Stimulant in the Treatment of ADD

Question 1

why were stimulants originally developed and what are the facts on ADD

Answer 1

• they were developed for medical purposes
• estimated up to 5% of children below the age of 7 have ADD - up to half of those children continue to experience symptoms into adulthood - adult ADD

Question 2

what are the 2 general clusters of ADD symptoms?

Answer 2

1. inattentiveness or inability to focus attention
2. Hyperactivity, impulsiveness and acting out
   - these can occur together or separately

Question 3

Sir George Fredrick (1902)

Answer 3

• description of some children under his care that is similar to the current diagnostic description of ADD and is taken as the first recognition of what is now called ADD

Question 4

how did stimulants prove to be useful for those with ADD? Charles Bradley?

Answer 4

• by accident
• children with symptoms associated with ADD were given spinal taps trying to figure out what caused the behaviour but it left them with a headache (common for after spinal taps) and they were given meds
• Charles Bradley in 1937 gave children Benzedrine to relive the headaches and seemed to also control behaviour

Question 5

what stimulants are used for the management of ADD? how useful are they?

Answer 5

• methylphenidate (Ritalin)
• amphetamine (Dexedrine, Adderall)
• methamphetamine (Desoxyn)
• they have proved to be effective in about 80% of cases
• on a behavioural level, they seem to help a lot with focusing attention
• little evidence that the patients abuse the medication but there are clear indications of stimulants being used for recreational use

Question 6

what is the most common prevalence of uni students and what is the risk factors?

Answer 6

• 10%
• risk factors: white, member
  of a fraternity or sorority, having a lower GPA, showing higher rates of substance use and other risky behaviours, attending a more competitive university or being in a more competitive program
• ADD medication is a cognitive enhancer

Question 7

Nootropics

Answer 7

• drugs used in hopes of enhancing cognitive performance when there is no clinical indication for doing so
• ex. using ADD meds when not prescribed - caffeine, nicotine and mondafinil are used in this manner too

Question 8

mondafinil

Answer 8

• has been studied as a potential treatment for stimulant addiction - but it’s not more effective than a placebo