Symptom alleviation in the hyperactive child by dietary modification: A report of two cases.

Abstract

Case reports are presented of two hyperactive preschool boys, one with severe cognitive and one with emotional problems, treated as a last resort with the Kaiser-Permanente elimination diet. Outcomes suggest further study of the effectiveness of the diet in alleviating symptoms of hyperactivity, especially in the preschool child who is unresponsive to medication and whose hyperactivity may be compounded by other developmental and emotional problems.

Hyperactivity and Diet Treatment

“…Additional support was found in other uncontrolled clinical studies (Crook 1977, Keithly 1975, Stine 1976) which were characterized by positive results but serious methodological faults (Kolata 1978, Levine & Liden 1976, Spring & Sandoval 1976. A particularly scathing critique (Werry 1976) raised the ethical question of introducing a treatment before it has been shown to be efficacious; "I personally feel there is no greater breach of medical ethics than that of foisting a potentially worthless or dangerous treatment on a credulous public.…”

The equivocal nature of special education interventions

“…The most favorable evidence for the Feingold diet is found in clinical reports (e.g., Stine, 1976) but the real improvement levels are far lower and may represent little more than placebo effects (Spring & Sandoval, 1976). Additionally, the diet is difficult to maintain in practice (see Lew, 1977), and any uncritical support may postpone more appropriate medical, Downloaded by [McGill University Library] at 21:58 06 February 2015 psychological, or educational intervention (Sheridan & Meister, 1982;Wender, 1977).…”

Biological Foundations of Behavior: Implications for Counseling

“…Hyperactivity is another relatively common biologically based behavior disorder. Its cause is believed to be related to metabolic problems of prenatal origin (Wender, 1973) or to chemicals in refined foods such as artificial coloring and flavoring (Feingold, 1976;Stine, 1976). Both epilepsy and hyperactivity are biologically based behavior disorders that are likely to be diagnosed among school-youth populations.…”

“…It is an organ of billions of nerve cells driven by the electrochemical energy that defines our state of consciousness, mood, and actions. It is well established that brain state can be altered via drugs, diet, exercise, and even conscious thought (Brown, 1974;Greist, Klein, Eischens, & Faris, 1978;Iversen, 1979;Stine, 1976).…”