Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1999 Jul; 19(7): 410-1.

[Clinical comparative observation on duodongning and Ritalin in treating child hyperkinetic syndrome]

Li X, Chen Z.

Department of Child Mental Health, Second Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Medical University, Changsha (410011).

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect and side-effect of Duodongining (DDN), a Chinese herbal preparation, in treating child hyperkinetic syndrome. METHODS: Double blind method was used in observation on effect of DDN and compared with that of Ritalin. RESULTS: In the 37 patients treated with DDN, 17 (45.9%) were markedly effective and 16 (43.2%) were effective. In the 33 Patients treated with Ritalin, the respective case numbers were 15 (45.5%) and 14 (42.4%). The Conners Hyperactive Index of the DDN group before treatment was 2.01 +/- 0.83, and after treatment 1.17 +/- 0.76, while that of the Ritalin group was 2.07 +/- 0.91 before treatment and 1.47 +/- 0.79 respectively after treatment. There were no significant difference between the two groups both in effect and in Conner Index, P > 0.05. The main side-effect was lack of appetite, it revealed in 3 cases of the DDN group and 7 cases of the Ritalin group, and was severer in the latter. CONCLUSION: The effect of DDN and Ritalin were not different significantly, but the side-effect of Ritalin was severer than that of DDN.