EFFECTS OF INTRAVENOUS DEXTROAMPHETAMINE ON BRAIN METABOLISM IN ADULTS WITH ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) - PRELIMINARY FINDINGS

The effects on brain metabolism of the intravenous (i.v.) administrati on of dextroamphetamine was assessed by positron emission tomography ( PET) with [F-18]-fluorodeoxyglucose (18-FDG) in 8 adults with attentio n-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). During the 3-hour 18-FDG PET session, each adult underwent the initial scan following i.v. infusion of placebo and a second scan following i.v. infusion of 0.15 mg/kg de xtroamphetamine in a single-blind design. All subjects showed increase d systolic/diastolic blood pressure and improved continuous performanc e task scores after dextroamphetamine. Global and regional metabolic r ates were not significantly altered by the stimulant. When regional an d global rates were normalized, the metabolic rates of only three cort ical regions differed significantly between conditions. Individually, global metabolism increased in 4 subjects, was unchanged in 2, and dec reased in 2 after stimulant infusion. No clinical characteristics diff erentiated these patients. I.V. infusion of dextroamphetamine did not significantly alter brain metabolism in ADHD adults in this preliminar y study.