Difference in Cognitive Dysfunction Between Adult ADHD and Neurotic Patients in the Korean Population: A Preliminary Research

Abstract

Adulthood Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) debilitates high-level executive functioning, attention and impulse control. There is a lack of consensus regarding the specific cognitive markers for ADHD compared with other psychiatric disorders that show attention-related problems as secondary symptoms. This study aimed to aid clinicians in utilizing existing tools for intelligence and cognitive function by investigating the key variables that differentiate ADHD from other mental disorders. As preliminary research, the study compared the performances of 35 patients with ADHD and 26 patients diagnosed with other neurotic disorders on the Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (K-WAIS-IV), Conners Continuous Perceptual Test 3rd Edition (CPT 3) and Conners Continuous Auditory Test of Attention (CATA). The ADHD group performed significantly lower on the Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) and Working Memory Index (WMI) of K-WAIS-IV; the difference was significant in Similarity, Vocabulary and Arithmetic subtests. Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI) and VCI differed significantly in the ADHD group unlike their neurotic counterpart. Of the variables in CPT 3, only detection differentiated ADHD from other neurotic disorders. Our results implicate there are novel standards and key variables that should be considered when differentiating ADHD from other psychiatric disorders.