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 3 Clinical and behavioral distinctions between ADHD and non-ADHD ındividuals seeking methylphenidate (n=135).
| Variable/group | ADHDn (%) | Non-ADHDn (%) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median age (min–max) | 22 (18–33) | 25 (19–55) | ||
| Gender | Female | 22 (44.9%) | 40 (46.5%) | 0.5 |
| Male | 27 (55.1%) | 46 (53.5%) | ||
| Educational Level | University | 42 (85.7%) | 49 (57%) | |
| Master’s | 6 (12.2%) | 17 (19.8%) | ||
| PhD or higher | 1 (2%) | 20 (23.3%) | ||
| Repeating a srade | 20 (40.8%) | 35 (40.7%) | 0.566 | |
| Median age of onset for attention deficit | 14 (5–20) | 20 (15–45) | ||
| Median age of First MPH use | 15 (7–24) | 23 (18–30) | ||
| Psychiatric comorbidity | 31 (63.3%) | 58 (67.4%) | 0.706 | |
| Cigarette smoking | 22 (45.0%) | 56 (65.0%) | ||
| Alcohol and substance use disorder | 2 (4%) | 11 (12.8%) | 0.085 | |
| Presence of psychiatric disorders in the family | 34 (69.4%) | 18 (21%) | ||
| Medication | Short-acting MPH | 10 (20.4%) | 63 (73.3%) | |
| Intermediate-acting MPH | 15 (30.6%) | 0 (0%) | ||
| Long-acting MPH | 16 (32.7%) | 14 (16.2%) | ||
| Multiple MPH formulations | 8 (16.3%) | 9 (10.5%) | ||
| Follow-up attendance | 46 (93.9%) | 28 (32.6%) | * | |
| * Fisher’s exact test was used for categorical comparisons when expected cell counts were low. ADHD – attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; min – minimum; max – maximum; PhD – Doctor of Philosophy; MPH – methylphenidate. | ||||