Background: Research examining the potential effects of stimulant exposure in childhood on subsequent development of substance use disorder (SUD) have focused on differences in the brain reward system as a function of risk.
Methods: 18 drug naïve children ages 7 to 12 years (11 High Risk [ADHD + ODD/CD]; 7 Low Risk [ADHD only]), underwent fMRI scans before and after treatment with mixed amphetamine salts, extended release (MAS-XR). We examined correlations between clinical ratings and fMRI activation at baseline and following treatment as a function of risk status.
Results: High Risk children had higher activation than Low Risk children at baseline during both the Reward and Surprising Non-Reward conditions. Treatment produced strong differential effects on brain activation pertinent to group and reward outcome.
Conclusions: Findings support the hypothesized role of reward mechanisms in SUD risk, and suggest that stimulant treatment may have differential effects on reward processing in relation to SUD risk.
Keywords: ADHD; fMRI; reward; stimulants; substance related disorders.