Can a brain scan predict ADHD drug response?

NCT ID NCT04781972

Recruiting now Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study uses brain imaging (fMRI and MRS) to see how a single dose of methylphenidate changes brain activity and glutamate levels in 30 adults with ADHD. Participants will receive both the drug and a placebo in a double-blind crossover design. The goal is to find brain-based markers that could predict who will benefit from methylphenidate, helping to develop better treatments in the future.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: methylphenidate
What this could lead to: If successful, this could help identify brain-based markers that predict who will respond to methylphenidate, potentially guiding more personalized ADHD treatment.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase imaging study with only 30 participants. It measures short-term brain changes after a single dose, not long-term treatment outcomes. Results may not translate to clinical practice.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ADHD - COMBINED TYPE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
RECRUITING

Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, United States

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