title: The effect of methylphenidate on very low frequency electroencephalography oscillations in adult ADHD.
abstract: Altered very low-frequency electroencephalographic (VLF-EEG) activity is an endophenotype of ADHD in children and adolescents. We investigated VLF-EEG case-control differences in adult samples and the effects of methylphenidate (MPH). A longitudinal case-control study was conducted examining the effects of MPH on VLF-EEG (.02-0.2Hz) during a cued continuous performance task. 41 untreated adults with ADHD and 47 controls were assessed, and 21 cases followed up after MPH treatment, with a similar follow-up for 38 controls (mean follow-up=9.4months). Cases had enhanced frontal and parietal VLF-EEG and increased omission errors. In the whole sample, increased parietal VLF-EEG correlated with increased omission errors. After controlling for subthreshold comorbid symptoms, VLF-EEG case-control differences and treatment effects remained. Post-treatment, a time by group interaction emerged; VLF-EEG and omission errors reduced to the same level as controls, with decreased inattentive symptoms in cases. Reduced VLF-EEG following MPH treatment provides preliminary evidence that changes in VLF-EEG may relate to MPH treatment effects on ADHD symptoms; and that VLF-EEG may be an intermediate phenotype of ADHD. Further studies of the treatment effect of MPH in larger controlled studies are required to formally evaluate any causal link between MPH, VLF-EEG and ADHD symptoms.
authors.affiliation: King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, UK. Electronic address: ruth.cooper@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ruth E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, UK.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Skirrow
authors.affiliation: King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, UK.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tye
authors.affiliation: King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, UK.
authors.forename: Grainne
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McLoughlin
authors.affiliation: King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, UK.
authors.forename: Fruhling
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rijsdijk
authors.affiliation: Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Banaschweski
authors.affiliation: Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brandeis
authors.affiliation: King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, UK.
authors.forename: Jonna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuntsi
authors.affiliation: King's College London, MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, UK.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Asherson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003463:Cues; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate
keywords: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); Default mode network; Electroencephalography (EEG); Endophenotype; Methylphenidate; Very low frequency oscillations (VLFOs)