Influence of Stimulant Medication on Brain Processes for Decision Making in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Summary

The goal of this trial is to investigate the cognitive- and brain-mechanisms underlying decision making (DM) and learning in young adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as well as the modulation of task-related and task-independent brain activation by methylphenidate. The study aims at using a double-blinded, placebo controlled, cross-over, withdrawal design to study the effects of ADHD and methylphenidate in both a behavioural study investigating cognitive effects on decision making and instrumental learning, and a functional MRI (fMRI) study investigating the effects on brain mechanisms during decision making alone. A secondary objective of the trial is to measure the effect of adult ADHD and methylphenidate on cerebral perfusion. This will be done through applying a novel arterial spin labelling MRI-technique on the participants in the fMRI arm of the study.

Timeline

Start

2013-06

Primary completion

2015-06

Completion

2015-06

Publications

• Mowinckel AM, Alnaes D, Pedersen ML, Ziegler S, Fredriksen M, Kaufmann T, Sonuga-Barke E, Endestad T, Westlye LT, Biele G. Increased default-mode variability is related to reduced task-performance and is evident in adults with ADHD. Neuroimage Clin. 2017 Mar 30;16:369-382. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2017.03.008. eCollection 2017.

Drugs

Indications