Bidirectional relationships exist between cancer and depression; the prevalence of depression in cancer patients is higher than in the general population, and depression predicts cancer progression and mortality. The mechanisms through which depression contributes to the progression of cancer are related with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and impairment of immune function. However, depression in cancer patients tends to be underdiagnosed and not appropriately treated. The methods of diagnosis and assessment of depression in cancer patents have been debated because physical symptoms of depression mimic both cancer symptoms per se and the side effects of cancer treatment. Many studies have shown that various psychosocial and/or pharmacological interventions are effective at improving de-pressive symptoms and quality of life in cancer patients. Furthermore, antidepressant treatments are effective for various physical symptoms related to cancer, such as fatigue, anorexia, pain, hot flashes, and itching. This article reviews and discusses current knowledge about depression in cancer patients.

목 적: 시각 주의력과 청각 주의력에서 차이를 보이는 주의력결핍 과잉활동장애(ADHD) 아동의 인지 기능 및 정서, 행동 문제에 대해 연구하고자 한다. 방 법: 동반 질환이 없는 ADHD 아동 98명을 대상으로 '주의력장애 진단시스템(ADS)' 을 실시하여 시각 주의력과 청각 주의력을 측정한 뒤, ADS의 누락 오류와 오경보 오류를 이용하여 이들을 1) 청각 누락 오류 및 오경보 오류가 시각 누락 오류 및 오경보 오류보다 높은 군(AA군) 2) 시각 누락 오류 및 오경보 오류가 청각 누락 오류 및 오경보 오류보다 높은 군(VV군) 3) 1), 2)에 해당하지 않는 군(M군)의 3개 군으로 분류하였다. 세 군 간에 '한국판 웩슬러 아동용 지능 검사(KEDI-WISC)' 의 소검사 결과와 '한국판 아동-청소년 행동평가척도(K-CBCL)' 의 여러 하위 소척도의 점수를 비교하였다. 또한, 전체 아동을 대상으로 시각 누락 오류, 청각 누락 오류, 시각 오경보 오류, 청각 오경보 오류와 KEDI-WISC의 소검사 점수, K-CBCL의 하위 영역 점수 간의 상관관계를 조사하였다. 결 과: 다음의 결과를 얻었다. 1) AA군은 10명, M군은 32명, VV군은 56명이었다. 2) KEDI-WISC의 소검사 점수 비교에서는 VV군의 점수가 나머지 두 군보다 높았다. 특히 언어성 지능(p=.039)에서는 VV군이 AA군보다 유의하게 높았고 토막짜기(p=.015), Kaufman의 요인 2(p=.045), 동작성 지능(p=.004)에서는 VV군이 M군보다 유의하게 높았으며 전체 지능(p=.004)에서는 VV군이 M군 및 AA군보다 유의하게 높았다. 3) K-CBCL의 하위 소척도 점수 비교에서는 신체증상 소척도 점수를 제외한 전 영역에서 VV군의 점수가 나머지 두 군보다 높았다. 특히 사회성 소척도(p=.041)에서는 VV군이 AA군보다 유의하게 높았으며 위축 소척도(p=.021)에서는 VV군이 AA군보다 유의하게 낮았다. 4) 시각 누락 오류, 시각 오경보 오류와 KEDI-WISC의 소검사 점수 간에는 유의한 상관관계가 존재하지 않았다. 한편 청각 누락 오류, 청각 오경보 오류와 KEDI-WISC의 소검사 점수 간에는 유의한 상관관계를 보이는 영역이 매우 많았다. 5) 시각 누락 오류, 시각 오경보 오류와 K-CBCL의 소검사 점수 간에는 시각 누락 오류와 사고의 문제 소척도(r=.205, p=.043) 간에만 유의한 상관관계가 존재하였다. 청각 누락 오류와는 사회성 소척도(r=-.319, p=.001), 사회적 미성숙 소척도(r=.206, p=.042), 사고의 문제 소척도(r=.235, p=.021) 간에 유의한 상관관계가 있었다. 청각 오경보 오류와는 사회성 소척도(r=-.241, p=.017) 및 주의집중문제 소척도(r=.235, p=.020) 간에 유의한 상관관계가 있었다. 결 론: 청각 주의력이 상대적으로 더 나은 ADHD 아동이 다른 아동에 비해 인지 기능이 더 좋고 정서 및 행동 문제가 적었다. 향후 시각 주의력과 청각 주의력에 차이를 보이는 ADHD 아동에 대해 보다 체계적인 연구가 필요할 것이다.

