Methylphenidate for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

(IMPACT Trial)

Recruiting at 2 trial locations

Overseen By Carolyn L Fort, BS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 4

Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Must not be taking: Antipsychotics, Mood stabilizers, MAOIs, others

Disqualifiers: Bipolar, Schizophrenia, Substance use, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 20 weeks

70 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether methylphenidate, a medication commonly used for ADHD, can help Veterans with PTSD improve focus, memory, and task management. Current PTSD treatments often fail to address these issues effectively. Participants will alternate between taking methylphenidate and a placebo (a harmless pill with no active medication) over several weeks to determine which is more helpful. Veterans with PTSD who find concentration and memory impacting their daily life may be well-suited for this study. As a Phase 4 trial, this research explores how an FDA-approved and effective treatment can benefit more patients.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you stop taking certain medications, such as antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, stimulants, atomoxetine, or bupropion, at least 2 weeks before starting. If you are receiving trauma-focused therapy for PTSD, you must complete it before joining the study.

What is the safety track record for methylphenidate?

Research has shown that methylphenidate, a medication often used for ADHD, may help with PTSD symptoms. One study found that participants taking methylphenidate experienced noticeable improvements in their thinking and PTSD symptoms compared to those taking a placebo. This suggests the drug could aid with concentration and memory problems related to PTSD.

Methylphenidate is generally well-tolerated. Since the FDA has already approved it for ADHD, much is known about its safety. Common side effects are usually mild and might include trouble sleeping or loss of appetite, while serious side effects are rare.

Overall, current evidence supports methylphenidate as a potentially safe treatment for PTSD, especially for improving focus and memory. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers enthusiastic about this study treatment?

Researchers are excited about using methylphenidate for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) because it offers a new approach compared to standard treatments like SSRIs or therapy. Methylphenidate, commonly known for treating ADHD, works by boosting dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, which might help improve attention and reduce PTSD symptoms. This is different from traditional treatments that primarily target serotonin. Additionally, methylphenidate could provide quicker symptom relief, giving it an edge over options that often take several weeks to show benefits.

What evidence suggests that methylphenidate might be an effective treatment for PTSD?

Research has shown that methylphenidate, a medication often used for ADHD, might also help people with PTSD. A recent study found that it significantly reduced PTSD symptoms. It also improves focus and memory, which can be challenging for those with PTSD. Other studies have demonstrated that it reduces depression and tiredness in adults with brain injuries, suggesting it might offer similar mental health benefits for PTSD. These findings support the idea that methylphenidate could effectively treat cognitive difficulties related to PTSD. Participants in this trial will receive both methylphenidate and a placebo in a randomized order to further evaluate its effectiveness for PTSD. ^{3 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Rebecca C. Hendrickson, MD PhD

Principal Investigator

VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for US military Veterans aged 18-65 with PTSD, who have trouble concentrating or remembering things. They must be able to consent and not be pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding. Participants need a certain score on PTSD and cognitive tests but can't join if they have dementia, severe mental health issues like bipolar I or schizophrenia, recent substance abuse (except caffeine/nicotine), are at high risk of suicide, or are taking excluded medications.

Inclusion Criteria

CAPS-5 past month total score greater than or equal to 26

Subjective neurocognitive impairment, defined as a total score of greater than or equal to 25 (1 standard deviation below the mean) on the NeuroQoL Cognitive Function 8-item self-report form.

I have been diagnosed with PTSD according to DSM-5.

Exclusion Criteria

I have completed a trauma-focused therapy for PTSD within the last 2 weeks.

Prior allergic reaction to any MPH formulation

Current enrollment in another interventional trial for PTSD

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive sequential 4-week periods of methylphenidate and placebo, in randomized order, separated by 1-week washout periods, for a total of 20 weeks

20 weeks

Weekly or biweekly assessments

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Methylphenidate
• Placebo

Trial Overview

The study tests Methylphenidate's effectiveness in treating PTSD-related cognitive issues in Veterans using an N-of-1 design. Each participant alternates between the drug and placebo every 4-5 weeks over 20 weeks under double-blind conditions to compare changes in symptoms during different treatment periods.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: N-of-1 crossover study enrollment: start with placebo Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

All participants spend time receiving both active study drug (methylphenidate) and placebo (sham study drug), in randomized order, across 4 treatment blocks separated by 1 week washout periods (where no study drug is given).

