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

Abstract

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.