ABSTRACT
Drug treatment for behavior disorders in mentally retarded children, adolescents, and adults is considered a separate topic in this book for several reasons. It should be noted that psychotropic drugs are not prescribed for mental retardation per se. The objective of drug treatment is not to "cure" or change biochemical processes in such a fashion that a mentally retarded child can perform like his or her nonretarded peers. Unquestionably, some of the most commonly prescribed psychotropic drugs for mentally retarded children and youth are the stimulants. Moreover, what limited data are available suggest that they are highly effective in the treatment of hyperactivity in mildly to moderately retarded individuals. There are at least two studies of stimulants being used to counteract neuroleptic and antiepileptic drug-induced drowsiness in mentally retarded individuals. In both cases, the drugs were found to be highly effective.
