The neuropsychological effects of chronic methylphenidate on drug-naive boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

David R. Coghill; Sinead M. Rhodes; Keith Matthews

doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.12.030

The neuropsychological effects of chronic methylphenidate on drug-naive boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

David R. Coghill, Sinead M. Rhodes, Keith Matthews

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

147 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: The reported neuropsychological effects of methylphenidate (MPH) in attention-de ficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are inconsistent. The assumed relationships between these neuropsychological effects and clinical efficacy have not been substantiated. We therefore investigated the effects of chronic MPH administration on neuropsychological functioning. Methods: We conducted a 12-week, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized, crossover trial (MPH .3 and .6 mg/kg/dose and placebo). Participants were 75 boys aged 7–15 years with ADHD. Neuropsychological performance was assessed with tests taken from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) battery and a GoNoGo task. Results: ChronicMPHimproved performance (p<.001) on aspects of theGoNoGotask (p<.02) and on threeCANTABtasks which together contributed to a “recognition memory” component identified through principal components analysis (delayed matching to sample [DMtS], Pattern and spatial recognition). There were no effects on other, high or low “executive demand” tasks (p>.05). GoNoGo performance improvements were the only neuropsychopharmacological changes associated with clinical response. Poor performance on the DMtS task was the sole baseline neuropsychological predictor of clinical response. Conclusions: Chronic MPH predominantly enhanced neuropsychological functioning on “recognition memory” component tasks with modest “executive” demands. Neuropsychological measures offer only modest contributions to the prediction of clinical responses to MPH in ADHD.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	954-962
Number of pages	9
Journal	Biological Psychiatry
Volume	62
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.12.030
Publication status	Published - Nov 2007

Keywords

Adolescent
Association Learning
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Central Nervous System Stimulants
Child
Choice Behavior
Cross-Over Studies
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Double-Blind Method
Drug Administration Routes
Humans
Male
Methylphenidate
Neuropsychological Tests
Predictive Value of Tests
Principal Component Analysis
Problem Solving
Reaction Time
Recognition (Psychology)
Time Factors

Access to Document

10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.12.030

Cite this

@article{c748aa40699c4f17a9a5d5d869fcc826,

title = "The neuropsychological effects of chronic methylphenidate on drug-naive boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder",

abstract = "Background: The reported neuropsychological effects of methylphenidate (MPH) in attention-de ficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are inconsistent. The assumed relationships between these neuropsychological effects and clinical efficacy have not been substantiated. We therefore investigated the effects of chronic MPH administration on neuropsychological functioning. Methods: We conducted a 12-week, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized, crossover trial (MPH .3 and .6 mg/kg/dose and placebo). Participants were 75 boys aged 7–15 years with ADHD. Neuropsychological performance was assessed with tests taken from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) battery and a GoNoGo task. Results: ChronicMPHimproved performance (p<.001) on aspects of theGoNoGotask (p<.02) and on threeCANTABtasks which together contributed to a “recognition memory” component identified through principal components analysis (delayed matching to sample [DMtS], Pattern and spatial recognition). There were no effects on other, high or low “executive demand” tasks (p>.05). GoNoGo performance improvements were the only neuropsychopharmacological changes associated with clinical response. Poor performance on the DMtS task was the sole baseline neuropsychological predictor of clinical response. Conclusions: Chronic MPH predominantly enhanced neuropsychological functioning on “recognition memory” component tasks with modest “executive” demands. Neuropsychological measures offer only modest contributions to the prediction of clinical responses to MPH in ADHD.",

keywords = "Adolescent, Association Learning, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Central Nervous System Stimulants, Child, Choice Behavior, Cross-Over Studies, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Double-Blind Method, Drug Administration Routes, Humans, Male, Methylphenidate, Neuropsychological Tests, Predictive Value of Tests, Principal Component Analysis, Problem Solving, Reaction Time, Recognition (Psychology), Time Factors",

author = "Coghill, {David R.} and Rhodes, {Sinead M.} and Keith Matthews",

note = "dc.publisher: Elsevier dc.description.sponsorship: TENOVUS - Scotland Eli Lilly Janssen Cilag Glaxo Smith Kline Cyberonics Inc. ",

year = "2007",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.12.030",

language = "English",

volume = "62",

pages = "954--962",

journal = "Biological Psychiatry",

issn = "0006-3223",

publisher = "Elsevier",

number = "9",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The neuropsychological effects of chronic methylphenidate on drug-naive boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

AU - Coghill, David R.

