# Increased Recall of Negative Memories Following Initial Methylphenidate Administration in a 6‐Year‐Old Boy With ADHD: A Case Report

## TL;DR

A 6-year-old boy with ADHD experienced a temporary increase in recalling negative memories after taking methylphenidate, which resolved on its own.

## Contribution

This is the first reported case of methylphenidate causing increased recall of negative memories in a child with ADHD.

## Key findings

- An initial dose of 18 mg of methylphenidate led to increased recall of negative life events in a 6-year-old with ADHD.
- The symptom resolved spontaneously the next day, indicating it was a temporary, adaptive response rather than a toxic reaction.

## Abstract

Attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in childhood and can persist into adolescence and adulthood. Stimulants, particularly methylphenidate and amphetamines, are the first‐line treatments for ADHD in children and adolescents. While the potential for stimulants to induce psychosis‐like or mania‐like symptoms in children has been recognized for decades, there have been no reported cases of increased recall of negative memories associated with methylphenidate. Here, we present a rare case in which an initial dose of 18 mg of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Extended‐Release Tablets led to increased recall of negative life events in a 6‐year‐old child with ADHD. Interestingly, the symptom resolved spontaneously the following day without discontinuing the medication, suggesting that it was an adaptive response rather than a toxic reaction.

An initial dose of 18 mg of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride Extended‐Release Tablets led to increased recall of negative life events in a 6‐year‐old child with ADHD. The increased recall of negative life events represents a time‐limited symptom rather than a persistent phenomenon.