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Randomized trial of methylphenidate for an autistic child.

Abstract A single-case experiment testing the effectiveness of methylphenidate in a 6-year-old autistic boy was performed by randomly assigning treatment days to placebo or active drug, collecting daily blind ratings of behavior from the child's mother and from teachers, and statistically comparing the ratings for drug days with those for placebo days. Negative effects on mood and tantrums seemed to be outweighed by positive effects on attention and activity, destructive behavior, and stereotyped movements. This result fails to support past statements that stimulants are contraindicated with autistic children, and that stimulants do not reduce the hyperactivity of autistic children.