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Reinforcing and subjective effects of methylphenidate in adults with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

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Abstract

Rationale

There has been controversy over the abuse potential of methylphenidate (MPH) in the context of treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Objective

The objective of this study was to compare the reinforcing and subjective effects of oral MPH in adults with and without ADHD.

Materials and methods

Following screening, 33 adults (n = 16 with ADHD; n = 17 free from psychiatric diagnoses) completed four pairs of experimental sessions, each of which included a sampling session and a self-administration session. During sampling sessions, subjects received in randomized order 0 (placebo), 20, 40, and 60 mg MPH. During self-administration sessions, subjects completed a progressive ratio (PR) task to earn portions of the dose received on the corresponding sampling session. Subjective effects were recorded throughout all sessions. The main outcome measure for the study was the number of ratios completed on the PR task. Secondary measures included peak subjective effects and area-under-the-curve values for subjective effects.

Results

Compared to the control group, the ADHD group completed more ratios on the PR task. Both groups showed robust effects of methylphenidate on subjective endpoints. Main effects of group were noted on subjective effects involving concentration and arousal.

Conclusions

Compared to placebo, MPH produced reinforcing effects only for the ADHD group and not for the control group. Increases in stimulant-related subjective effects in non-ADHD subjects were not associated with drug reinforcement.

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Notes

  1. The trapezoid method sums post drug administration values according to the following formula: [1/2 × (time 1 value) + sum (time 2 value + time 3 value + …time n − 1 value) + 1/2 × (time n value)]. This method has been used previously to describe time course effects of drugs in laboratory studies (Kollins and Rush 1999).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    Scott H. Kollins, Joseph English, Rachel Robinson, Matt Hallyburton & Allan K. Chrisman

  2. Duke ADHD Program, 718 Rutherford Street, Durham, NC, 27701, USA

    Scott H. Kollins

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  1. Scott H. Kollins
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  2. Joseph English
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  3. Rachel Robinson
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  4. Matt Hallyburton
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  5. Allan K. Chrisman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Scott H. Kollins.

Additional information

This work was funded by grant R01DA017196 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (SHK).

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Kollins, S.H., English, J., Robinson, R. et al. Reinforcing and subjective effects of methylphenidate in adults with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Psychopharmacology 204, 73–83 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-008-1439-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-008-1439-6

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