Neuroimaging of the Effects of Concerta in the Treatment of ADHD

Summary

A number of brain regions have been down to be altered in both structure and function in patients with ADHD, including prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate, caudate and cerebellum. Patients with ADHD often show reduced levels of activity in the frontal and cingulate regions of brain while performing measures of inhibitory control during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). While stimulant medications robustly improve the clinical symptoms of ADHD, there are only a small number of studies examining the effects of these commonly prescribed medications on brain activity. We propose to obtain fMRI in patients with ADHD on placebo and on their individualized dose of OROS methylphenidate (Concerta). Our hypothesis is that Concerta will increase the activity of the brain in the frontal, cingulate and amygdala of the brain and that these brain changes will be associated with clinical improvement of symptoms.

Timeline

Start

2008-11

Primary completion

2010-12

Completion

2010-12

Publications

• Background Bush G, Spencer TJ, Holmes J, Shin LM, Valera EM, Seidman LJ, Makris N, Surman C, Aleardi M, Mick E, Biederman J. Functional magnetic resonance imaging of methylphenidate and placebo in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder during the multi-source interference task. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2008 Jan;65(1):102-14. doi: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2007.16.
• Background Pliszka SR, Glahn DC, Semrud-Clikeman M, Franklin C, Perez R 3rd, Xiong J, Liotti M. Neuroimaging of inhibitory control areas in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who were treatment naive or in long-term treatment. Am J Psychiatry. 2006 Jun;163(6):1052-60. doi: 10.1176/ajp.2006.163.6.1052.

Drugs

Indications