The Effect of Methylphenidate on Decision-making Ability of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Adults

The Effect of Methylphenidate on Decision-making Ability of ADHD Adults

The aim of the study is to assess the effect of Methylphenidate on cognitive performance and decision-making ability of ADHD adults, and to compare this effect to the effect on healthy control adults.

Two matched groups of adults - with and without ADHD diagnosis - will perform a battery of computerized tasks assessing sustained attention,working-memory,non-verbal IQ,and decision-making ability. In each group,half of the participants will perform the tasks after receiving a capsule containing methylphenidate (MPH), and the other half will perform the tasks after receiving placebo. Task performance measures will then be compared in order to assess the effect of MPH on these domains.

Inclusion Criteria:

• adults in the age of 21-50

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnant or nursing women.
• people who suffer from a psychiatric disorder other than ADHD which could account for their inattention symptoms better than ADHD.
• people who lack judgment or are unable to communicate with the experimenters.
• people who are incapable of performing the computerized tasks due to sensory or motor disabilities.