Arch Phys Med Rehabili 1996 Jan

Use of methylphenidate in acutely brain-injured adults was well tolerated and demonstrated a significant improvement in attention compared to natural recovery in a rehabilitation setting. Methylphenidate also correlated with faster functional recovery as measured by the Disability Rating Scale.

Addict Behav 1995

Methylphenidate helpful - trials needed

Is methylphenidate like cocaine? Studies on the pharmocokinetics and distribution in the human brain. Archives of General Psychiatry June 1995

"We speculate that because the experience of the high is associated with the fast uptake of cocaine and methylphenidate in the brain, the slow clearance of methylphenidate from the brain may serve as a limiting factor in promoting its frequent self-administration."

Decreased incidence of spontaneous mammary gland neoplasms in female rats. Cancer Lett April 1996 Three drugs that affect the neuroendocrine system (amphetamine, methylphenidate and codeine) caused decreases in body weights and in the incidence of spontaneously occurring mammary gland neoplasms in the female F344/N rat in 2 year carcinogenicity studies.

Psychostimulants for depression in hospitalized cancer patients Psychosomatics Jan-Feb 1996

59 hospitalized patients Rx with either dextroamphetamine or methylphenidate for depression during a 5 year period at Mass Gen Hosp. 83% showed at least some improvement following psychostimulant treatment. 73% marked or moderate depressive symptoms improvement. No significant difference between the two. 10% adverse Rxns requiring stopping Rx. 54% better appetite. Anorexia not observed as a Rx side effect. Authors conclude psychostimulants are an effective and safe treatment for the depressed oncology patient.

Methylphenidate augmentation of SSRI’s - a case series J Clin Psychiatry Feb 1996

"The empirical use of methylphenidate added to ineffective or only partially effective SSRI treatment appeared to be a rapid, safe and efficacious alternative to existing augmentation strategies for the Rx of major depression." Prospective controlled studies recommended.

Drug Therapy in ADHD Southern Medical Journal Jan 1996

93% responded well to sustained release dextroamphetamine and 7% to methylphenidate (.2-3.6mg/kg/d). Clinical improvement rate can be increased to nearly 100% in appropriate situations.

Am J Phys Med Rehabil 1996 Jan-Feb

Cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness started to improve 1 month after adjustments in methylphenidate dosing. 6 mo later, completely asymptomatic. Caffeine of no help.

Successful treatment of giggle incontinence with methylphenidate. J Urol Aug 1996

...giggle incontinence is a centrally mediated and likely hereditary disorder that may share a common pathophysiological basis with the narcolepsy/catoplexy syndrome.

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 1996 May

"We conclude that methylphenidate may be an effective therapy in patients with recurrent neurocardiogenic syncope refractory to other forms of therapy."

Dual Dx of ADHD and substance abuse - J Clin Psychiatry Apr 1995

"This case series and review of the literature suggest that specific treatment for ADHD with psychostimulants is feasible in patients who also have substance abuse."

J AM Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Jan 1995

Successful Rx of mother’s residual ADHD with methylphenidate led to significant improvement in the infant’s feeding, subsequent weight gain, and observed maternal-child interaction.

Arch Gen Psychiatry Jun 1995

Methylphenidate effectively suppressed hyperactive, disruptive, and aggressive behavior. There was no evidence that methylphenidate altered the severity of tic disorder, but it may have a weak effect on the frequency of motor (increase) and vocal (decrease) tics. Conclusion: methylphenidate appears to be a safe and effective treatment for ADHD in the majority of children with comorbid tic disorder.

A double-blind crossover comparison of methylphenidate and placebo in adults with childhood-onset ADHD. Arch Gen Psychiatry Jun 1995 <23 adults with DSM-III-R ADHD)

"We found a marked therapeutic response for methylphenidate Rx of ADHD sx that exceeded the placebo response 78% to 4%. Response to methylphenidate was independent of gender, psychiatric comorbidity with anxiety or moderate depression, or family Hx of psychiatric disorders. Conclusion: Robust doses of methylphenidate are effective in the treatment of ADHD."

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry May 1995 (Bupropion 1.4-5.7mg/kg - mean 3.3)

Bupropion and methylphenidate were both effective and did not differ in their overall efficacy as Rx for ADHD.

J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci Summer 1995

"We describe 3 patients with impairments of arousal and psychomotor speed secondary to tumor-related organic brain dysfunction who benefitted from stimulant therapy.