Group II: N-of-1 crossover study enrollment: start with methylphenidate Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

All participants spend time receiving both active study drug (methylphenidate) and placebo (sham study drug), in randomized order, across 4 treatment blocks separated by 1 week washout periods (where no study drug is given).

Methylphenidate is already approved in United States, Canada, European Union for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Methylphenidate for:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Narcolepsy

Approved in Canada as Methylphenidate for:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Narcolepsy

Approved in European Union as Methylphenidate for:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Narcolepsy

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

VA Office of Research and Development

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,691

Recruited

3,759,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Current pharmacologic treatments for PTSD, such as antidepressants and anxiolytics, are based on drugs developed for other conditions, highlighting a need for more targeted therapies.

Future drug development for PTSD may focus on novel classes of compounds that directly address the disorder's unique biological mechanisms, including corticotropin-releasing factor antagonists and neuropeptide Y enhancers, which could lead to more effective treatments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

What might the psychobiology of posttraumatic stress disorder teach us about future approaches to pharmacotherapy? Friedman, MJ.[2013]

Pharmaceutical treatments, particularly amitriptyline, imipramine, and quetiapine, significantly improve symptoms of combat-related PTSD compared to placebo, with a moderate effect size across various PTSD symptoms.

While there was no significant increase in overall adverse events from these medications, higher discontinuation rates due to adverse effects were noted, indicating the need for careful monitoring in patients, especially those with severe PTSD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness, Acceptability and Safety of Pharmaceutical Management for Combat-Related PTSD in Adults Based on Systematic Review of Twenty-Two Randomized Controlled Trials. Yan, JZ., Liu, JL., Li, XZ., et al.[2022]

A review of 18 clinical trials found that atypical antipsychotics, particularly risperidone and quetiapine, provide a modest benefit in treating PTSD symptoms, especially intrusive thoughts and hypervigilance.

The effect sizes from double-blind placebo-controlled trials were small, indicating that while there is some positive response, larger studies are necessary to better understand the effectiveness and potential side effects of these medications.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A review of atypical antipsychotic medications for posttraumatic stress disorder. Ahearn, EP., Juergens, T., Cordes, T., et al.[2015]

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are supported by the largest body of evidence for both short- and long-term efficacy in treating PTSD, while initial findings for venlafaxine and risperidone also show promise.

There is insufficient evidence for the effectiveness of benzodiazepines in treating PTSD, despite their common use, and alternative treatments like prazosin and atypical antipsychotics may help in treatment-resistant cases.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evidence-based pharmacotherapy of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ipser, JC., Stein, DJ.[2022]

In a study involving 308 patients aged 6-17 with ADHD, 65% showed significant improvement after 3 weeks of treatment with Metadate CD, indicating its effectiveness in real-world clinical practice.

The majority of patients (87%) reported satisfaction with Metadate CD, and those switching from other methylphenidate formulations found it to be as effective or better, with adverse events aligning with existing safety profiles.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A postmarketing clinical experience study of Metadate CD. Dirksen, SJ., D'Imperio, JM., Birdsall, D., et al.[2019]

In a 1-year study involving 282 children aged 6-12 with ADHD, SDX/d-MPH was found to be safe and well tolerated, with 60.1% of participants experiencing treatment-emergent adverse events, mostly mild to moderate.

The treatment led to significant reductions in ADHD symptoms, demonstrating sustained efficacy over the year, comparable to other methylphenidate products, with no unexpected safety concerns.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Safety and Tolerability of Serdexmethylphenidate/Dexmethylphenidate Capsules in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A 12-Month, Open-Label Safety Study. Childress, AC., Marraffino, A., Cutler, AJ., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 149 children aged 6-12 with ADHD, the once-daily medication SDX/d-MPH significantly improved ADHD symptoms compared to placebo, showing a rapid onset and extended duration of efficacy.

The treatment was found to be safe, with no serious adverse events reported, although common side effects included insomnia and decreased appetite, similar to those seen with other stimulant medications.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Randomized, Controlled Laboratory Classroom Study of Serdexmethylphenidate and d-Methylphenidate Capsules in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Kollins, SH., Braeckman, R., Guenther, S., et al.[2021]

The study involved 119 preschool children aged 4 to <6 years with ADHD, showing that the methylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release capsule (MPH-MLR) significantly reduced ADHD symptoms, with mean ADHD-RS-IV scores dropping from 40.8 to 19.5 during the open-label phase.

