulary of 96 Chinese characters under placebo and 5 mg and 10 mg methylphenidate by two teaching methods which differed in the rate at which new items were introduced for practice. Using lists composed of 12 characters and their English equivalents, all items were presented prior to the start of practice trials (simultaneous method), or each item was introduced only as the subject practiced items previously presented (progressive method). Learning performance was analyzed in terms of total errors and errors made at two criterion stages in list acquisition. Overall performance was significantly facilitated by the low (5 mg) dose or methylphenidate, but only with the simultaneous method. Significant drug effects were also obtained at criterion stages which were associated with high error rates. It was concluded that drug effects are likely to be most pronounced in difficult learning situations and that dosage appears to be an important variable for consideration in further studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Ineffectiveness of imipramine in children who fail to respond to methylphenidate.

Ten hyperactive children who had failed to respond to methylphenidate were treated with imipramine in a placebo-controlled, crossover design. No significant drug effects were obtained either on parent and teacher ratings of the child's behavior or on the child's performance in a laboratory measure of sustained attention. Findings suggest that imipramine has limited clinical usefulness in the treatment of hyperactive children who fail to respond to methylphenidate.

Aggression↗
PubMed1980

Estimation of monoamine and cyclic-AMP turnover and amino acid concentrations of spinal fluid in autistic children.

A group of autistic children had the concentrations of spinal fluid 5-HIAA, HVA and cAMP studied before and twenty-four hours after afflux blockade with probenecid. Spinal fluid aminoacids were studied before probenecid administration and found to be normal. Three children lacked an increase in the concentration of 5-HIAA after probenecid administration, and two had only modest increases in the concentration of spinal fluid HVA. The concentration of spinal fluid cAMP was increased by probenecid administration in all eight children. These findings suggest an abnormality in monoamine metabolism in a small group of autistic children.

Amines↗