Let's Get Psyched

Author: KUCR

We address the challenging and controversial issues facing our society from a psychological and psychiatric perspective, and the implications for clinical practice. Hosted by psychologist Eyrn Parks, PhD, with co-hosts: child and adolescent psychiatrists Toshia Yamaguchi, MD and Alan Atkins, MD and psychiatry resident Yasmine Dakhama, MD. Let's Get Psyched is produced by Elliot Fong in the studios of KUCR 88.3FM, on the campus of University of California, Riverside. Production associate: River Evans. Logo: Nathan Rogers, MD.
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Language: en

Genres: Health & Fitness, Mental Health

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#199 - Do Stimulants Change One's Personality?
Monday, 16 March, 2026

Stimulant medication has been widely prescribed to treat ADHD effectively for decades. But is the impact for a person more than just greater focus and attention? Does it change a person's understanding of oneself, one's relationships, and overall approach to life--i.e. one's personality? Listen to our open discussion of this question with the LGP team and our guest, psychiatrist and Stanford professor, Dr. John Leikauf.Hosts: Eyrn, Al, ToshiaGuest: John E. Leikauf, MDResourcesFantozzi P, Muratori P, Caponi MC, Levantini V, Nardoni C, Pfanner C, Ricci F, Sesso G, Tacchi A, Milone A, Masi G. Treatment with Methylphenidate Improves Affective but Not Cognitive Empathy in Youths with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Children (Basel). 2021 Jul 14;8(7):596. doi: 10.3390/children8070596. PMID: 34356575; PMCID: PMC8307630.Kirkpatrick MG, Johanson CE, de Wit H. Personality and the acute subjective effects of d-amphetamine in humans. J Psychopharmacol. 2013 Mar;27(3):256-64. doi: 10.1177/0269881112472564. Epub 2013 Jan 23. PMID: 23343596; PMCID: PMC4241296.Leikauf, John E., et al. "Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Subtypes Defined by Cognition Have a Distinct Neural and Clinical Profile and Differ in Response to Atomoxetine." Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2025.07.007.Maoz H, Gvirts HZ, Sheffer M, Bloch Y. Theory of Mind and Empathy in Children With ADHD. J Atten Disord. 2019 Sep;23(11):1331-1338. doi: 10.1177/1087054717710766. Epub 2017 May 30. PMID: 28558473.Takım U, Belli H, Gökçay H, Köse H, Arslan Akgül H, Çakır A. Examination of Changes in Levels of Empathy and Narcissistic Pathology After Treatment of Adult with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Alpha Psychiatry. 2024 Sep 1;25(5):598-603. doi: 10.5152/alphapsychiatry.2024.241630. PMID: 39553487; PMCID: PMC11562234.