ERIC Number: EJ913769
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Feb
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1087-0547
EISSN: N/A
Differential Effects of Methylphenidate on Problem Solving in Adults with ADHD
Tucha, Lara; Tucha, Oliver; Sontag, Thomas A.; Stasik, Dorota; Laufkotter, Rainer; Lange, Klaus W.
Journal of Attention Disorders, v15 n2 p161-173 Feb 2011
Objective: Two studies were performed to assess both divergent and convergent thinking in adults with ADHD. Method: The first study compared the problem-solving abilities of healthy participants (N = 144) and unmedicated adults with ADHD (N = 144). In the second study, problem-solving abilities of adults with diagnosed ADHD (N = 22) were examined twice, that is, on and off methylphenidate (MPH), and compared with the performance of a healthy control group (N = 22). Convergent thinking was measured using a Tower of London task, whereas divergent thinking was assessed using verbal fluency tasks. Results: Adults with ADHD off MPH displayed marked deficits of both divergent and convergent thinking. MPH treatment resulted in a marked improvement of convergent thinking, while no effect of medication was found regarding divergent thinking. Conclusion: Pharmacological treatment of adults with ADHD revealed a differential effect of MPH on problem solving abilities. (Contains 6 tables.)
Descriptors: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Problem Solving, Creative Thinking, Convergent Thinking, Drug Therapy, Adults, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Thinking Skills, Cognitive Processes, Comparative Analysis, Language Fluency, Verbal Communication, Foreign Countries
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Germany
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A