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Long‐term treatment with methylphenidate for fatigue after traumatic brain injury
Author(s) -
Johansson B.,
Wentzel A.P.,
Andréll P.,
Rönnbäck L.,
Mannheimer C.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/ane.12587
Subject(s) - methylphenidate , traumatic brain injury , anxiety , cognition , depression (economics) , concussion , medicine , psychiatry , psychology , physical therapy , poison control , injury prevention , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , economics , macroeconomics , environmental health
Objectives Traumatic brain injury ( TBI ) may cause long‐lasting post‐concussive symptoms, such as mental fatigue and concentration difficulties, and this may become the main hindrance for returning to work and studies. There is currently no effective treatment for long‐lasting mental fatigue. In this hypothesis generating study, the long‐term effects of methylphenidate on mental fatigue, cognitive function, and safety were assessed. Materials & methods Thirty participants who suffered from long‐term post‐concussion symptoms after a mild TBI or moderate TBI and who had reported positive effects with methylphenidate during an initial phase of this follow‐up study were treated with methylphenidate for a further six months. Results After six‐month follow‐up, effects on Mental Fatigue Scale ( MFS ), depression, anxiety, and cognitive function (processing speed, attention, working memory) were significantly improved compared to baseline data ( P < 0.001, respectively). Heart rate was significantly increased ( P = 0.01), while blood pressure was not changed. Conclusions Individuals suffering from prolonged symptoms after TBI reported reduced mental fatigue and improved cognitive functions with long‐term methylphenidate treatment. It is suggested that methylphenidate can be a treatment option for long‐term mental fatigue and cognitive impairment after a TBI , but further randomized control research is warranted.