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Not yet recruitingNCT06759298Updated Jan 6, 2025

The Effects of Methylphenidate on Symptomatology in Individuals With Borderline Personality Disorder

An Early Phase 1 interventional study of methylphenidate and matched placebo tablet in Borderline Personality Disorder, sponsored by Tanta University. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 50 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-01-06.

Sponsored by Tanta University · Early Phase 1, Interventional, and Health services research

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by Mar 2025, 1 year 7 months ago, but the record still lists the study as not yet recruiting.
Phase
Early Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
60
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 50 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study aims to investigate the effects of methylphenidate on symptomatology in individuals with borderline personality disorder. Specifically, it will evaluate whether Concerta is effective in reducing impulsivity, mood instability, and inattention among patients with BPD. Additionally, the study will assess Concerta's safety profile in this population to determine its potential as a supportive pharmacological option in BPD management.

Read the detailed description

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a complex mental health condition characterized by pervasive instability in mood, self-image, interpersonal relationships, and behavior.

Individuals with BPD often experience intense episodes of anger, depression, and anxiety, which can lead to impulsive behaviors, self-harm, and strained social relationships. These symptoms significantly impair daily functioning and quality of life(American Psychiatric Association, 2013). creating a substantial burden on individuals and healthcare systems(Lieb et al., 2004).

. While psychotherapy remains the primary treatment for BPD, pharmacological interventions are often utilized to address specific symptoms, such as mood instability, impulsivity, and inattention.

Traditional medications like antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers have shown varying levels of efficacy in treating BPD, but no medication is currently approved specifically for BPD treatment(Chapman, 2019).. As a result, there is a growing interest in exploring alternative pharmacological options that may alleviate specific symptom clusters within BPD (Fleischhaker et al., 2011).

methylphenidate, a long-acting formulation of methylphenidate commonly prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), has shown promising effects on attention, impulsivity, and mood regulation(Hirsch \& Hauschild, 2019).

These effects suggest it may be beneficial in managing certain BPD symptoms, particularly impulsivity and mood dysregulation. Preliminary studies have indicated that stimulant medications like methylphenidate may help some individuals with BPD improve focus and control impulsive behaviors, but comprehensive research on methylphenidate's efficacy and safety in this population remains limited(Wilens, Morrison, \& Prince, 2011).

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Conditions studied

  • Borderline Personality Disorder

Keywords

  • methylphenidate
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In context

Borderline Personality Disorder

277 studies on the registry are indexed under Borderline Personality Disorder; 68 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 60 is below the median of 70 across 222 interventional studies indexed under Borderline Personality Disorder.

Browse Borderline Personality Disorder studies →

Lead sponsor

Tanta University is the lead sponsor of 991 studies on the registry; 316 are open to participants now.

Of its 16 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 0 (0%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 50 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

    • Individuals aged 18-50 years.

      • Diagnosed with borderline personality disorder as confirmed by a structured clinical interview.
      • Experiencing at least moderate levels of impulsivity and mood instability.
      • Not currently receiving stimulant medication or any pharmacotherapy specifically contraindicated with methylphenidate.
      • Capable of providing informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

    • Diagnosed with ADHD or other neurodevelopmental disorders where Concerta is typically prescribed.

      • Severe co-morbid psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder) or substance use disorder.
      • Known hypersensitivity to methylphenidate or other stimulant medications.
      • Pregnant or lactating women.
      • Individuals currently undergoing intensive psychotherapy or those unwilling to discontinue existing psychotropic medications that may interact with Concerta.
05

Study design

Phase
Early Phase 1
Primary purpose
Health services research
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
60 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Concerta Group

    Participants will receive a starting dose of Concerta (18 mg/day), which may be titrated based on clinical response and tolerance, up to a maximum of 54 mg/day. tablet form once daily for 3 months

    Drug: methylphenidate

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo Group

    Participants in the placebo group will receive a matched placebo tablet

    Drug: matched placebo tablet

Interventions

  • patient group will recieve methylphenidate

    Also known as: Concerta

  • Drugmatched placebo tablet

    placebo gtoup will recieve matched placebo tablet

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Reduction in impulsivity and mood instability as measured by Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (Revised)

    Reduction in impulsivity and mood instability in borderline as measured by Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (Revised)

    Time frame: 3 months

  2. reduction of depression symptoms in borderline personality as meassured by as measured by Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (Revised)

    reduction of depression symptoms in borderline personality as meassured by as measured by Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (Revised)

    Time frame: 3 months

  3. Reduction in Perceived Stress in borderline as meassured by Perceived Stress Scale AScale

    Reduction in Perceived Stress in borderline as meassured by Perceived Stress Scale

    Time frame: 3 months

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Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

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References and documents

Publications

  • Lieb K, Zanarini MC, Schmahl C, Linehan MM, Bohus M. Borderline personality disorder. Lancet. 2004 Jul 31-Aug 6;364(9432):453-61. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(04)16770-6. PubMed 15288745 ↗
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Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Start is estimated for Jan 2025; primary completion for Mar 2025, 2 months later.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Dec 10, 2024
First posted
Jan 6, 2025
StartEst.
Jan 15, 2025
Primary completionEst.
Mar 25, 2025
CompletionEst.
Mar 25, 2025
Last update
Jan 6, 2025
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jan 6, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06759298
Lead sponsor
Tanta University
Responsible party
Osama Ibrahim Younes (lecturer of psychiatry, Tanta University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jan 6, 2025
Start date
Jan 15, 2025 (estimated)
Primary completion
Mar 25, 2025 (estimated)
Completion
Mar 25, 2025 (estimated)
Last update
Jan 6, 2025

Study contacts

Osama Ibrahim Younes
Contact
osamaebrahim2012@gmail.com
01024188789

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Dec 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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Discussion

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Studies of the drug tested here: Methylphenidate

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