Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41595834›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of environmental research and public health2025

Stimulant Treatment Gap in ADHD Patients with Heroin Use Disorder: Clinical and Behavioural Consequences.

Alessandro Pallucchini, Maurizio Varese, Irene Pergentini, Samuele Gemignani, Elisa Parapetto, Icro Maremmani, Angelo Giovanni Icro Maremmani

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Article in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Alessandro PallucchiniDepartment of Psychiatry and Addictions, Section of Addictions, North-Western Tuscany Local Health Unit, Apuan Zone, Via Carriona 245, 54033 Carrara, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-7281-1337
Maurizio VareseDepartment of Psychiatry and Addictions, Section of Addictions, North-Western Tuscany Local Health Unit, Apuan Zone, Via Carriona 245, 54033 Carrara, Italy.
Irene PergentiniDepartment of Psychiatry and Addictions, Section of Addictions, North-Western Tuscany Local Health Unit, Lucca Zone, Viale Marti 263, 55100 Lucca, Italy.
Samuele GemignaniV.P. Dole Research Group, G. De Lisio Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Via di Pratale 3, 56121 Pisa, Italy.ORCID 0009-0000-8022-7624
Elisa ParapettoDepartment of Psychiatry and Addictions, Section of Addictions, North-Western Tuscany Local Health Unit, Livorno Zone, Via Tiberio Scali 11, 57121 Livorno, Italy.
Icro MaremmaniV.P. Dole Research Group, G. De Lisio Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Via di Pratale 3, 56121 Pisa, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6324-0576
Angelo Giovanni Icro MaremmaniV.P. Dole Research Group, G. De Lisio Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Via di Pratale 3, 56121 Pisa, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-7728-3705

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAdults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often have comorbid substance use disorders (SUDs). In Italy, individuals with both ADHD and heroin use disorder (HUD) are usually treated in addiction services with opioid agonist therapy (OAT), but stimulant medications are rarely prescribed. This may create a treatment gap for core ADHD symptoms.

aimThis study examined the clinical and behavioural profiles of ADHD patients with HUD who receive OAT but no stimulant treatment, compared to ADHD patients without opioid use disorder (ADHD/NoHUD) on standard pharmacotherapy. All participants were considered treatment responders in their respective services.

methodsData were collected from two outpatient clinics and included 103 adult ADHD patients assessed using validated tools for symptom severity, emotional dysregulation, and global functioning. Differences between groups were analysed using univariate tests and logistic regression.

resultsThe ADHD+HUD group was significantly older and showed higher levels of emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and current cocaine use. Despite clinical stability, these individuals presented a more severe psychopathological profile than their ADHD/NoHUD counterparts, who received stimulant-based treatment.

conclusionsAlthough limited by its cross-sectional nature and setting-related confounders, the study indicates that OAT alone may not be sufficient to manage neurodevelopmental symptoms in ADHD+HUD patients. Further research is necessary to assess the safety and efficacy of integrated stimulant-based treatments, ideally within dual disorder services combining psychiatric and addiction expertise.

Indexed as

Attention Deficit Disorder with HyperactivityCentral Nervous System StimulantsHeroin DependenceAdultComorbidityCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansItalyMaleMiddle AgedCentral Nervous System StimulantsADHDdual disorderheroin use disorderopioid agonist therapystimulant treatment

Identifiers

PMID41595834
PMCPMC12841029

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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.