Effects of single-dose methylphenidate on cognitive performance in patients with traumatic brain injury: a double-blind placebo-controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of a single dose of methylphenidate on the cognitive performance of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and particularly on working memory and visuospatial attention.


METHODS
A double-blind placebo-controlled study. The subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group taking methylphenidate and a control group taking a placebo.


METHODS
The Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of a university hospital.


METHODS
Eighteen subjects with TBI (16 male and two female) were enrolled.


METHODS
The patients were given 20 mg methylphenidate or a placebo. Cognitive assessments were performed at three times: before the medication as a baseline, 2 h after medication and at follow-up (48 h later).


METHODS
Cognitive assessments consisted of working memory tasks and endogenous visuospatial attention tasks designed using SuperLabPro 2.0 software. Response accuracy and reaction time were measured.


RESULTS
There were significant improvements in response accuracy in the methylphenidate group compared with the placebo group for both the working memory and visuospatial attention tasks. A significant decrease in the reaction time was also observed in the methylphenidate group only for the working memory task.


CONCLUSIONS
The administration of single-dose methylphenidate has an effect in improving cognitive functioning following a TBI. The effects were most prominent regarding the reaction time of the working memory.
Kim
Yun-Hee
YH
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. yunkim@smc.samsung.co.kr
Ko
Myoung-Hwan
MH
Na
Seung-Yong
SY
Park
Se-Hun
SH
Kim
Kee-Won
KW
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011930:Reaction Time; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate