title: Long-term treatment with methylphenidate for fatigue after traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may cause long-lasting post-concussive symptoms, such as mental fatigue and concentration difficulties, and this may become the main hindrance for returning to work and studies. There is currently no effective treatment for long-lasting mental fatigue. In this hypothesis generating study, the long-term effects of methylphenidate on mental fatigue, cognitive function, and safety were assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty participants who suffered from long-term post-concussion symptoms after a mild TBI or moderate TBI and who had reported positive effects with methylphenidate during an initial phase of this follow-up study were treated with methylphenidate for a further six months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After six-month follow-up, effects on Mental Fatigue Scale (MFS), depression, anxiety, and cognitive function (processing speed, attention, working memory) were significantly improved compared to baseline data (P < 0.001, respectively). Heart rate was significantly increased (P = 0.01), while blood pressure was not changed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals suffering from prolonged symptoms after TBI reported reduced mental fatigue and improved cognitive functions with long-term methylphenidate treatment. It is suggested that methylphenidate can be a treatment option for long-term mental fatigue and cognitive impairment after a TBI, but further randomized control research is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8942-5771
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine/Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.|Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Kungälv Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: A-P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Wentzel
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine/Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andréll
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rönnbäck
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Kungälv Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mannheimer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D005222:Mental Fatigue / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate
keywords: cognition; mental fatigue; methylphenidate; traumatic brain injury