• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2010

This review aimed to assist clinicians in the identification and assessment of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with an emphasis on diagnostic and rating instruments. Pubmed and RISS were utilized to identify relevant studies and critical reviews on the diagnosis and assessment of adult ADHD, published between 1988 and 2010. The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale-v1.1, the ADHD Rating Scale-IV, the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale, and the Current Symptoms Scale have been utilized for self-reporting of current ADHD symptoms. The Brown ADD Rating Scale, the ADHD Rating Scale-IV, the Current Symptoms Scale, and the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale have also been evaluated by an observer. The Childhood Symptom Scale and the Wender-Utah Rating Scale have been used for retrospective assessment of childhood ADHD symptoms and the Adult ADHD Investigator Symptom Rating Scale, the Adult Interview, the Brown ADD Diagnostic Form, the Conners adult ADHD diagnostic interview for DSM-IV, and the Wender-Reimherr Interview have been available as comprehensive diagnostic interviews. There is a wide variety of instruments available with respect to adult ADHD. The choice of appropriate instruments is essential for achieving accurate diagnosis and assessment of this disorder.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.116-120
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was conducted to re-validate the clinical efficacy of the Korean Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Rating Scale (K-AARS), which is a self-report scale for ADHD in adults, and to determine the clinical utility and cut-off scores of K-AARS. Methods: The participants were 135 drug naïve adults with ADHD and 144 healthy controls. To diagnose ADHD based on the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, two board-certified pediatric psychiatrists interviewed the participants and completed the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. K-AARS was applied to all participants. K-AARS comprises six clinical subscales, one impairment subscale, and one driving behavior subscale. The receiver operating characteristic analysis was conducted to calculate the cut-off scores of K-AARS. Results: All subscale scores, including six clinical subscale, impairment subscale, and driving behavior subscale scores, were found to be significant in distinguishing adults with ADHD from healthy controls. The sensitivity and specificity of the six clinical subscales were 63.0-77.0% and 66.7-79.9%, respectively. The combined total score of the six clinical subscales, had a sensitivity of 80.0% and specificity of 79.9%. Conclusion: The discriminative power of K-AARS for the diagnosis of ADHD in adults was excellent, and K-AARS and the empirical diagnosis of adults can be useful in diagnosing ADHD in adulthood.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 1998

Object：The authors compared the attention-deficit hyperactivity(ADH) symptoms in childhood of adult male patients with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and normal control subjects and attempted to find out whether attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and bipolar disorder are related each other. Method：The authors compared ADH symptoms in childhood assessed with Wender Utah Rating Scale(WURS), selected 25 items of WURS(WURS-25), and Parent Rating Scale(PRS), and compared them between 26 bipolar, 29 schizophrenic, and 27 normal control subjects. Result：The subjects with bipolar disorder had significantly higher mean score of WURS compared with normal control group(One-way ANOVA, duncan test, WURS：DF=2, F=3.77 p=0.027), and the differences between the mean scores of WURS-25 and PRS of bipolar subjects and the other two groups were also highly significant(One-way ANOVA, Duncan test, WURS-25：DF=2, F=4.24 p=0.0178, PRS：DF=2, F=13.97 p<0.001). The mean scores of WURS, WURS-25, and PRS of schizophrenic subjects were higher than those of normal control group, though not significant. WURS and PRS were correlated for subjects with bipolar disorder(r=0.7495) and the normal control(r=0.5305), and there was no correlation for schizophrenic subjects. Conclusion：The ADH symptoms in childhood were much more evident for adult bipolar subjects than schizophrenic and normal control subjects. And these results are very suggestive that there might be some relationship between bipolar disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and these two disorders might have a shared common pathophysiology which needs further study.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2019

