The aim of the study was to test the
self-medication hypothesis by examining the effects of
nicotine in the everyday lives of smokers and nonsmokers with
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (
ADHD). Fifty-two adults with
ADHD (25 abstinent smokers and 27 nonsmokers) participated in a double-blind placebo controlled study with one
nicotine patch condition and one placebo patch condition in counterbalanced order. Each condition continued for two consecutive days in which patches were administered each morning. The effects of
nicotine on
ADHD symptoms, moods, and side effects were assessed with electronic diaries. Cardiovascular activity was recorded with ambulatory
blood pressure monitors and physical activity was monitored with actigraphs.
Nicotine reduced reports of
ADHD symptoms by 8% and negative moods by 9%, independent of smoking status. In addition,
nicotine increased cardiovascular activity during the first 3 to 6 hours after
nicotine patch administration. The results support the
self-medication hypothesis for
nicotine in adults with
ADHD and suggest that smoking cessation and prevention efforts for individuals with
ADHD will need to address both the symptom reducing and mood enhancing effects of
nicotine.