AU - Rhodes, Sinead M.

AU - Matthews, Keith

N1 - dc.publisher: Elsevier dc.description.sponsorship: TENOVUS - Scotland Eli Lilly Janssen Cilag Glaxo Smith Kline Cyberonics Inc.

PY - 2007/11

Y1 - 2007/11

N2 - Background: The reported neuropsychological effects of methylphenidate (MPH) in attention-de ficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are inconsistent. The assumed relationships between these neuropsychological effects and clinical efficacy have not been substantiated. We therefore investigated the effects of chronic MPH administration on neuropsychological functioning. Methods: We conducted a 12-week, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized, crossover trial (MPH .3 and .6 mg/kg/dose and placebo). Participants were 75 boys aged 7–15 years with ADHD. Neuropsychological performance was assessed with tests taken from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) battery and a GoNoGo task. Results: ChronicMPHimproved performance (p<.001) on aspects of theGoNoGotask (p<.02) and on threeCANTABtasks which together contributed to a “recognition memory” component identified through principal components analysis (delayed matching to sample [DMtS], Pattern and spatial recognition). There were no effects on other, high or low “executive demand” tasks (p>.05). GoNoGo performance improvements were the only neuropsychopharmacological changes associated with clinical response. Poor performance on the DMtS task was the sole baseline neuropsychological predictor of clinical response. Conclusions: Chronic MPH predominantly enhanced neuropsychological functioning on “recognition memory” component tasks with modest “executive” demands. Neuropsychological measures offer only modest contributions to the prediction of clinical responses to MPH in ADHD.

AB - Background: The reported neuropsychological effects of methylphenidate (MPH) in attention-de ficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are inconsistent. The assumed relationships between these neuropsychological effects and clinical efficacy have not been substantiated. We therefore investigated the effects of chronic MPH administration on neuropsychological functioning. Methods: We conducted a 12-week, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized, crossover trial (MPH .3 and .6 mg/kg/dose and placebo). Participants were 75 boys aged 7–15 years with ADHD. Neuropsychological performance was assessed with tests taken from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) battery and a GoNoGo task. Results: ChronicMPHimproved performance (p<.001) on aspects of theGoNoGotask (p<.02) and on threeCANTABtasks which together contributed to a “recognition memory” component identified through principal components analysis (delayed matching to sample [DMtS], Pattern and spatial recognition). There were no effects on other, high or low “executive demand” tasks (p>.05). GoNoGo performance improvements were the only neuropsychopharmacological changes associated with clinical response. Poor performance on the DMtS task was the sole baseline neuropsychological predictor of clinical response. Conclusions: Chronic MPH predominantly enhanced neuropsychological functioning on “recognition memory” component tasks with modest “executive” demands. Neuropsychological measures offer only modest contributions to the prediction of clinical responses to MPH in ADHD.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Association Learning

KW - Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity

KW - Central Nervous System Stimulants

KW - Child

KW - Choice Behavior

KW - Cross-Over Studies

KW - Dose-Response Relationship, Drug

KW - Double-Blind Method

KW - Drug Administration Routes

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Methylphenidate

KW - Neuropsychological Tests

KW - Predictive Value of Tests

KW - Principal Component Analysis

KW - Problem Solving

KW - Reaction Time

KW - Recognition (Psychology)

KW - Time Factors

U2 - 10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.12.030

DO - 10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.12.030

M3 - Article

C2 - 17543895

SN - 0006-3223

VL - 62

SP - 954

EP - 962

JO - Biological Psychiatry

JF - Biological Psychiatry

IS - 9

ER -

The neuropsychological effects of chronic methylphenidate on drug-naive boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this