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Olfaction contributes to feeding behaviour and is modulated by changes in dopamine levels. Methylphenidate (MPH) increases brain dopamine levels and has been shown to reduce appetite and promote weight loss in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The objectives of this study were to test the effect of MPH on olfaction, appetite, energy intake, and body weight (BW) on individuals with obesity. In a randomized, double-blind study, 12 participants (age 28.9 [+ or -] 6.7 years) with a body mass index (BMI) of 36.1 [+ or -] 4.5 kg/[m.sup.2] were assigned to MPH (0.5 mg/kg) (n = 5) or placebo (n = 7) twice daily for 2 months. Appetite (visual analog scale), odour threshold (Sniffin' Sticks[R]), energy intake (food menu), and BW (DEXA scan) were measured at day 1 and day 60. MPH intake significantly increased odour threshold scores (6.3 [+ or - ] 1.4 vs. 9.4 [+ or -] 2.1 and 7.9 [+ or -] 2.3 vs. 7.8 [+ or -] 1.9, respectively; p = 0.029) versus placebo. There was a significantly greater suppression of appetite sensations (desire to eat (p = 0.001), hunger (p = 0.008), prospective food consumption (p = 0.003)) and an increase in fullness (p = 0.028) over time in the MPH versus placebo. MPH suppressed appetite and improved olfactory sensitivity in individuals with obesity. These data provide novel findings on the favourable effects of MPH on appetite and weight regulation in individuals living with obesity. Key words: methylphenidate, olfaction, appetite, weight loss, energy intake, obesity. L'olfaction participe aux comportements alimentaires et se module par des variations des taux de dopamine. Le methylphenidate (MPH) entraine une augmentation des taux de dopamine dans le cerveau et on a montre qu'il entraine une diminution de l'appetit et qu'il favorise la perte de poids chez les patients presentant un trouble de deficit de l'attention avec hyperactivite. Cette etude avait pour objectif d'evaluer l'effet du MPH sur l'olfaction, l'appetit, l'apport energetique et la masse corporelle (MC) chez les personnes obeses. Dans le cadre d'une etude a double insu nous avons reparti aleatoirement 12 participants (ages de 28,9 [+ or -] 6,7 ans) avec un indice de MC eleve (IMC de 36,1 [+ or -] 4,5 kg/[m.sup.2]) dans un groupe MPH (0,5 mg/kg) (n = 5) ou placebo (n = 7) deux fois par jour pendant 2 mois. Nous avons mesure l'appetit (echelle visuelle analogue), les seuils d'odeur (Sniffin' Sticks[R]), l'apport alimentaire (menu) et la MC (scan DEXA) aux jours 1 et 60. Les resultats ont montre que l'absorption de MPH entraine une augmentation plus marquee des scores de seuils d'odeur (6,3 [+ or -] 1,4 vs 9,4 [+ or -] 2,1 et 7,9 [+ or -] 2,3 vs 7,8 [+ or -] 1,9, respectivement; p = 0,029) qu'avec le placebo. Nous avons observe une inhibition nettement plus elevee des sensations d'appetit (desir de s'alimenter (p = 0,001), faim (p = 0,008), consommation d'aliments prospective (p = 0,003)) et de la sensation de satiete (p = 0,028) en fonction du temps dans le groupe MPH qu'avec le placebo. En conclusion, le MPH entrainait une inhibition de l'appetit et permettait d'ameliorer la sensibilite olfactive chez les personnes obeses. Ces donnees apportent de nouveaux resultats quant aux effets favorables du MPH sur l'appetit et la regulation du poids chez les personnes aux prises avec l'obesite. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : methylphenidate, olfaction, appetit, perte de poids, apport energetique, obesite., 1. Introduction Olfaction is an important food cue that enhances motivation to seek food and contributes to feeding by influencing taste and food palatability (Blundell et al. 2010; Rolls 2005; [...]

