Drug alterations of punished responding after chlordiazepoxide: possible screen for agents useful in minimal brain dysfunction.

In the present study, the effect of various stimulant drugs on the action of chlordiazepoxide to increase punished responding was studied. Drugs such as d-amphetamine, methylphenidate and imipramine that are effective in attentional deficit disorder (MBD) were found to reverse this benzodiazepine-induced increase in responding. Phenobarbital which worsens this condition enhanced the benzodiazepine effect. Since the impairment caused by chlordiazepoxide may be analogous to the lack of impulse control noted in MBD, the bupropion antagonism of this action of chlordiazepoxide suggests that bupropion may be useful in MBD.