Objectives : In order to explore effects of board-game therapy for cognitive rehabilitation in patients with schizophrenia, we investigated the change of executive cognitive function over a 2-month period of board-game therapy in patients with schizophrenia. Methods : Two groups of chronic schizophrenic inpatients were participated in this study. One group(n=21) were treated with board-game therapy for 2 months and the other control group(n=19) were not treated. For the evaluation of the executive cognitive function, a Wisconsin Card Sorting Test(WCST) was administered before and after the introduction of the board-game therapy. PANSS score change was also evaluated. Result : At the beginning of this study, there was no significant difference in performance of cognitive function tests, demographical data or clinical severity between both patient groups. After 2 months of treatment with the board-game therapy, the board-game therapy group showed significant improvements of executive cognitive function without any significant change of their schizophrenic symptoms. On the contrary, there was no change in control group. Conclusion : This study showed that a board-game therapy is effective for the enhancement of executive cognitive function in patients with chronic schizophrenia. A board-game therapy could be introduced with ease into psychiatric fields, such as inpatients' or outpatients' clinic wards and day hospital. Our result indicates that the board-game therapy is a promising tool for the enhancement of cognitive function, especially executive cognitive function and helpful for cognitive rehabilitation for schizophrenic patients.

Object : Nerve growth factor(NGF) is a protein involved in neuronal survival and plasticity in the central nervous system, which might play an important role in stress, depression and suicide. This study was performed to determine whether there is an alteration in plasma NGF concentrations in depressed patients with suicidal attempt. Methods : The subjects were 32 depressed patients who attempted suicide and admitted in emergency room. Forty-four hospitalized non-suicidal depressive patients and the 30 normal controls were closely matched with the suicidal group in terms of age and sex. Individuals in all 3 groups were evaluated independently by a semi-structured interview for the purpose of establishing a DSM-IV criteria diagnosis. The severity of depressive symptoms was evaluated using Hamilton depression rating scale(HDRS). The severity of the suicidal behavior was evaluated by Weisman and Worden's risk-rescue rating(RRR) system and the Lethality Suicide Attempt Rating Scale(LSARS). Plasma NGF level was measured by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) method. Results : There were no statistically significant differences of the plasma NGF levels among groups. LSARS and RRR did not reveal any significant correlation with ${\beta}$-NGF level in suicidal depressive patients. Conclusion : This study do not support an association between ${\beta}$-NGF and suicidal depression. However it is necessary to investigate this association through other route such as postmortem brain.

Objective : Associations of vascular risk/disease or apolipoprotein E ${\varepsilon}4$(APOE4) with geriatric depression has been unclear at a population level. This study aimed to evaluate whether there would be interactions of vascular risk/disease and APOE4 on depression in a Korean elderly population. Methods : 732 community residents aged 65 or over were assessed for depression(GMS), information on vascular risk/disease(reported stroke, transient ishemic attack, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, smoking), examinations for vascular risk/disease(blood pressure, blood tests for glucose and lipid profiles, body size), APOE genotypes, demographic characteristics(age, gender, education), physical health, and cognitive function(MMSE). Results : Previous stroke and lower level of high density lipoprotein(HDL) cholesterol were significantly associated with geriatric depression independent of demographic characteristics, physical illnesses, and cognitive function. These associations were statistically significant only in those with APOE4, although the interaction terms didn't reach to statistical significance. Conclusion : Associations between vascular risk/disease and geriatric depression might be more prominent in those with APOE4. However further research would be needed to clarify this issue.

Objectives : Alteration of hippocampus was demonstrated in the maternal social separation(MSS) pups, separated from dams on postnatal day(pnd) 14 and placed alone. Therefore, to understand the molecular events involved in the MSS, we have initiated a search for gene profiles that are up or down-regulated in the hippocampus of MSS pups. Methods : Analysis of cDNA microarray was performed by using total RNA extracted from the hippocampus of control and MSS pups on pnd 17. Also, passive-avoidance test was demonstrated on pnd 35. Results : Up-regulation of Nedd4a was observed in the hippocampus of MSS pups. Also, MSS rats showed less elongation of latency in passive avoidance test. Conclusion : We suggest that environmental effects of MSS may be altered the neural and/or glial differentiation and synapse formation-related genes which may lead cognitive alterations in MSS rats.

Localized amnesia is characterized by a failure to recall events that occurred during a circumscribed period of time. Localized amnesia is the most common type of dissociative amnesia. It is assumed that this is a disorder of memory retrieval. Recent neuroimaing studies reported that posterior cingulate cortex may play a important role in memory(autobiographical) retrieval. The authors reported a case of localized amnesia with mass on left posterior cingulate cortex.