25 June 2025 : Clinical Research
Differentiating Between Methylphenidate Use and Misuse: Clinical Insights From University Students and Academic Staff in Türkiye
Meltem Gürü ABCDEFG 1*DOI: 10.12659/MSM.948984
Med Sci Monit 2025; 31:e948984
Table 1 Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of individuals seeking methylphenidate (n=135) at a university-based psychiatric clinic, by ADHD diagnosis and misuse pattern.
| Variable/Group | ADHD-diagnosed misusers | ADHD-diagnosed non-misusers | Non-ADHD misusers | Non-ADHD non-misusers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n (%) | 4 (3%) | 45 (33.3%) | 16 (11.9%) | 70 (51.8%) | |
| Median age (min–max) | 24 (19–29) | 22 (18–33) | 25.5 (23–32) | 25 (19–55) | |
| Gender n (%) | Female | 2 (50%) | 20 (44.4%) | 4 (25%) | 36 (51.4%) |
| Male | 2 (50%) | 25 (55.6%) | 12 (75%) | 34 (48.6%) | |
| Educational level n (%) | University | 3 (75%) | 39 (86.7%) | 9 (56.2%) | 40 (57.1%) |
| Master’s | 1 (25%) | 5 (11.1%) | 0 (0%) | 17 (24.3%) | |
| PhD | 0 (0%) | 1 (2.2%) | 7 (43.8%) | 12 (17.1%) | |
| Professor | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (1.4%) | |
| Repeating a grade | 4 (100%) | 16 (35.6%) | 7 (43.8%) | 28 (40%) | |
| Median age of onset (min–max) for cases with attention deficit | 14 (7–15) | 14 (5–20) | 20 (17–25) | 20 (15–45) | |
| Cigarette smoking | 4 (100%) | 18 (40%) | 15 (93.8%) | 41 (58.6%) | |
| Alcohol use disorder | 2 (50%) | 0 (0%) | 5 (31.3%) | 8 (11.4%) | |
| Substance use disorder | 3 (75%) | 3 (6.7%) | 4 (25%) | 4 (5.7%) | |
| Presence of psychiatric disorders in the family | 4 (100%) | 30 (66.7%) | 2 (12.5%) | 18 (25.7%) | |
| Medication | Short-acting MPH | 1 (25%) | 9 (20%) | 12 (75%) | 51 (72.8%) |
| Intermediate-acting MPH | 0 (0%) | 15 (33.3%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | |
| Long-acting MPH | 0 (0%) | 16 (35.6%) | 1 (6.3%) | 13 (18.6%) | |
| Multiple MPH formulations | 3 (75%) | 5 (11.1%) | 3 (18.7%) | 6 (8.6%) | |
| Primary source of information about MPH | Psychiatrist | 4 (100%) | 42 (93.3%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| Peers | 0 (0%) | 2 (4.4%) | 15 (93.8%) | 40 (57.1%) | |
| Internet/social media | 0 (0%) | 1 (2.3%) | 0 (0%) | 19 (27.1%) | |
| Instructors | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (6.2%) | 11 (15.8%) | |
| MPH sharing | 4 (100%) | 3 (6.7%) | 14 (87.5%) | 0 (0%) | |
| Follow-up attendance | 2 (50%) | 44 (97.8%) | 2 (12.5%) | 26 (37.1%) | |
| ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; min – minimum; max – maximum; PhD – Doctor of Philosophy; Prof – Professor; MPH – methylphenidate. | |||||