{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,24]],"date-time":"2026-03-24T11:27:43Z","timestamp":1774351663386,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"FapUNIFESP (SciELO)","issue":"2","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Trends Psychiatry Psychother."],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2012]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>INTRODUCTION: Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant medication used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. However, it has also been used for non-medical purposes, e.g. to produce euphoria, to increase self-esteem, and to achieve the so-called neurocognitive enhancement, decreasing the feeling of tiredness and increasing focus and attention. OBJECTIVE: To describe, from theoretical and contextual points of view, the potential for abuse and non-medical use of methylphenidate. METHOD: The PubMed, SciELO and Cochrane databases were searched using the following keywords in Portuguese: metilfenidato, transtorno do d\u00e9ficit de aten\u00e7\u00e3o com hiperatividade, facilitadores dos processos cognitivos or agentes nootr\u00f3picos, and abuso de subst\u00e2ncias; and in English: methylphenidate, attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, cognitive enhancement or nootropic agents, and substance abuse. Studies published between 1990 and 2010 were selected for review. RESULTS: Non-medical use of methylphenidate is a relevant topic that raises important ethical and scientific questions in several areas, e.g. pharmacological and neurobiological characteristics, evidence of methylphenidate use, forms of non-medical use of methylphenidate, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic application of methylphenidate. According to the review, methylphenidate can generally influence performance as a result of its stimulatory effect. Notwithstanding, evidence does not support the conclusion that it can enhance cognitive performance. CONCLUSION: Health professionals need to acquire expert knowledge and inform patients and their families on the methylphenidate potential for abuse when used with non-medical purposes.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1590\/s2237-60892012000200010","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2012,8,13]],"date-time":"2012-08-13T04:26:52Z","timestamp":1344832012000},"page":"110-115","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":20,"title":["Non-medical use of methylphenidate: a review"],"prefix":"10.1590","volume":"34","author":[{"given":"Luana","family":"Freese","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Luciana","family":"Signor","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Cassio","family":"Machado","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Maristela","family":"Ferigolo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Helena Maria Tannhauser","family":"Barros","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UFCSPA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"530","reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"267","DOI":"10.1177\/1087054709356386","article-title":"Prevalence of methylphenidate prescription among school-aged children in a Swiss population: increase in the number of prescriptions in the Swiss Canton of Vaud, from 2002 to 2005, and changes in patient demographics","volume":"14","author":"Gumy C","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Atten Disord"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1385","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biopsych.2004.08.026","article-title":"The neuropsychopharmacology of attention-deficit\/hyperactivity disorder","volume":"57","author":"Pliszka SR","year":"2005","journal-title":"Biol Psychiatry","ISSN":"https:\/\/id.crossref.org\/issn\/0006-3223","issn-type":"print"},{"key":"ref3","series-title":"The British Pharmacopeia,","year":"2009","edition":"6"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3673","DOI":"10.1200\/JCO.2010.28.1444","article-title":"Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of long-acting methylphenidate for cancer-related fatigue: North Central Cancer Treatment","volume":"28","author":"Moraska AR","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Clin Oncol","ISSN":"https:\/\/id.crossref.org\/issn\/0732-183X","issn-type":"print"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"711","DOI":"10.1016\/S0025-6196(11)64618-1","article-title":"Methylphenidate: its pharmacology and uses","volume":"75","author":"Challan TD","year":"2000","journal-title":"Mayo Clin Proc","ISSN":"https:\/\/id.crossref.org\/issn\/0025-6196","issn-type":"print"},{"key":"ref6","first-page":"CD007380","article-title":"Efficacy of psychostimulant drugs for cocaine dependence","volume":"17","author":"Castells X","year":"2010","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e11509","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0011509","article-title":"Methylphenidate attenuates limbic brain inhibition after cocaine-cues exposure in cocaine abusers","volume":"5","author":"Volkow ND","year":"2010","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"25","DOI":"10.1016\/S1328-2743(02)80016-5","article-title":"Illicit intravenous use of methylphenidate (ritalin) tablets: a review of four cases","volume":"5","author":"Farquhar S","year":"2002","journal-title":"Aust Emerg Nurs J"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1909","DOI":"10.1176\/appi.ajp.160.11.1909","article-title":"Variables that affect the clinical use and abuse of methylphenidate in the treatment of ADHD","volume":"160","author":"Volkow ND","year":"2003","journal-title":"Am J Psychiatry","ISSN":"https:\/\/id.crossref.org\/issn\/0002-953X","issn-type":"print"},{"key":"ref10","series-title":"Convention on psychotropic substances, 1971","year":"1971"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.1590\/S0101-60832003000100002","article-title":"Metilfenidato: influ\u00eancia da notifica\u00e7\u00e3o de receita A (cor amarela) sobre a pr\u00e1tica de prescri\u00e7\u00e3o por m\u00e9dicos brasileiros","volume":"30","author":"Carlini EA","year":"2003","journal-title":"Rev Psiquiatr Clin"},{"key":"ref12","first-page":"387","article-title":"Expansores cognitivos e psiquiatria cosm\u00e9tica: estamos preparados? 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