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Pharmacopsychiatry 2016; 49(04): 146-154
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1569361
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Cytogenetic Effects of Chronic Methylphenidate Treatment and Chronic Social Stress in Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

S. Kittel-Schneider
1   Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
*   S. Spiegel and S. Kittel-Schneider are shared first authors
,
S. Spiegel
2   Institute of Toxikology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
*   S. Spiegel and S. Kittel-Schneider are shared first authors
,
T. Renner
3   Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
,
M. Romanos
4   Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
,
A. Reif
1   Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
,
S. Reichert
4   Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
,
J. Heupel
4   Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
,
L. Schnetzler
1   Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
,
H. Stopper
2   Institute of Toxikology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
#   H. Stopper and C. Jacob are shared last authors
,
C. Jacob
5   Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hospital of Nürtingen, Nürtingen, Germany
#   H. Stopper and C. Jacob are shared last authors
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 25 August 2015
revised 22 November 2015

accepted 07 December 2015

Publication Date:
29 February 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction: Methylphenidate (MPH) is widely used to treat childhood and adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, there are still safety concerns about side effects in long-term treatment. The aim of this study was to assess cytogenetic effects of chronic MPH treatment in adult ADHD and to find out if chronic social stress is attenuated by medication and to investigate whether chronic psychosocial stress leads to mutagenic effects by itself.

Methods: Lymphocytes for micronucleus assay and saliva samples for cortisol measurement were collected from adult ADHD patients and healthy controls. Stress exposure of the last 3 months was assessed by TICS (Trier Inventory for Chronic Stress).

Results: We could not detect an influence of MPH treatment on cytogenetic markers. ADHD patients displayed significantly higher chronic stress levels measured by TICS compared to healthy controls which were influenced by duration of MPH treatment. ADHD patients also showed significantly lower basal cortisol levels.

Discussion: We could corroborate that there are neither cytogenetic effects of chronic stress nor of chronic MPH intake even after several years of treatment.

Key words

stress - adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder - cortisol

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