AUTHOR=van Ruitenbeek Peter , Franzen Luisa , Mason Natasha Leigh , Stiers Peter , Ramaekers Johannes G. 

TITLE=Methylphenidate as a treatment option for substance use disorder: a transdiagnostic perspective

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1208120

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1208120

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=A transition in viewing mental disorders from conditions defined as a set of unique characteristics to one of quantitative variations on a collection of dimensions allows overlap between disorders. The overlap can be utilised to extend to treatment approaches. Here we consider the overlap between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Substance Use Disorder to probe the suitability to use methylphenidate as a treatment in Substance Use Disorder. Both disorders are characterised by maladaptive goal-directed behaviour, impaired cognitive control, hyperactive phasic dopaminergic neurotransmission in the striatum, prefrontal hypoactivation, and reduced frontal cortex grey matter volume/density. In addition, methylphenidate has been shown to improve cognitive control and normalise associated brain activation in Substance Use Disorder patients and clinical trials have found methylphenidate to improve clinical outcomes. Despite the theoretical basis and promising, but preliminary, outcomes, many questions remain unanswered. Most prominent is whether all patients who are addicted to different substances may equally profit from methylphenidate treatment.