Towards an Understanding of the Mechanism of Action of Methylphenidate in ADHD
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Approximately 1-in-20 children worldwide have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a condition associated with disabling inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. These problems can manifest as poor inhibitory control (e.g., difficulty holding back impulsive actions) and atypical reward processing (e.g., failing to learn from adverse outcomes). Poorly treated ADHD is associated with negative academic and socioeconomic consequences.
This project aims to ultimately improve clinical management of children with ADHD. Methylphenidate, a stimulant medication, is used as the first-option pharmacological treatment for ADHD and often successfully reduces problem behaviour. Although Methylphenidate can be extremely effective, it does not work for every child. There is currently no 'objective' way (e.g., blood test or brain scan) to measure if a child is genuinely responding to Methylphenidate. Instead, clinicians must rely on reports from parents and teachers, an approach that is problematic and that often leads to delays in optimising ADHD treatment. The absence of a biological test to quantify Methylphenidate response is primarily because we do not understand exactly how Methylphenidate changes behaviours to produce the known beneficial effects. This lack of knowledge is despite the very common use of this medication.
This project will investigate the specific brain processes that are affected by Methylphenidate by recording brain activity and behaviour in children with ADHD (who have already been prescribed Methylphenidate as part of their clinical care) when they are on and off this medication. Brain activity will be recorded using two separate approaches, which are both non-invasive and routinely used in Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience: electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Brain activity data will be collected while children with ADHD are performing two computer-game like tasks. One task measures the child's ability to hold back impulsive actions (inhibition) and the other assesses how they learn from positive and negative outcomes (reward processing). The data from the two tasks, the EEG recording and the fMRI scan will be analysed using advanced computer-modelling approaches to determine exactly how Methylphenidate changes behaviour.
This project is important because if we can understand the brain mechanisms affected by Methylphenidate, we can ultimately develop a computerised measure that will allow clinicians to predict whether a child is going to respond to this treatment or not. Such a measure would allow clinicians to treat ADHD more effectively and would result in children with ADHD experiencing faster relief from symptoms.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
Detailed Description
This project will investigate the specific brain processes that are affected by Methylphenidate by recording brain activity and behaviour in children with ADHD (who have already been prescribed Methylphenidate as part of their clinical care) when they are on and off this medication.
This is a quantitative double-blind placebo-controlled study investigating the acute effects of methylphenidate on brain activity using two non-invasive methods, EEG and fMRI.
Brain activity will be recorded using two separate approaches, which are both non-invasive and routinely used in Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience: electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Brain activity data will be collected while children with ADHD are performing two computer-game like tasks. One task measures the child's ability to hold back impulsive actions (inhibition) and the other assesses how they learn from positive and negative outcomes (reward processing). The data from the two tasks, the EEG recording, and the fMRI scan will be analysed using advanced computer-modelling approaches to determine exactly how Methylphenidate changes behaviour.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| ADHD This study will recruit people aged 14-17 with ADHD who are 'Assigned Female At Birth' (AFAB). This is to include cisgender women alongside those who may not identify with womanhood such as those who are non-binary but AFAB or transgender men who have not undergone hormonal/medical transition. |
Drug: Methylphenidate
Participants will take their regular medication or a placebo (vitamin C)
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Stop Signal Task [2023-2026]
behavioural measures
- EEG [2023-2026]
during SST
- MRI [2023-2026]
structural, diffusion, functional
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
-
AFAB
-
ADHD
-
regular menstrual cycles
-
good response to medication
Exclusion Criteria:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Specific Learning Disabilities
Contacts and Locations
Locations
No locations specified.Sponsors and Collaborators
- University of Dublin, Trinity College
- St. James's Hospital, Dublin
Investigators
None specified.Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- MPH2022TCD