The investigators will examine the acute effects of stimulant medication on executive functioning. The rationale for the proposed study is to examine the efficacy of stimulants for college students with ADHD and help prevent stimulant misuse among college students without ADHD. The working hypothesis is that stimulants, compared to baseline and placebo conditions, will improve executive functioning for college students with ADHD but not for college students without ADHD. Improvements on executive functioning measures (e.g., CPT-IP, Spatial Span) will be examined through 2 (ADHD vs. non-ADHD) x 3 (Baseline, Placebo, Stimulant) repeated measures ANOVAs. Follow-up analyses will include paired comparisons. Expected outcomes are to confirm these hypotheses and demonstrate the need for further study of stimulants. If confirmed, the results will provide pilot data for a larger NIH grant proposal aimed at further examining the acute effects of stimulants (i.e., improved cognitive functioning with stimulants) and comparing them to the acute effects of physical exercise (i.e., improved cognitive functioning immediately after exercise). The investigators expect this outcome to have an important positive impact because it can help support stimulant medication as an effective treatment for college students with ADHD (DuPaul et al., 2012). Additionally, demonstration that stimulants do not improve executive functioning for college students without ADHD can be used to help prevent and discourage stimulant misuse and diversion on college campuses (Hartung et al., 2013).
Age range
18 Years – 29 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Change in Continuous Performance Test - Identical Pairs (CPT-IP) for Adderall vs. Placebo
Timeframe: Completed at baseline and each experimental appointment over a period of three weeks
Change in Spatial Span (SS) for Adderall vs. Placebo
Timeframe: Completed at baseline and each experimental appointment over a period of three weeks
Change in Digit Span for Adderall vs. Placebo
Timeframe: Completed at baseline and each experimental appointment over a period of three weeks
Change in Letter-Number Sequencing for Adderall vs. Placebo
Timeframe: Completed at baseline and each experimental appointment over a period of three weeks
Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) for Adderall vs. Placebo
Timeframe: two weeks
Addiction Research Center Inventory (ARCI) for Adderall vs. Placebo
Timeframe: two weeks
Intentions to Use Questionnaire (IUQ) for Adderall vs. Placebo
Timeframe: two weeks