Indianapolis—The stimulant drug methylphenidate combined with cognitive-behavioral rehabilitation shows promise as an option for traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients with persistent cognitive problems, according to a report published online by the journal Neuropsychopharmacology. Indiana University School of Medicine–led researchers compared the effectiveness of two forms of cognitive therapy with and without the use of methylphenidate, which is marketed as Ritalin and used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The 71 participants who completed the 6-week trial were adults who had experienced TBI of at least mild severity, defined as a blow to the head with some alteration of consciousness, at least 4 months previously, and who either complained of having cognitive problems or who had been identified with cognitive problems in testing.

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