Effect of stimulant medication on driving performance of young adults withattention-deficit hyperactivity disorder - A preliminary double-blind placebo controlled trial

Driving performance of adult males with attention-deficit hyperactivity dis order (ADHD) was compared with matched controls in a double-blind (Ritalin us. placebo) cross-over design, using a high-fidelity driving simulator. Se ven ADHD and six non-ADHD drivers (mean age 22) were screened to rule out c omorbidity and assess for ADHD, and then admitted to the General Clinical R esearch Center to control diet and sleep before testing. At 0800 and 1530, subjects consumed either a placebo or Ritalin pill in a counter-balanced ma nner, and at 0930 and 1700, subjects drove the simulator. After both drives , subjects rated their driving performance. Compared with non-ADHD subjects , ADHD subjects had more career driving accidents (p < .04) and motor vehic le violations (p =.059), drove worse on the simulator under placebo conditi on (p < .05), demonstrated significant improvement under the Ritalin condit ion Cp (.05), rated themselves as driving poorer during the placebo conditi on (p = .05), and tended to perceive their driving to be better during the Ritalin condition (p = .07). This would suggest that individuals with ADHD should have the therapeutic benefit of a stimulant medication when operatin g a vehicle.