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To determine the effect of subacute administration of methylphenidate on recovery from moderate to moderately severe closed head injury.

Double-blind placebo-controlled with random assignment. Patients were enrolled when their Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test score was at least 65. Drug/placebo treatment began the day following baseline cognitive assessment and continued for 30 consecutive days. Follow-up evaluations were conducted at 30 and 90 days after baseline, after discontinuation of drug/placebo.

A level I trauma center.

Twenty-three patients ranging in age from 16 to 64 years. Head injury severity ranged from moderately severe (Glasgow Coma Score [GCS] ≤ 8, no intracranial pressure monitor) to “complicated mild” (GCS from 13 to 15 with positive computed tomography brain scan). Thirty-day follow-up was based on 12 patients, whereas 90-day …