Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP
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J Dev Behav Pediatr · Dec 1983
Behavior-disordered and aggressive children: new advances in pharmacotherapy.
The status of children's psychopharmacology is reviewed in the context of differences from its adult counterpart. An overview is presented of recent psychopharmacological developments in the treatment of childhood behavioral disorders. The disorders are grouped according to the potential usefulness of medication. ⋯ The effect of psychoactive drugs on cognitive functions in the laboratory is referred to, as well as the value of determining drug levels in clinical practice. It is concluded that drug administration in isolation is not the treatment of choice. Drug therapy is a valuable adjunct, however, to psychosocial interventions.
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J Dev Behav Pediatr · Dec 1983
The very low birth weight infant: the broader spectrum of morbidity during infancy and early childhood.
Neonatal intensive care has improved very low birth weight (less than 1.5 kg) outcome. To evaluate the spectrum of morbidity related to this care, 505 survivors born between 1975 and 1979 were followed during the first three years of life. Transient neurological abnormalities of muscle tone which resolved by two years of age were seen in 40% of children. ⋯ Mean IQ was 92.0. In the total population 80.6% were considered normal, 1.7% had major congenital malformations, 10.1% had neurosensory abnormalities, and 7.6% had developmental delay (DQ or IQ less than 80). Close followup care is essential to ensure the eventual adaptation and functional normalization which occurs in the majority of these high-risk infants.