Neurocognitive Characteristics of Patients Who Visited a Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic Requesting Treatment for Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Objective: This study investigated the neurocognitive characteristics of patients who visited an outpatient clinic requesting diagnosis and treatment for adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods: The patients' electronic medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Neurocognitive test results were compared using Student's t-test according to their chief complaint, depressive symptoms, childhood history, and intelligence quotient (IQ). Neurocognitive characteristics affecting subjective symptoms of ADHD were analyzed by linear regression.

Results: The study included 106 patients. They did not have significant deficits in neurocognitive tests. Patients with depressive symptoms showed more impulsive responses (hit reaction time [p=0.037] and commission error [p=0.024]) and self-reported ADHD symptoms (p=0.001). Verbal (p=0.036) and visual memory (p=0.020) were significantly deficient in patients with a childhood ADHD diagnosis. Patients with a low IQ had significant deficits in various domains. Depressive symptoms and vigilance were significantly related to subjective symptoms of ADHD (adjusted R2=0.430, β=0.457, p=0.002).

Conclusion: Our results imply that the neurocognitive function of patients with subjective ADHD symptoms was not abnormal but was affected by depressive symptoms.