Results There is some evidence of the effectiveness of medication in treating DBDs , with positive outcomes for lithium and risperidone in particular .
Pharmacotherapy also demonstrated some efficacy in reducing symptoms of aggression .
Medication was relatively well-tolerated , as indicated by equivalent dropout rates in medication and comparison groups .
Rationale Pharmacotherapy is frequently considered in the treatment of  disruptive behavior disorders ( DBDs ) in children and adolescents .
There are , however , no systematic review s of this literature .
Objectives The aim of this work is to determine whether medication is effective in treating pediatric disruptive behavior disorders and related problems of impulse control , as well as to examine differences in the treatment response and tolerability of different medication classes and agents .
A randomized controlled trial of pemoline for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in substance-abusing adolescents.
OBJECTIVE In adolescents with substance use disorder ( SUD ) , comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) is associated with greater severity of substance abuse , conduct problems , and worse treatment outcomes . Although many controlled trials have established the efficacy of psychostimulants , including pemoline , for ADHD in children and adolescents , none have been conducted in adolescents with SUD . This r and omized , placebo-controlled trial , conducted between 1996 and 2000 , evaluated the safety and efficacy of pemoline on substance abuse and conduct problems . METHOD Sixty-nine adolescents ( aged 13 - 19 ) with conduct disorder ( CD ) , SUD , and ADHD were recruited from the community and r and omly assigned to a 12-week clinical trial of pemoline ( n = 35 ) or placebo ( n = 34 ) , titrated over 4 weeks to a single morning dose of 75 to 112.5 mg as tolerated . RESULTS Pemoline had greater efficacy than placebo for ADHD as determined by significantly more Clinician 's Global Impression-Improvement ( CGI-I ) ratings of 1 ( very much improved ) or 2 ( much improved ) at the study endpoint ( n = 69 ; p < .05 ) . There was also greater reduction in ADHD severity on the parent-rated Conners Hyperactivity-Impulsivity scale in pemoline-treated study completers compared to placebo-treated completers ( pemoline , n = 17 ; placebo , n = 16 ; p < .01 ) , but no difference between groups in the intent-to-treat analysis ( n = 68 ; p < .13 ) . Substance use did not decline in either group , and there was no difference between groups in baseline to study endpoint change in substance use or CD symptoms . Overall , pemoline was well tolerated , demonstrating a good safety profile and no elevation in liver enzyme levels . CONCLUSIONS Pemoline was efficacious for ADHD but did not have an impact on CD or substance abuse in the absence of specific treatment for SUD
Results There is some evidence of the effectiveness of medication in treating DBDs , with positive outcomes for lithium and risperidone in particular .
Pharmacotherapy also demonstrated some efficacy in reducing symptoms of aggression .
Medication was relatively well-tolerated , as indicated by equivalent dropout rates in medication and comparison groups .
Rationale Pharmacotherapy is frequently considered in the treatment of  disruptive behavior disorders ( DBDs ) in children and adolescents .
There are , however , no systematic review s of this literature .
Objectives The aim of this work is to determine whether medication is effective in treating pediatric disruptive behavior disorders and related problems of impulse control , as well as to examine differences in the treatment response and tolerability of different medication classes and agents .