Cognitive Performance Enhancement: Misuse or Self-Treatment?
Abstract
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.
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ADHD and eating disorders are particularly common comorbidities in adolescent and young adult patients with StUD.
“these are particularly common comorbidities in these populations.[21][22][23][24]”
From The ASAM/AAAP Clinical Practice Guideline on the Management of Stimulant Use Disorder (2024) · cites this paper as [23]
Cites
KESSLER, R. C., ADLER, L., AMES, M., DEMLER, O., FARAONE, S., HIRIPI, E., HOWES, M. J., JIN, R., SECNIK, K., SPENCER, T., et al. (2005) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291704002892 · Cited by 3,452 · see citing works
Misuse and Diversion of Stimulants Prescribed for ADHD: A Systematic Review of the Literature
WILENS, T. E., ADLER, L. A., ADAMS, J., SGAMBATI, S., ROTROSEN, J., SAWTELLE, R., UTZINGER, L., & FUSILLO, S. (2008) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/chi.0b013e31815a56f1 · Cited by 824 · see citing works
Rabiner, D. L., Anastopoulos, A. D., Costello, E. J., Hoyle, R. H., McCabe, S. E., & Swartzwelder, H. S. (2009) · Journal of Attention Disorders · doi:10.1177/1087054708320399 · Cited by 238 · see citing works
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Misuse of Stimulant Medication Among College Students: A Comprehensive Review and Meta-analysis
Benson, K., Flory, K., Humphreys, K. L., & Lee, S. S. (2015) · Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review · doi:10.1007/s10567-014-0177-z · Cited by 328 · see citing works
Faraone, S. V., Rostain, A. L., Montano, C. B., Mason, O., Antshel, K. M., & Newcorn, J. H. (2020) · Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2019.06.012 · Cited by 225 · see citing works
The ASAM/AAAP Clinical Practice Guideline on the Management of Stimulant Use Disorder
(2024) · Journal of Addiction Medicine · doi:10.1097/adm.0000000000001299 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Enhancement stimulants: perceived motivational and cognitive advantages
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- Authors
- Peterkin, A. L., Crone, C. C., Sheridan, M. J., & Wise, T. N.
- Affiliations
- University of Virginia (US)
- Virginia Commonwealth University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Peterkin, Alexander L.
- ORCID
- Sheridan, Michael J.
- Venue
- Journal of Attention Disorders
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2010-04-21
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 263-268
- ISSN
- 1087-0547 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-1246
- OpenAlex
- W1971492777
- Cited by
- 75
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 3.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Attention Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- George Mason University
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neuroethics, Human Enhancement, Biomedical Innovations
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Academic integrity and plagiarism
- Keywords
- ADHD medication, adult ADHD symptoms, university students, self-medication, academic performance, undiagnosed ADHD
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Central Nervous System Stimulants, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Cross-Sectional Studies, Health Surveys, Humans, Motivation, Students, Universities, Chi-Square Distribution
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