Background: Brain frontostriatal circuits have been implicated in the pathophysiology of attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, effects of methylphenidate on circuit-level functional connectivity are as yet unclear. The aim of the present study was to comprehensively investigate the functional connectivity of major striatal subregions in children with ADHD, including subanalyses directed at mapping cognitive and treatment response characteristics. Methods: Using a comprehensive seeding strategy, we examined resting-state functional connectivity of dorsal and ventral subdivisions of the caudate nucleus and putamen in children and adolescents with ADHD and in age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Results: We enrolled 83 patients with ADHD and 22 controls in our study. Patients showed significantly reduced dorsal caudate functional connectivity with the superior and middle prefrontal cortices as well as reduced dorsal putamen connectivity with the parahippocampal cortex. These connectivity measures were correlated in opposite directions in patients and controls with attentional performance, as assessed using the Continuous Performance Test. Patients showing a good response to methylphenidate had significantly reduced ventral caudate/nucleus accumbens connectivity with the inferior frontal cortices compared with poor responders. Limitations: Possible confounding effects of age-related functional connectivity change were not excluded owing to the wide age range of participants. Conclusion: We observed a region- specific effect of methylphenidate on resting-state functional connectivity, suggesting the pretreatment level of ventral frontostriatal functional connectivity as a possible methylphenidate response biomarker of ADHD., Introduction Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent neurobehavioural disorder in children and adolescents, which frequently persists into adulthood and manifests with symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity. (1) [...]

A study of the effects attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder drugs methylphenidate (MPH) and atomexetine (ATM) on monkeys' prefrontal cortex (PFC) function is presented. The monkeys' PFC cognitive function was enhanced when treated with optimal doses of MPH and ATM. The indirect stimulation of alpha adrenoreceptors and D1 dopamine receptors has contributed to that effect.

Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) hypoactivations during cognitive demand are a hallmark deficit in drug addiction. Methylphenidate (MPH) normalizes cortical function, enhancing task salience and improving associated cognitive abilities, in other frontal lobe pathologies; however, in clinical trials, MPH did not improve treatment outcome in cocaine addiction. We hypothesized that oral MPH will attenuate ACC hypoactivations and improve associated performance during a salient cognitive task in individuals with cocaine-use disorders (CUD). In the current functional MRI study, we used a rewarded drug cue-reactivity task previously shown to be associated with hypoactivations in both major ACC subdivisions (implicated in default brain function) in CUD compared with healthy controls. The task was performed by 13 CUD and 14 matched healthy controls on 2 d.' after ingesting a single dose of oral MPH (20 mg) or placebo (lactose) in a counterbalanced fashion. Results show that oral MPH increased responses to this salient cognitive task in both major ACC subdivisions (including the caudal-dorsal ACC and rostroventromedial ACC extending to the medial orbitofrontal cortex) in the CUD. These functional MRI results were associated with reduced errors of commission (a common impulsivity measure) and improved task accuracy, especially during the drug (vs. neutral) cue-reactivity condition in all subjects. The clinical application of such MPH-induced brain-behavior enhancements remains to be tested. prefrontal cortex | behavioral intervention | dopamine agonist | functional MRI blood oxygen level-dependent | emotional Stroop doi/ 10.1073/pnas.1011455107

Prior research points to the importance of psychostimulants in improving self-control. However, the neural substrates underlying such improvement remain unclear. Here, in a pharmacological functional MRI study of the stop signal task, we show that methylphenidate (as compared with placebo) robustly decreased stop signal reaction time (SSRT), an index of improved control, in cocaine-dependent patients (a population in which inhibitory control is impaired). Methylphenidate-induced decreases in SSRT were positively correlated with inhibition-related activation of left middle frontal cortex (MFC) and negatively with activation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in whole brain linear regressions. Inhibition-related MFC but not vmPFC activation distinguished individuals with short and long SSRT in 36 demographically matched healthy individuals, whereas vmPFC but not MFC activation, along with improvement in SSRT, was correlated with a previously implicated biomarker of methylphenidate response (systolic blood pressure). These results implicate a specific neural (i.e., vmPFC) mechanism whereby stimulants improve inhibitory control. Altered ventromedial prefrontal activation and increased blood pressure may represent useful CNS and peripheral biomarkers in individualized treatment with methylphenidate for patients with cocaine dependence. functional MRI | psychostirnulant | catecholamine | cognitive control | ventromedial prefrontal cortex doi/ 10.1073/pnas.1002467107

Methylphenidate response in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was predicted by polymorphism at the serotonin transporter (SLCC6A4) intron 2 VNTR (p=.01). This confirms previous studies that suggest a moderating effect of genes on ADHD treatment response.

Methylphenidate appears to provide the greatest and most immediate improvement of the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and does not appear to worsen tic symptoms based on a meta-analysis study. The meta-analysis included nine studies with 477 subjects.

