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The Reinforcing Mechanisms of Smoking in Adult ADHD

NCT00573859 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: PHASE1/PHASE2 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 27

Last updated 2011-11-07

Study results available
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Summary

Whereas the smoking prevalence rates in the general population are declining, rates among people diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) continue to be elevated. Smoking may be a form of self-medication in people with ADHD, which has specific reinforcing mechanisms such as improvement of ADHD core symptoms, enhancement of moods and arousal, or a combination of both. In addition, the reinforcing effects of smoking may be potentiated by stimulant medication.

The study examined the reinforcing effects of ad libitum smoking with and without ADHD medication in adult smokers with clinically diagnosed ADHD. Participants were adults with ADHD. The effects of two day of ADHD medication compared to two days on placebo for were studied on nicotine intake (i.e., cotinine levels). In addition, task performance on the Continuous Performance Task and nicotine withdrawal symptoms were examined in response to ADHD medication + smoking a cigarette versus ADHD medication + abstinence versus placebo medication + smoking versus placebo medication + abstinence.

The study identified the reinforcing mechanisms of smoking in interaction with ADHD medication. The findings will contribute to a better understanding of nicotine addiction and facilitate the development of targeted smoking cessation and prevention programs for individuals with ADHD and other people with deficiencies in impulse control and excessive risk taking.

Conditions

  • ADHD

Interventions

DRUG

ADHD medication

For the ADHD medication condition, participants received their usual dosage of their usual ADHD medication for two consecutive days.

DRUG

Placebo

For the placebo condition, participants received placebo pills for two consecutive days.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of California, Irvine

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Jean G Gehricke, Ph.D. · University of California, Irvine

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
45 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2006-09-30
Primary Completion
2010-06-30
Completion
2010-06-30

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Drugs

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT00573859 on ClinicalTrials.gov