ERIC Number: EJ920645
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-May
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1087-0547
EISSN: N/A
Cognitive Performance Enhancement: Misuse or Self-Treatment?
Peterkin, Alexander L.; Crone, Catherine C.; Sheridan, Michael J.; Wise, Thomas N.
Journal of Attention Disorders, v15 n4 p263-268 May 2011
Objective: This cross-sectional survey study examines the link between ADHD medication misuse and a positive screen for adult ADHD symptoms. Method: Surveys from 184 college student volunteers in Northern Virginia are collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 71% of ADHD stimulant misusers screen positive for ADHD symptoms. Misusers are 7 times more likely to be symptomatic for ADHD than those who do not misuse. Also, 87% of misusers indicate that they do so for academic reasons, and 76% believe that the misuse of the ADHD stimulants improve their grades. Conclusion: ADHD stimulant misuse in college students is found to be strongly linked to having symptoms of adult ADHD. The desire for cognitive performance enhancement in college students may be a form of self-treatment for undiagnosed ADHD. College students need more accessibility to medical diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD to reduce the incidence of misuse in the future. (Contains 3 tables and 2 figures.)
Descriptors: College Students, Stimulants, Student Volunteers, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Case Studies, Surveys, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Drug Abuse, Grades (Scholastic), Student Attitudes, Cognitive Ability, Clinical Diagnosis
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Virginia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A