M. Ernst et al., EFFECTS OF INTRAVENOUS DEXTROAMPHETAMINE ON BRAIN METABOLISM IN ADULTS WITH ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) - PRELIMINARY FINDINGS, Psychopharmacology bulletin, 30(2), 1994, pp. 219-225
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.