Recently, drugs with a potential for abuse are regaining attention as antidepressants. These drugs are mood enhancers and reduce negative feelings. Therefore, they can be effective in the treatment of depression. However, mood enhancement is insufficient for the real improvement of depressive symptoms. Additionally, treating depression using drugs with dependency risks raises concerns regarding autonomy issues. In this article, the authors discuss issues that a psychiatrist should consider when prescribing “drugs of abuse” as antidepressants from medical, philosophical, and legal perspectives. The limitations of the current psychiatric diagnosis system in depression, questions concerning pleasure-seeking with antidepressants, dilemmas with autonomy, and problems of enhancement are discussed.

Drugs once classified as ‘substances of abuse’ are now drawing attention in the field of psychiatry as ‘new antidepressants’ for the management of treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Intranasal esketamine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for TRD and stimulants are being used as adjuvant therapy. Clinical studies on the use of cannabinoids, opiates, and psilocybin for depression are currently being conducted. However, even as they are being evaluated for their effectiveness, concern for their abuse potential is growing. In this article, the characteristics of ‘drugs of abuse’ that are approved or being developed as ‘new antidepressants’ are reviewed. Their historical background as mood-enhancers, pharmacological mechanisms, antidepressant effects, and risk of abuse are also discussed.

The prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been increasing, and the growing number of people with this disorder, especially the non-pediatric population, get prescriptions for this condition. However, controversies are also growing around this disease. In order to provide optimal treatment to a patient presumed to have adult ADHD, it is crucial to understand the implications of diagnosing and treating adult ADHD. We examined the history of ADHD and changes in the diagnostic criteria postulated by the DSM system (Part I), proposed a critical review on the concept of ADHD from various points of view and suggested the diagnostic and therapeutic implications of adult ADHD (Part II). This study may serve as a small cornerstone for a valid diagnosis and a proper treatment of ADHD, especially in the adult population.

The prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been increasing, and the growing number of people with this disorder, especially the non-pediatric population, get prescriptions for this condition. However, controversies are also growing around this disease. To provide optimal treatment to a patient presumed to have adult ADHD, it is crucial to understand the implications of diagnosing and treating adult ADHD. In this article, we proposed a critical review on the concept of ADHD from various points of view and suggested the diagnostic and therapeutic implications of adult ADHD. This article will serve as a small cornerstone for a valid diagnosis and a proper treatment of ADHD, especially in the adult population.

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.

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.

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.

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.