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Nicotine effects on adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Levin, ED; Conners, CK; Sparrow, E; Hinton, SC; Erhardt, D; Meck, WH; Rose, JE; March, J
Published in: Psychopharmacology (Berl)
January 1996

Several lines of evidence suggest that nicotine may be useful in treating the symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The current study was an acute, placebo-controlled double-blind experiment to determine whether nicotine might be useful as an alternative treatment of adults with ADHD symptomatology. Six smokers and 11 nonsmokers who were outpatient referrals for ADHD were diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria. Measures of treatment effect included the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scale, Hopkins' symptom check list (SCL-90-R), the Profile of Mood States (POMS), Conners' computerized Continuous Performance Test (CPT), the Stroop test, and an interval-timing task. The smokers underwent overnight deprivation from smoking and were given a 21 mg/day nicotine skin patch for 4.5 h during a morning session. The nonsmokers were given a 7 mg/day nicotine skin patch for 4.5 h during a morning session. Active and placebo patches were given in a counter-balanced order approximately 1 week apart. Nicotine caused a significant overall nicotine-induced improvement on the CGI. This effect was significant when only the nonsmokers were considered, which indicated that it was not due merely to withdrawal relief. Nicotine caused significantly increased vigor as measured by the POMS test. Nicotine caused an overall significant reduction in reaction time (RT) on the CPT, as well as, with the smokers, a significant reduction in another index of inattention, variability in reaction time over trial blocks. Nicotine improved accuracy of time estimation and lowered variability of time-estimation response curves. Because improvements occurred among nonsmokers, the nicotine effect appears not to be merely a relief of withdrawal symptoms. It is concluded that nicotine deserves further clinical trials with ADHD.

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Published In

Psychopharmacology (Berl)

DOI

ISSN

0033-3158

Publication Date

January 1996

Volume

123

Issue

1

Start / End Page

55 / 63

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Smoking
  • Reaction Time
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Nicotine
  • Middle Aged
  • Humans
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
  • Analysis of Variance
 

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Levin, E. D., Conners, C. K., Sparrow, E., Hinton, S. C., Erhardt, D., Meck, W. H., … March, J. (1996). Nicotine effects on adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Psychopharmacology (Berl), 123(1), 55–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02246281
Levin, E. D., C. K. Conners, E. Sparrow, S. C. Hinton, D. Erhardt, W. H. Meck, J. E. Rose, and J. March. “Nicotine effects on adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Psychopharmacology (Berl) 123, no. 1 (January 1996): 55–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02246281.
Levin ED, Conners CK, Sparrow E, Hinton SC, Erhardt D, Meck WH, et al. Nicotine effects on adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1996 Jan;123(1):55–63.
Levin, E. D., et al. “Nicotine effects on adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Psychopharmacology (Berl), vol. 123, no. 1, Jan. 1996, pp. 55–63. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/BF02246281.
Levin ED, Conners CK, Sparrow E, Hinton SC, Erhardt D, Meck WH, Rose JE, March J. Nicotine effects on adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1996 Jan;123(1):55–63.
Journal cover image

Published In

Psychopharmacology (Berl)

DOI

ISSN

0033-3158

Publication Date

January 1996

Volume

123

Issue

1

Start / End Page

55 / 63

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Smoking
  • Reaction Time
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Nicotine
  • Middle Aged
  • Humans
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
  • Analysis of Variance