Treating nicotine dependence by targeting attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with OROS methylphenidate: the role of baseline ADHD severity and treatment response.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with osmotic-release oral system (OROS) methylphenidate promotes abstinence from smoking among smokers with ADHD who have greater severity of ADHD symptoms at baseline or greater improvement in ADHD during treatment.


METHODS
This is a secondary analysis of data from a randomized, double-blind, 11-week trial conducted between December 2005 and January 2008 at 6 clinical sites; the original trial was sponsored by the National Drug Abuse Clinical Trials Network. Adult cigarette smokers (aged 18-55 years) who met DSM-IV criteria for ADHD were randomly assigned to OROS methylphenidate (72 mg/d) (n = 127) or matching placebo (n = 128). All participants received nicotine patches (21 mg/d) and weekly individual smoking cessation counseling. Logistic regression was used to model prolonged abstinence from smoking (ascertained by self-report and breath carbon monoxide testing) as a function of treatment, baseline ADHD Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS) score, change in ADHD-RS score during treatment, and their interactions.


RESULTS
Treatment interacted with both ADHD-RS score at baseline (P = .01) and change in ADHD-RS score during treatment (P = .008). Among patients with higher ADHD-RS scores (> 36) at baseline and the most improvement in ADHD during treatment (ADHD-RS change score ≥ 24), 70.0% of those who took OROS methylphenidate achieved abstinence from smoking compared to 36.8% of those who took placebo (P = .02). In contrast, among patients with the lowest ADHD-RS baseline scores (≤ 30), 30.3% of those who took OROS methylphenidate achieved abstinence from smoking compared to 60.7% of those who took placebo (P = .02).


CONCLUSIONS
OROS methylphenidate, in combination with nicotine patch, may be an effective treatment for nicotine dependence among smokers with more severe ADHD and more robust response of ADHD symptoms to medication. OROS methylphenidate may be counterproductive among smokers with lower severity of ADHD.


BACKGROUND
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00253747.
New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 51, Room 3717, New York, NY 10032 nunesed@nyspi.columbia.edu.
Edward V
EV
Nunes
Lirio S
LS
Covey
Gregory
G
Brigham
Mei-Chen
MC
Hu
Frances R
FR
Levin
Eugene C
EC
Somoza
Theresa M
TM
Winhusen
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D001682:Biological Availability; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D061485:Tobacco Use Cessation Devices; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate