| This study of archival-data acquired has investigated the effect of methylphenidate on vascular-depression patients via mood-state, cognition, and brain-activity as measured by qEEG. Disruption of dopaminergic tracts of subcortical-cortical pathways may be etiologically relevant to vascular-depression and hence amenable to treatment with methylphenidate (Mayberg, 2003). Results of our data indicate that significant improvements in neurocognitive domains and mood were present postmethylphenidate. Regarding neurophysiology, paired t-tests comparing qEEG patterns pre and post methylphenidate indicate frontal-decreases in beta and frontal/temporal slow-wave increases noted bilaterally following drug-administration. Additionally, individual patient's qEEG was compared to a normative-database. A trend toward normalization in frontal-lobe activity was apparent. Based on the results of this study, methylphenidate does seem to have advantageous effects in patients diagnosed with vascular-depression. |
