Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study of the efficacy and safety of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate in college students with ADHD.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate stimulant medication on symptoms and functioning for college students with ADHD using double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design.

METHOD

Participants included 24 college students with ADHD and 26 college students without psychopathology. Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) was examined for ADHD participants over five weekly phases (no-drug baseline, placebo, 30-, 50-, and 70-mg LDX per day). Self-report rating scales of functioning and direct assessment of ADHD symptoms, verbal learning/memory, and adverse side effects were collected (baseline only for control students).

RESULTS

LDX was associated with large reductions in ADHD symptoms and improvement in executive functioning along with smaller effects for psychosocial functioning. Reduction in ADHD symptoms was found for 86.4% of participants; however, large differences in symptoms and executive functioning remained relative to controls.

CONCLUSION

LDX is a safe, efficacious treatment for symptom relief in college students with ADHD. Research documenting medication effects on academic functioning and evaluating psychosocial/educational interventions is needed.