Neuroimaging markers for the prediction of treatment response to Methylphenidate in ADHD

Abstract

Background: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent mental disorders of childhood, which often continues into adulthood. Methylphenidate is one the most commonly used medication to treat ADHD, however up to 30% of patients do not respond to it.

Aims: This paper aims to review studies, which employed neuroimaging to predict treatment response to Methylphenidate in ADHD.

Methods: Systematic literature searches were performed using several databases. Selected articles had to describe an original study that identified neuroimaging markers for the prediction of treatment response to Methylphenidate in ADHD.

Results: Eighty-three articles were found, of which twelve were selected for the present review. Several neuroimaging markers to predict response to MPH were suggested including DAT status, size of medial prefrontal cortex and corpus callosum.

Conclusion: Some promising findings have been identified and they should motivate additional work to establish more reliable neuroimaging markers of treatment response to MPH in ADHD.

Keywords: ADHD; Methylphenidate; Neuroimaging and treatment response.