ArticleBrain and behavior2012
Prescription stimulants in individuals with and without attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: misuse, cognitive impact, and adverse effects.
Article in Brain and behavior, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04389723 (A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Crossover Study to Investigate the Safety and Efficacy of Qualia Mind on Cognition in a Healthy Population), which is not on this map. Cited by 76 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
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.
A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Crossover Study to Investigate the Safety and Efficacy of Qualia Mind on Cognition in a Healthy Population
Who cites it
76 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 241 citations in OpenAlex.
- Occurrence of Psychosis and Bipolar Disorder in Individuals With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Treated With Stimulants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.JAMA psychiatry · 2025Pooled it
- Neurocognitive enhancement or impairment? A systematic meta-analysis of prescription stimulant effects on processing speed, decision-making, planning, and cognitive perseveration.Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology · 2016Pooled it
- Methylphenidate (Ritalin) does not improve exam performance in an experimental setting.Psychopharmacology · 2026Trial
- Acute drug effects differentially predict desire to take dextroamphetamine again for work and recreation.Psychopharmacology · 2021Trial
- Preventing college student nonmedical prescription stimulant use: Development of vested interest theory-based persuasive messages.Addictive behaviors · 2020Trial
- Trends and Gender Disparities in Medical Narcotics Utilization in South Korea: A Nationwide Population-Based Study, 2019-2023.Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety · 2026Article
- Beyond Performance: Cognitive Overload and Related Cognitive, Psychophysiological, and Performance States in Competitive Esports-A Scoping Review.Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Psychostimulant effects on motor and cognitive function in adults attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology · 2026Article
- Article
- Repeated Oral Methylphenidate Administration Evokes Changes in Brain Plasticity Proteins in Juvenile Wistar Kyoto Rats: Evidence for Sex-Related Differences.Neurochemical research · 2026Article
- Study on anti-fatigue effect and mechanism of iron source combined with Angelica sinensis and Agrimonia pilosa on pigeons under exercise stress.Poultry science · 2025Article
- Current insights into the safety and adverse effects of methylphenidate in children, adolescents, and adults - narrative review.Pharmacological reports : PR · 2025Review
- Review
- Article
- Trends in Prescription of Stimulants and Narcoleptic Drugs in Switzerland: Longitudinal Health Insurance Claims Analysis for the Years 2014-2021.JMIR public health and surveillance · 2025Article
- tDCS and neurofeedback in ADHD treatment.Frontiers in systems neuroscience · 2025Review
- The Impact of Dexamphetamine Treatment for Obesity on Executive Function: A Double-Blind Randomised Controlled Pilot Study.Brain sciences · 2024Article
- Telehealth implementation for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a scoping review.Child health nursing research · 2024Article
- Differential Impact of Serotonin Signaling Methylphenidate on Young versus Adult: Insights from Behavioral and Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Neuronal Recordings from Freely Behaving Rats.International journal of molecular sciences · 2024Article
- Adverse Childhood Experiences and Prescription Stimulant Use in Adults: A Systematic Review.Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
16 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Prescription stimulants are often used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Drugs like methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), and dextroamphetamine-amphetamine (Adderall) help people with ADHD feel more focused. However, misuse of stimulants by ADHD and nonaffected individuals has dramatically increased over recent years based on students' misconceptions or simple lack of knowledge of associated risks. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the use and increasing misuse of prescription stimulants among high school and college students and athletes. Given the widespread belief that stimulants enhance performance, there are in fact only a few studies reporting the cognitive enhancing effects of stimulants in ADHD and nonaffected individuals. Student athletes should be apprised of the very serious consequences that can emerge when stimulants are used to improve sports performance. Moreover, misuse of stimulants is associated with dangers including psychosis, myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy, and even sudden death. As ADHD medications are prescribed for long-term treatment, there is a need for long-term safety studies and education on the health risks associated with misuse is imperative.
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What OpenQuestion holds
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.