Objectives : Cognitive dysfunction, including inattention, is often observed in patients with depression. Inattentive symptoms in patients with depression is similar to those among attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients. It is important to diagnose the two diseases accurately, because the treatment varies depending on the cause of inattention. This study aimed to investigate the coexistence rate of ADHD and the correlation between ADHD symptoms and depression in patients with depression. Methods : Participants in this study were 158 outpatients presenting with depression, who visited the psychiatric department from March 2015 to July 2018. Participants divided into a depression and a non-depression group according to the Korean version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) score and were administered the following : a sociodemographic variables form (age, sex, academic background, occupation), the self-reporting test for adult ADHD (Adult Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder self-report scale-V 1.1; ASRS V1.1), and the Korean version of the Connors adult ADHD rating scale (K-CAARS). Descriptive statistical analysis, crossover analysis, t-tests, and Pearson's correlation coefficient were conducted on the data. Results : The coexistence rate of adult ADHD symptom was as high as 36.7% in patients with depression (p<0.001). In K-CAARS, the depression group (Inattention=1.80, Hyperactivity=1.92, Impulsivity=1.56, Self-concept=2.06) showed higher average scores on ADHD symptoms than the non-depressive group (Inattention=1.28, Hyperactivity=1.25, Impulsivity=1.09, Self-concept=1.42, p<0.001). Conclusions : This study confirmed that ADHD symptoms coexist in the depression group. When evaluating the symptoms of patients who complain of depression, it is suggested that they should be accurately diagnosed and appropriately treated with interest to the coexistence of ADHD symptoms and the possibility for ADHD diagnosis.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate the association between the symptoms of boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the attention-deficit hyperactivity symptoms, temperament and character patterns of their parents. Methods : Forty-five boys with ADHD and who met the DSM-IV criteria were evaluated by using the ADHD rating scale (ADHD-RS), and their parents completed the Korean Adult ADHD scale (K-AADHDS) and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Results : The parental K-AADHDS scores were not associated with the ADHD-RS total score and the subscale scores of their siblings. The most potent variable related to the ADHD-RS total score was the maternal self-directedness, and the second was the maternal persistence. The maternal self-directedness was the variable that was most correlated with the hyperactivity/impulsivity subscale scores of the ADHD-RS. Conclusion : The results suggest that the paternal ADHD symptoms may not be related to the ADHD symptoms of boys with ADHD. Higher maternal self-directedness and persistence may decrease overall the ADHD symptoms of these boys, and higher maternal self-directedness itself may predict lower hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms of the boys with ADHD.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate whether and how the symptoms of adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affect the stress and depressive symptoms in Korean soldiers. Methods : Data were collected on 131 subjects through self-report using the Korean Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Scale (K-AADHDS), Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Korean Wender Utah Rating Scale (K-WURS), and the Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument (BEPSI-K). Student t-tests, Pearson Correlation, Logistic regression, and Path analysis were performed. Results : The scores related to adult ADHD symptoms on the K-AADHDS and K-WURS were correlated with stress scores on the BEPSI-K (r=0.529, p<0.001 and r=0.484, p<0.001) and with depressive symptoms on the CES-D (r=0.686, p<0.001 and r=0.628, p<0.001). Scores related to adult ADHD on the K-AADHDS were the most significant risk factors for stress (O.R=1.198, 95% CI=1.104-1.299), and depressive symptoms (O.R=1.306, p95% CI=1.112-1.534). Path analysis on depressive symptoms showed that adult ADHD symptoms affected stress and depressive symptoms. Conclusion : The results suggest that it may be important to consider the evaluation and treatment of adult ADHD in soldiers. Prospective studies with larger numbers of subjects are warranted to further explore the relevance of the present results.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.5-25
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• 2020

Objectives: Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an important mental health problem that needs resolution, especially considering the high rates of ADHD continuation from childhood to adolescence/adulthood and the high prevalence of ADHD in adults. Adults with ADHD have lifelong negative impacts and require close monitoring with long-term follow-up. Hence, the establishment of a Korean practice parameter for adult ADHD is necessary to minimize discontinuation of treatment and enable information sharing among Korean mental health professionals. Methods: The Korean practice parameter was developed using an evidence-based approach consisting of expert consensus survey coupled with literature review. Results: According to the expert consensus survey, the most commonly used diagnostic methods were clinical psychiatric interview (20.66%) and self-report scales (19.25%) followed by attention (14.71%) and psychological tests (14.24%). Key evaluation instruments currently available in Korea are the World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Rating Scale, Korean Adult ADHD Rating Scale, Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults, Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale for adults, Comprehensive Attention Test, Conners' Continuous Performance Test, and the subtests of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Digit Span and Letter-Number Sequencing. Although pharmacotherapy is recommended as the first-line of treatment for adult ADHD, we recommend that it be followed by a multimodal and multidisciplinary approach including psychoeducation, pharmacotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy and coaching. Conclusion: The Korean practice parameter introduces not only general information for the diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD on a global scale, but also the process of diagnosis and treatment options tailored to the Korean population.

• Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.407-414
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• 2018

Objective: Anxiety has been shown to influence functional impairment in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study aimed to compare functional impairment in subjects with and without adult ADHD and to investigate the associations among trait anxiety, functional impairment, and ADHD symptom severity. Moreover, the effects of ADHD symptom subtypes on trait anxiety and functional impairment were also examined. Methods: The sample included 209 adults between the ages of 20 and 31 years. Fifty-one adults received a diagnosis of ADHD, and an additional age, sex-matched group of 51 adults comprised the adult control. Participants were assessed with Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Spielberg Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), and the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). The relationships among ADHD severity, anxiety, and functional impairment were investigated using Pearson's correlation analysis. Subtypes of ADHD symptoms that predicted anxiety and functional impairment were investigated using regression analyses. Results: Adult ADHD patients significantly differed from normal control subjects according to BDI, STAI-T, and SDS assessment. Significant positive correlations were noted between ADHD severity, anxiety, and functional impairment. Multiple linear regression analysis confirmed anxiety as a mediator between functional impairment and ADHD CAARS symptom subscales. Conclusion: Patients with adult ADHD showed higher levels of anxiety, depression, and functional impairment. Additionally, ADHD symptoms and anxiety impacted subject functional impairment. Our results suggest that anxiety may be a strong mediator between ADHD severity and functional impairment.

• Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.154-161
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• 2014

Objectives This study was conducted in order to investigate characteristics of temperament, depression, anxiety, attention, and impulsivity in adult males with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and internet addiction tendency. Methods The survey participants were 181 (121 patients and 60 healthy control subjects) adult males older than 19 years of age in Chung-Ang University Hospital and Gongju National Hospital. Subjects were divided according to ADHD with internet addiction tendency (AI), pure adults with ADHD (AD), and healthy control subjects (HC). All groups completed the Adult ADHD Scale (AADHD), Wender-Utah ADHD Rating Scale (WUADHD), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Korean Version of Young Internet Addiction Scale (YIAS-K), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) and Temperament Character Inventory-Revised Short version for identification of relationship between ADHD and internet addiction tendency. Results AI groups were found to have higher AADHD, WUADHD, BDI, YIAS-K, and Novelty Seeking scores, compared to the AD and HC groups. The Cooperativeness score of the AI group was significantly lower than that of the AD group and HC group. The BAI and BIS scores of the AI group and AD group were significantly higher than those of the HC group. The Self-Directedness scores of the AI group and AD group were decreased, compared to the HC group. YIAS-K scores were partially related to BDI scores in the AI group. Conclusion The results of this study indicate an association of higher score of BDI with internet addiction tendency in adult patients with ADHD. Management of temperament characteristics, depression, anxiety, attention, and impulsivity may be important for adults with ADHD and internet addiction tendency.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1937-1945
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between depression and adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) of college students. Collage students up to 350 people self-report survey was conducted using the Conners ADHD Rating Scale Korean version and Beck Depression Inventory. Adult ADHD symptoms prevalence was 5.1 % and the highest form of carelessness. Depression grade was $8.38{\pm}6.86$ points of college students and female students was higher than male students is depression grade, severe depression and modurate depressive symptoms were 2.1 %. Model of explanatory were slightly higher in 33.5%, adult ADHD affects depression and coexistence rate of adult ADHD symptoms and depressive symptoms was found to be 3.1%. Therefore, adult ADHD symptoms prevalence and depression of collage students seems to be relationship. Given the wide range of social and emotional problems due to adult ADHD seems necessary measures to establish a social dimension to adult ADHD.