ADHD Drug Plus Therapy Improves Cognitive Outcomes In TBI Patients

Introduction

A combination of the stimulant drug methylphenidate with a process known as cognitive-behavioral rehabilitation is a promising option to help people who suffer from persistent cognitive problems following traumatic brain injury, researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have reported.

Main Digest

Methylphenidate, pronounced as (meth'' il fen' i date), sold under various trade names, Ritalin being one of the most commonly known, is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant of the phenethylamine and piperidine classes that is used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. The addition of behavioural modification therapy (e.g. cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)) can have additional benefits on treatment outcome.

The study, believed to be the first to systematically compare the combination therapy to alternative treatments, was published online in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, a Nature publication.

The researchers, led by Brenna McDonald, PsyD, associate professor of radiology and imaging sciences, and Thomas McAllister, MD, chairman of the Department of Psychiatry, compared the effectiveness of two forms of cognitive therapy with and without the use of methylphenidate, a drug used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and better known by its trade name, Ritalin.

"We found that the combination of methylphenidate and Memory and Attention Adaptation Training resulted in significantly better results in attention, episodic and working memory, and executive functioning after traumatic brain injury," said Dr. McDonald.

In the Memory and Attention Adaptation Training intervention - also used to assist patients with cognitive issues following breast cancer chemotherapy - therapists work with patients to help them develop behaviors and strategies to improve performance in memory and other cognitive tasks. In this study, this "metacognitive" approach was compared with Attention Builders Training, which Dr. McDonald likened to more of a "drill and practice" approach.

The 71 participants who completed the six-week trial were adults who had experienced a traumatic brain injury of at least mild severity - a blow to the head with some alteration of consciousness - at least four months previously, and who either complained of having cognitive problems, or who had been identified with cognitive problems in testing.

The participants were divided into four groups:

• 2 cognitive therapy approaches with the drug therapy
• 2 approaches with placebo

After six weeks, the researchers found that participants in the combination metacognitive-Ritalin group improved significantly better in word list learning, nonverbal learning and measures of attention-related and executive function.

However, Dr. McDonald cautioned that due to the relatively small number of participants in the each of the four arms of the trial - 17 to 19 people each - the results of the trial should be considered preliminary. Nonetheless, she said, the work breaks new ground in providing evidence for the combination therapy.

"There have been a few small studies suggesting methylphenidate could help with attention and executive function after traumatic brain injury, which makes senses because it's used to improve attention and focus. But this is the first to test it in combination with cognitive-behavioral therapy for treatment in traumatic brain injury," said Dr. McDonald.

Study Researchers

In addition to Drs. McDonald and McAllister, researchers contributing to the study were Gwen C. Sprehn, Flora M. Hammond, Jaroslaw Harezlak, Li Xing, Rachel N. Wall, and Andrew J. Saykin of the IU School of Medicine; Laura A. Flashman, Carrie L. Kruck, and Karen L. Gillock of the Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College; David B. Arciniegas of the Baylor College of Medicine; Robert J. Ferguson of the Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh; Arthur C. Maerlender of the University of Nebraska and Kim Frey of Craig Hospital, Englewood, Colorado.

Study Funding

This study was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health (R01 HD047242). Dr. Arciniegas receives research support from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (H133A120020, H133A130047) and Department of Veterans Affairs (CX000239) and receives compensation from American Psychiatric Association Publishing.

Attribution/Source(s):

This quality-reviewed publication titled ADHD Drug Plus Therapy Improves Cognitive Outcomes In TBI Patients was chosen for publishing by Disabled World's editors due to its relevance to the disability community. While the content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity, it was originally authored by Indiana University and published 2016/11/25 (Edit Update: 2021/04/21). For further details or clarifications, you can contact Indiana University directly at iu.edu Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.

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