Effects of Expectation, Medication and Placebo on Objective and Self-rated Performance

Summary

Aim: The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of medication, placebo and expectation on objective and self-rated performance of ADHD core signs during the Quantified Behavior Test in patients with untreated ADHD and substance Use Disorders. Subjects: Participants are 40 consecutive patients remitted to a neuropsychiatric investigation at the Dependence Clinic Västmanland, Västerås, Sweden. Method: The study is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. The study is taken place during four hours on two investigating days, separated by a 4 days wash-out period. All patients participate on two occasions: In one session they receive the Methylphenidate (MPH) condition, and in the other session they receive the placebo condition. MPH and placebo conditions are counterbalanced across subjects such that half of the participants receive MPH first, and half receive placebo first. Neither the patient nor the research assistant is aware when the participant receive the MPH condition or the placebo condition. On each investigating day the participant accomplish Questionnaires (Visual Analogical Scales) concerning; (a) expectation, (b) self-rated performance, (c) exhausting exercise, (d) perceived help from the pill and (e) self-rated symptoms. In addition the participant completed A Quick Test of Cognitive Speed (AQT) and two separate Quantified Behavior Test Plus (QbTest) without medication vs MPH/Placebo. QbTest aims to provide objective information regarding core-symptoms of ADHD; hyperactivity on the basis of motor-activity measured with the camera, and inattention and impulsivity on basis of the CPT-test.

Timeline

Start

2016-09

Primary completion

2021-06

Completion

2021-06-17

Publications

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• Background Edebol H, Helldin L, Norlander T. Objective Measures of Behavior Manifestations in Adult ADHD and Differentiation from Participants with Bipolar II Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Participants with Disconfirmed ADHD as Well as Normative Participants. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 2012;8:134-43. doi: 10.2174/1745017901208010134. Epub 2012 Nov 2.
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• Background Linde K, Fassler M, Meissner K. Placebo interventions, placebo effects and clinical practice. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2011 Jun 27;366(1572):1905-12. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2010.0383.
• Background Lis S, Baer N, Stein-en-Nosse C, Gallhofer B, Sammer G, Kirsch P. Objective measurement of motor activity during cognitive performance in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2010 Oct;122(4):285-94. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2010.01549.x. Epub 2010 Feb 25.
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• Background Meissner K, Bingel U, Colloca L, Wager TD, Watson A, Flaten MA. The placebo effect: advances from different methodological approaches. J Neurosci. 2011 Nov 9;31(45):16117-24. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4099-11.2011.
• Background Nylander L, Holmqvist M, Gustafson L, Gillberg C. ADHD in adult psychiatry. Minimum rates and clinical presentation in general psychiatry outpatients. Nord J Psychiatry. 2009;63(1):64-71. doi: 10.1080/08039480802416323.
• Background Ohlmeier MD, Peters K, Te Wildt BT, Zedler M, Ziegenbein M, Wiese B, Emrich HM, Schneider U. Comorbidity of alcohol and substance dependence with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Alcohol Alcohol. 2008 May-Jun;43(3):300-4. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agn014. Epub 2008 Mar 7.
• Background Pelham WE; Lang AR. Parental alcohol consumption and deviant child beha-vior: Laboratory studies of reciprocal effects. Clinical Psychology Review 1993, 13, 763-784.
• Background Rasmussen K, Levander S. Untreated ADHD in adults: are there sex differences in symptoms, comorbidity, and impairment? J Atten Disord. 2009 Jan;12(4):353-60. doi: 10.1177/1087054708314621. Epub 2008 Mar 26.
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• Background Soderstrom S, Pettersson R, Nilsson KW. Quantitative and subjective behavioural aspects in the assessment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults. Nord J Psychiatry. 2014 Jan;68(1):30-7. doi: 10.3109/08039488.2012.762940. Epub 2013 Mar 26.
• Background Torgersen T, Gjervan B, Rasmussen K. ADHD in adults: a study of clinical characteristics, impairment and comorbidity. Nord J Psychiatry. 2006;60(1):38-43. doi: 10.1080/08039480500520665.
• Background van Emmerik-van Oortmerssen K, van de Glind G, van den Brink W, Smit F, Crunelle CL, Swets M, Schoevers RA. Prevalence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in substance use disorder patients: a meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2012 Apr 1;122(1-2):11-9. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.12.007. Epub 2011 Dec 30.
• Background Whalen CK, Henker B. Psychostimulants and children: a review and analysis. Psychol Bull. 1976 Nov;83(6):1113-30. No abstract available.

Drugs

Indications