In a double-blind phase, children receiving MPH-MLR had a significantly greater improvement in ADHD symptoms compared to those on placebo, with common side effects including decreased appetite and insomnia, consistent with known effects of methylphenidate.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Flexible-Dose Titration Study of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Extended-Release Capsules (Aptensio XR) in Preschool Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Childress, AC., Kollins, SH., Foehl, HC., et al.[2021]

In a 12-week trial involving 32 participants with PTSD and/or TBI, methylphenidate significantly improved cognitive complaints compared to placebo, indicating its potential efficacy for these conditions.

The treatment was well tolerated, suggesting a favorable safety profile, but further research with a larger sample size is needed to confirm these promising results.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of Methylphenidate or Galantamine for Persistent Emotional and Cognitive Symptoms Associated with PTSD and/or Traumatic Brain Injury. McAllister, TW., Zafonte, R., Jain, S., et al.[2018]

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline show a statistically significant but small effect in reducing PTSD symptoms compared to placebo, based on a systematic review of 115 randomized controlled trials.

Prazosin and risperidone also demonstrate small positive effects when used to augment other treatments, but no single pharmacological intervention was found to be superior to others in head-to-head comparisons.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pharmacological therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of monotherapy, augmentation and head-to-head approaches. Hoskins, MD., Bridges, J., Sinnerton, R., et al.[2023]

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can lead to long-lasting symptoms like intrusive thoughts and emotional numbing, affecting social and occupational functioning, and is linked to higher suicide risk.

While psychotherapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, is effective for PTSD, there is a significant need for proven pharmacological treatments to address core symptoms and prevent the disorder.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Post-traumatic stress disorder: emerging concepts of pharmacotherapy. Baker, DG., Nievergelt, CM., Risbrough, VB.[2021]

Controlled-delivery methylphenidate (methylphenidate CD) is effective and well tolerated for treating ADHD in children aged 6 and older, showing superior control of symptoms compared to osmotic release methylphenidate during a typical school day.

In clinical trials lasting 3 weeks, methylphenidate CD was found to be more effective than a placebo and equally effective as immediate-release methylphenidate, making it a strong option for managing ADHD symptoms during school hours.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Methylphenidate controlled-delivery capsules (EquasymXL, Metadate CD): a review of its use in the treatment of children and adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Anderson, VR., Keating, GM.[2018]

Citations

1.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9484295/

Psychostimulants for the Treatment of Comorbid Post ...

This case report shows promising results and potential off-label use of psychostimulants for the treatment of PTSD. Keywords: post-traumatic ...

2.

withpower.com

withpower.com/trial/phase-4-stress-disorders-traumatic-7-2023-2c95e

Methylphenidate for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

In a study involving 308 patients aged 6-17 with ADHD, 65% showed significant improvement after 3 weeks of treatment with Metadate CD, indicating its ...

3.

medicine.iu.edu

medicine.iu.edu/news/2015/11/adhd-medicine-may-benefit-ptsd-patients-1

Medicine used to treat ADHD may also help patients with post ...

In the newly reported trial results, treatment with methylphenidate was associated with significant declines in post-traumatic stress disorder ...

4.

frontiersin.org

frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1546080/full

Methylphenidate for the cognitive and neurobehavioural ...

This review identified supportive evidence for the beneficial effects of methylphenidate to improve depression and fatigue in adults with TBI.

5.

psychiatryonline.org

psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.17080955

175 Years of Progress in PTSD Therapeutics

we retrace the treatment of trauma—now known as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—throughout the years ...

6.

cdn.clinicaltrials.gov

cdn.clinicaltrials.gov/large-docs/57/NCT04885257/Prot_SAP_000.pdf

A randomized placebo-controlled trial of methylphenidate ...

The suspected mechanism is MPH activates PFC, enhancing fear extinction and improving PTSD symptoms. MPH can also improve post-stroke outcomes: mood, activities ...

7.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8782594/

Psychological therapies for post‐traumatic stress disorder and ...

A post‐hoc analysis for full dose of a widely established group therapy called Seeking Safety showed reduced drug/alcohol use post‐treatment (SMD ‐0.67; 95% CI ...

8.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023061510

Personalized repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation ...

Full resolution of PTSD symptoms was attained in over 50% of patients. These data support DMN involvement in PTSD pathophysiology and suggest a role in ...