The advantages, disadvantages, as well as helpful hints on when to use several drug therapies against attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are discussed. The drugs discussed are methylphenidate, atomoxetine, clonidine, and bupropion.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design study was done to evaluate the effects of methylphenidate-osmotic-release oral systems (MPH-OROS) on the organization, time management, and planning (OTMP) of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Results show significant improvements on the OTMP of children with ADHD in the study.

Healthy human volunteers 16-82 years of age with at least 10 years of schooling were exposed to two different memory tasks. The first task involved incidental memory. The subjects were asked, as casually as possible: 'Did you watch any movie on TV 2 days ago? And 7 days ago? If so, do you remember the title of the movie(s) and the name of the first two actors (actresses)?' Retention scores (maximum = 3: title, actor 1, and actor 2) were equally high (overall mean = 2.6, n = 61) in all age groups (16-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-60, and 61-82 years) for the day 2 scores. Scores for the movie seen 7 days before decreased significantly and progressively in the three older groups in relation to age, which indicates reduced persistence of this type of memory beginning at the age of 41-50 years and becoming more extensive over the years. The other task was a formal memory procedure. Subjects were asked to study a brief text with factual information on the 1954 World Soccer Cup for 10 min. They were then exposed to 10 questions on the text 2 days and, again, 7 days later. Retention scores declined between the two tests, but in this task, the decline of persistence occurred to a similar extent in all age groups, and thus was not dependent on age. Methylphenidate (10 mg p.o.) given 12 hours after acquisition markedly enhanced persistence of the two memory types. This suggests an involvement of dopaminergic processes in persistence in the late posttraining period. aging | human aging | incidental memory | formal memory

Background: The effectiveness of a combined methylphenidate/behavioural treatment (BT) versus methylphenidate-only for Chinese children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was tested in routine clinical practice in Hong Kong, Methods: A randomized group comparison design was adopted with two treatment conditions (methylphenidate-only; methylphenidate/BT), which lasted for 6 months. There were four assessment time points (pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 6-month and 12-month follow-ups), using the Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD Symptoms and Normal Behaviours (SWAN) Rating Scale. Parental attitude toward different treatment options of ADHD was also assessed at pre-treatment and post-treatment. Participants included 90 Chinese ADHD children (mean age = 8 years, SD = .95). Results: The combination of BT and a low-dose methylphenidate was significantly more effective than methylphenidate-only in reducing ADHD and ODD symptoms at post-treatment. At follow-ups, the benefits of the combined treatment were maintained, while the methylphenidate-only group caught up in improvement in ADHD symptoms. Parents in both treatment conditions showed improved attitude toward medication after the f-month treatment phase, while their attitude toward BT was positive all along. Conclusions: This study supported the added benefits of BT, on top of medication, for Chinese ADHD children in routine practice with treatments conducted by regular medical and paramedical staffs. Keywords: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Stimulant treatment/methylphenidate Behaviour therapy Treatment effectiveness Chinese

Keywords: driving; methylphenidate; ADHD 230 Original PapersMethylphenidate significantly improves driving performance of adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomized crossover trial SAGE Publications, Inc.200810.1177/0269881107082946 Joris CVerster Section Psychopharmacology, Faculty of [...]

Keywords: Atomoxetine; methylphenidate; heart rate; blood pressure; cathecolamines Atomoxetine is a highly specific presynaptic inhibitor of the norepinephrine transporter and was recently approved in the United States for the treatment [...]

Evidence is mounting that medication for ADHD doesn't make a lasting difference to schoolwork or achievement., Author(s): Katherine Sharpe [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) Katherine Sharpe is a science writer in Berkeley, California., CLAIRE WELSH, ADAPTED FROM SHUTTERSTOCK Ben Harkless could not sit still. At home, the [...]

Byline: Benjamin L. Handen (1,2), Cynthia R. Johnson (1,2), Martin Lubetsky (1,2) Keywords: Autism; methylphenidate; ADHD Abstract: Thirteen children (ages 5.6 to 11.2 years) with autism and symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of methylphenidate (0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg per dose). Eight subjects responded positively, based upon a minimum 50% decrease on the Conners Hyperactivity Index. Ratings of stereotypy and inappropriate speech, which are often associated with autistic core features, also decreased. However, no changes were found on the Child Autism Rating Scale, a global assessment of autistic symptomotology. Significant adverse side effects occurred in some children including social withdrawal and irritability, especially at the 0.6 mg/kg dose. Results suggest that methylphenidate can be efficacious for children with autism and ADHD symptoms. However, this group of children seems to be particularly susceptible to adverse side effects. Author Affiliation: (1) University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2) Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Article History: Registration Date: 09/10/2004

Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) seem to tolerate an additional dose of methylphenidate taken late in the day quite well. Twelve hospitalized children, aged 5 to 11 years old, took a third dose of methylphenidate at 4 PM for 12 days. Patients took either 15 milligrams or 10 mg of methylphenidate or an empty pill (the placebo). Behavior improved and sleep was not disturbed by additional methylphenidate of either dosage. However, ten of 12 patients averaged a weight loss of 2.65 pounds, one child remained unchanged, and one patient gained five pounds. Although food intake did not vary enough to explain weight loss, some side effects may be inherent in higher daily doses of methylphenidate. Children seen in general practice may show other reactions to this drug regimen. For outpatient management, combined drug therapy may combat cases of insomnia and anorexia., Objective. This study evaluated the effects on behavior and sleep of methylphenidate (MPH) administered at 4 PM to children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methodology. Twelve children admitted to a child psychiatric inpatient service with ADHD participated in a double-blind, crossover study in which they received a 4 PM dose of either 15 mg of MPH, 10 mg of MPH, or a placebo in random order for 12 consecutive days. Ratings of behavior, including ADHD symptoms, pertaining to the period from dose administration until sleep onset, were supplied nightly by hospital staff. Sleep latency and sleep adequacy were also assessed for each night. Results. MPH resulted in markedly improved behavioral control compared with placebo; there was no difference between 15-mg and 10-mg MPH doses. MPH did not alter sleep latencies observed with the placebo. Children were more often rated as less tired on awakening after nights that they received 10 mg of MPH compared with 15 mg of MPH and the placebo. Weight loss was apparent among 83% of the patients, but dinner intake did not vary with third-dose condition. Conclusions. Morning and noon administration of stimulants to children with ADHD is a near-universal practice, but many clinicians avoid a third, late-afternoon administration for fear of inducing insomnia. This study's findings show that children with ADHD derive substantial symptom reduction from MPH administered in late afternoon, with no untoward effects on sleep. Therefore, three-times-a-day dosing should be considered for those children exhibiting ADHD symptoms in the evening. Adverse effects on sleep latency were not apparent in the sample overall. Nonetheless, monitoring for possible aggravation of sleep problems and weight loss remains sound treatment practice. Pediatrics 1995; 96:320-325; attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, methylphenidate, sleep., ABBREVIATIONS. ADHD, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; MPH, methylphenidate; b.i.d., twice a day; DSM-III-R, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd ed revised; t.i.d., three times a day; ODD, oppositional defiant [...]

Children with attention deficit disorder (ADD) have inappropriate levels of inattention and impulsiveness, and frequently, overactivity. Difficulties sustaining attention are thought to be the chief feature in these children. Because children with ADD are so diverse in terms of psychiatric symptoms, treatment responses, and other factors, effort is increasingly directed toward identifying subgroups within the ADD classification. The presence and degree of overactivity constitute one parameter thought to be important in grouping children affected by ADD. However, studies differ as to whether ADD children with hyperactivity (ADD+H) or without hyperactivity (ADD-H) differ significantly. The responses of 23 children with ADD+H (2 female) and 17 children with ADD-H (2 female) to three dose levels of methylphenidate (popularly known as Ritalin) were rigorously evaluated and compared with responses to placebo (inert) treatment. Parental ratings of children's behavior at home indicated that both ADD groups had a significant decrease in the number and severity of their symptoms. The highest methylphenidate dose used had the most effect on behavior. Teachers' ratings of behavior at school indicated that inattention, overactivity, and pervasiveness of behaviors decreased significantly, and self-control improved, in response to any dose of the medication. No differences between the two groups of children in responses to the medication were reported. No increases in side effects in response to increasing methylphenidate dose were reported by either parents or teachers. Laboratory tests suggested that ADD+H children were more impulsive, less vigilant, and more likely to display ADD behaviors during academic work, while ADD-H children were more impaired in their recall of verbal information. Testing showed no differences between groups in behavioral or psychological responses to different drug dosages. However, evaluation of all results by a pediatrician and psychologist led to recommendations of generally lower doses of the medication for ADD-H children and higher dosages for ADD+H children. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)