SynthesisEuropean journal of clinical pharmacology2013
Treatment discontinuation with methylphenidate in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
Synthesis in European journal of clinical pharmacology, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT02951754 (Methylphenidate in Adults With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), which is not on this map. Cited by 16 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Methylphenidate in Adults With Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 40 citations in OpenAlex.
- Extended-release methylphenidate for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2022Pooled it
- Amphetamines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2018Pooled it
- Cognitive-behavioural interventions for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2018Pooled it
- Comparative efficacy, acceptability, and tolerability of lisdexamfetamine in child and adolescent ADHD: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials.Drug design, development and therapy · 2015Pooled it
- Exploratory meta-analysis on lisdexamfetamine versus placebo in adult ADHD.Drug design, development and therapy · 2014Pooled it
- Safety and Efficacy of Repeated Low-Dose LSD for ADHD Treatment in Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA psychiatry · 2025Trial
- Cognitive control enhancement in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and neurotypical individuals.Experimental brain research · 2023Trial
- ADHD medication discontinuation and non-adherence: a Norwegian population-based register study.BMJ mental health · 2026Article
- Digital health technologies for adults with ADHD: a scoping review.Frontiers in digital health · 2026Review
- A systematic meta-review of systematic reviews on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists · 2023Review
- Influence ofInternational journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Methylphenidate for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults: a narrative review.Psychopharmacology · 2021Review
- Null tDCS Effects in a Sustained Attention Task: The Modulating Role of Learning.Frontiers in psychology · 2018Article
- Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of adults with ADHD: a meta-review.Evidence-based mental health · 2017Review
- [ADHD in adulthood: Diagnostics and therapy].Der Nervenarzt · 2015Article
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) stimulant medications as cognitive enhancers.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2013Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adulthood is increasingly diagnosed and treated. Methylphenidate is frequently advocated as a first-line pharmacological treatment. PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to compare all-cause discontinuation rate of methylphenidate and its pharmaceutical presentations with placebo in adults with ADHD.
methodsThis was a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing methylphenidate with placebo in adults with ADHD. All-cause treatment discontinuation was the primary endpoint. The efficacy in reducing ADHD symptoms and safety were the secondary endpoints.
resultsTwelve studies (2,496 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Four racemic methylphenidate and one dexmethylphenidate presentations were investigated. The rate of all-cause treatment discontinuation was greater with methylphenidate than with placebo, but this difference was not statistically significant [odds ratio (OR) 1.19, 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) 0.82-1.74, P = 0.37, I(2) = 64 %] This finding reached the conventional threshold of statistical significance after one outlier study was excluded (OR 1.44, 95 % CI 1.14-1.82, P = 0.002, I(2) = 0). Methylphenidate was more efficacious than placebo for reducing ADHD symptoms and it was associated with a higher proportion of patients dropping out due to adverse effects.
conclusionsDespite reducing ADHD symptoms, methylphenidate showed no advantage over placebo in terms of treatment discontinuation. More attention should be given in the future to the endpoint "all-cause treatment discontinuation" when making regulatory decisions and developing clinical guidelines involving the treatment of ADHD in adulthood.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.