Pharmacologically induced changes in arousal: effects on behavioral and electrophysiologic measures of alertness and attention. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 1995 Nov

...methylphenidate and diphenhydramine primarily affected overall state and that healthy humans were able to partially compensate for the pharmacologically induced alertness changes during cognitive task performance.

J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci Fall 1995

A patient with prominent apathy secondary to multiple subcortical infarcts was treated successfully with methylphenidate. SPECT and reaction time testing showed selective improvement of frontal system function...

School observations of children with ADHD and comorbid tic disorder: effects of methylphenidate Rx. J Dev Behav Pediatr 1995 Jun

Treatment with methylphenidate resulted in marked reductions of hyperactive, disruptive and aggressive behavior, which was evident even for the 0.1 mg/kg dose. There were no "nonresponders." ...the findings support the conclusions that (1) methylphenidate suppresses ADHD behaviors in the classroom and aggressive behavior in all settings and that (2) a low dose may have a weak exacerbation effect on the frequency of motor tics; but, in general, the majority of youngsters do not experience clinically significant tic worsening with a minimal effective dose.

J Autism Dev Disord Jun 1995

Subjects showed modest but statistically significant improvement on methylphenidate over placebo.

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Aug 1995

Predictors of a strong methylphenidate response were a high IQ, considerable inattentiveness, young age, low severity of disorder, and low rates of anxiety.

J Child Psychol Psychiatry May 1995

Children with ADHD were slower than controls, with performance deteriorating over time, particularly in the experimenter-absent condition. Both the slowness and deterioration normalized when the children received methylphenidate.

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Jul 1995

(hypothesis that methylphenidate reduces thresholds for reward)...the reward system dysfunction hypothesis of ADHD, and <the study results> suggest that reward mechanisms may underlie the therapeutic effects of stimulants observed across a wide range of tasks and settings.

Differential effects of methylphenidate on working memory in ADHD children with and without comorbid anxiety. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Jul 1995

Methylphenidate improved working memory in the nonanxious ADHD group but not in the comorbidity anxious group. Methylphenidate reduced activity level in both groups. The presence of concurrent leaning disabilities did not influence stimulant response. ADHD with anxiety may constitute a distinct and clinically meaningful subtype of ADHD - predicting a less robust response to stimulant treatment.

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 1995 Jul

Methylphenidate doses up to 0.9 mg/kg had an increasingly positive effect on measures of mental flexibility and other cognitive processes. Methylphenidate appeared to improve persistence. Because effects of two or more daily doses can accumulate when methylphenidate is prescribed in the clinical situation, clinical doses of more than 0.6mg/kg were not recommended.

Effects of methylphenidate in HIV related depression: a comparative trial with desipramine Int J Psychiatry Med 1995

...methylphenidate relieves depressive symptomatology with efficacy similar to that of desipramine.

In J Psychiatry Med

...clinical experience with methylphenidate treatment for cognitive changes in men with HIV/AIDS is consistent with the notion that this medication holds significant promise to improve the quality of life for persons living with HIV/AIDS (controlled studies are warranted).

J Abnormal Child Psychol 1995 April

Methylphenidate enhanced cognitive flexibility, although the high dose was less effective than lower doses in enhancing response inhibition. Dose-response functions for changes in behavior were linear, whereas the function for response inhibition was U-shaped.

Pediatrics 1995

This study’s findings show that children with ADHD derive substantial symptom reduction from methylphenidate administered in late afternoon, with no untoward effects on sleep. Therefore, tid dosing should be considered for those children exhibiting ADHD sx 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.

Am J Psychiatry 1995 Jun

Conclusions: "These results support the use of methylphenidate in older, medically ill patients in whom rapid resolution of depressive symptoms is crucial."

J Pain Symptom Manage Feb 1995

"We report a case that illustrates methylphenidate’s usefulness in the management of psychological distress and associated somatization in the palliative-care setting... Methylphenidate could both counteract opioid-induced sedation and improve pain control through a positive action on patient’s mood. In spite of a rapid development of tolerance, which required a subsequent escalation in methylphenidate daily doses, the drug was well tolerated and the patient could die in good physical comfort 2 weeks later."

Behav Modif 1995 April

Drug placebo and noncontingent reinforcers had no systematic impact. The combined effects of methylphenidate and self-reinforcement on academic performance were greater than either of the treatments given alone.

A randomized, crossover evaluation of methylphenidate in cancer patients receiving strong narcotics (Creighton University & U Nebraska)

Support Care Cancer 1995 Mar

...methylphenidate can counteract narcotic-induced daytime sedation to a limited degree.