Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34436651›Full record

ReviewPsychopharmacology2021

Methylphenidate for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults: a narrative review.

Rafał R Jaeschke, Ewelina Sujkowska, Magdalena Sowa-Kućma

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Psychopharmacology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 41 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
41citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

41 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Review
  13. Increased Plasma Concentrations of 6-oxo-Methylphenidate inMedicinal chemistry research : an international journal for rapid communications on design and mechanisms of action of biologically active agents · 2025
    Article
  14. Review
  15. Article
  16. Review
  17. Article
  18. Review
  19. Central Med23 deficiency leads to malformation of dentate gyrus and ADHD-like behaviors in mice.Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 2025
    Article
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Rafał R JaeschkeSection of Affective Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, ul. Kopernika 21a, 31-501, Kraków, Poland. rafal.jaeschke@gmail.com.
Ewelina SujkowskaDepartment of Human Physiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszów University, ul. Kopisto 2a, 35-315, Rzeszów, Poland.
Magdalena Sowa-KućmaDepartment of Human Physiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszów University, ul. Kopisto 2a, 35-315, Rzeszów, Poland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

rationalePsychostimulants, including methylphenidate (MPH), are the mainstay of pharmacotherapy for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults. Even though MPH is the most commonly used medication for ADHD these days, there are relatively few resources available that provide comprehensive insight into the pharmacological and clinical features of the compound.

objectiveThe aim of this paper is to provide an up-to-date outline of the pharmacology and clinical utility of MPH for ADHD in adult patients.

methodsWhile conducting the narrative review, we applied structured search strategies covering the two major online databases (MEDLINE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials). In addition, we performed handsearching of reference lists of relevant papers.

resultsMethylphenidate exhibits multimodal mechanism of action, working primarily as a dopamine and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor. It also protects the dopaminergic system against the ongoing 'wearing off' (by securing a substantial reserve pool of the neurotransmitter, stored in the presynaptic vesicles). In placebo-controlled trials, MPH was shown to be moderately effective both against the core ADHD symptoms (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35-0.64), and the accompanying emotion regulation deficits (SMD, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.23-0.45). The most common adverse events related to long-term treatment with MPH are decreased appetite (~ 20%), dry mouth (15%), heart palpitations (13%), gastrointestinal infections (~ 10%), and agitation/feeling restless (~ 10%).

conclusionsThere is substantial body of evidence to suggest that MPH is an effective and safe treatment option for adults with ADHD.

Indexed as

Attention Deficit Disorder with HyperactivityCentral Nervous System StimulantsMethylphenidateAdultAnxietyDopamineHumansTreatment OutcomeCentral Nervous System StimulantsDopamineMethylphenidateAdult ADHDMethylphenidatePharmacologyPsychostimulantsTreatment

Identifiers

PMID34436651
PMCPMC8455398

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.