Will methylphenidate have an effect on self-control?

Phase 4

• Conditions: Self-control; Resource depletion in cognitive performance; Mental Health - Studies of normal psychology, cognitive function and behaviour

• Registration Number: ACTRN12611000564954
• Lead Sponsor: The University of Melbourne

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Start: 2011-06-02
• Last Update Posted: 13 January 2020

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ot yet recruiting
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

Healthy adults

Exclusion Criteria

Previous personal or first-degree family history of psychiatric or neurological disorders or suicidality, impairments in vision or audition, hepatic or cardiac function (including diagnosed hypertension), pregnancy or breastfeeding, previous intolerance or hypersensitivity to methylphenidate or related medications, current or recent (last 2 weeks) use of psychotropic medication, psychoactive substances or any other medications known to interact with methylphenidate. Participants will also be excluded if their blood pressure is found to be above 140/100 and remains above this level for fifteen minutes.

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Resource depletion - when people are given two consecutive tasks that require self-control, they generally perform worse on the second task compared to when participants perform a task that does not require self-control followed by self-control task, suggesting that self-control is a depletable resource. We will measure the participant's cognitive performance using computer tasks following custom designed computer tasks known to induce depletion of self-control. During these tasks participants will be asked to press buttons to visual stimuli (e.g., abstract symbols and objects).[1 hour after the administration of methylphenidate or placebo.]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
We will use electroencephalography (EEG) to assess neural activity associated with cognitive performance and self-control.[1 hour after the administration of methylphenidate or placebo.];Measures of saliva cortisol levels will be used to establish the relationship between stress and self-control.[1 hour after the administration of methylphenidate or placebo.];Measures of heart rate will be used to establish the relationship between stress and self-control.[1 hour after the administration of methylphenidate or placebo.];Measures of blood pressure will be used to establish the relationship between stress and self-control.[1 hour after the administration of methylphenidate or placebo.]