• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.170-177
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• 2006

Objectives : Disturbances of serotonergic system might be related to the possible mechanism of social phobia. This study was to investigate the association of serotonin transporter gene and social phobia. Methods : Sixty nine patients with social phobia(51 male(73.9%), mean age $35.17{\pm}11.89$ years) and seventy four normal controls(54 male(73.0%), mean age $33.46{\pm}9.63$ years) were tested for serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region(5-HTTLPR) polymorphism. Additionally, patients were grouped into 46 generalized(GEN) and 23 nongeneralized(NGEN) subgroups and 5-HTTLPR polymorphism was compared with that of normal controls. The genotypes and allele frequencies of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism between social phobia and the control group were compared. Genomic DNA was extracted from their blood and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms were determined by using polymerase chain reaction. Results : Significant association was observed between the S(ss) genotype and social phobia, by functional classification(p=.010). In allele frequency analysis, a significant association was also observed between the short allele and social phobia(p=.030). A significant associations between S genotype and each subgroup were observed(GEN p=.045 ; NGEN p=.033), but there were no differences in allele frequency. And, no differences in genotype and allele distribution between two subgroups were found. Conclusion : The results in our Korean sample suggest that S genotype of 5-HTTLPR may be associated with social phobia and s allele may be an important genetic factor that activates social phobic symptoms. But, further studies including large number of samples are necessary to elucidate these present findings.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 2004

Objective:Although polymorphism of dopamine transporter gene(DAT1) has been considered to be implicated in the pathogenesis of social phobia, previous investigations have been inconsistent and controversial. The authors investigated the relationship between DAT1 polymorphism and social phobia in Koreans. Methods:DAT1 and alleles of fifty subjects who met DSM-IV criterion of social phobia, and those of age- & sex- matched fifty normal controls in Korea were compared. Additionally, patients were grouped into generalized(33) and nongeneralized(17) types and DAT1 polymorphism was compared with that of age- & sex- matched controls. DAT1 with variable number of tandem repeats(VNTR) were determined by using polymerase chain reaction. To compare the distribution of the DAT1 polymorphism between different groups, Fisher's exact test was used. Results:There were no significant differences in either genotypic(p=0.451) or allelic(p=0.452) distributions between the social phobia patients and the controls. There also were no differences in genotypic distribution between subtypes of social phobia patients and the controls. Conclusion:We couldn't find any association between DAT1 polymorphism and social phobia. Further studies including larger number of samples and diverse clinical variables should be conducted to elucidate the present findings.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2014

Objective : Social Phobia is associated with extensive disability and reduced quality of life. The concept of 'social self' is a representation of the self-reflected in the eyes of others, and is recruited during self-face recognition, which is closely related to self-esteem. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship of face recognition for self and others using measures of social anxiety and self-esteem in patients with social phobia. Methods : Twenty-seven patients with social phobia and twenty-three normal controls were evaluated with scales of self-esteem, depression, anxiety and other psychiatric symptoms. All participants completed the self-face recognition task. Nine self-faces, nine other faces and eighty-one morphed faces were presented randomly for each trial. The participants were instructed to make a decision as to whether the stimuli were self-face or not. The responses and reaction times were recorded during the task. Results : There were no group differences of the morphing composition at the recognition start point as self-face. In patients with social phobia, the mean reaction time at the start point of recognizing as a self-face was 1,037.6 ms, which was significantly longer than that of normal controls (911.3 ms, p<0.05). Patients with social phobia showed a significant negative correlation between the mean reaction time and the severity of depression when the stimuli were recognized as a self-face (r=-0.421, p<0.05). Conclusion : A difficulty in attention rather than avoidance may be an important factor of face recognition in patients with social phobia. When considering self-face recognition in such patients, many factors, such as anxiety, depression, working memory and theory of mind, need to be considered.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.106-114
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• 2007

Objective : It is suggested that disturbance of dopaminergic system might be related to the possible mechanism of social phobia. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association of DRD2 TaqI polymorphism and social phobia. Method : Fifty-one patients with social phobia and 200 comparison subjects were tested for DRD2 TaqI A polymorphism. The severity of social phobic symptoms was measured by self-report version of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale(LSAS-SR) and Hamilton anxiety scale(HAM-A). Results : There was no signigicant difference in the genotype, allele frequency, A1 carrier frequency, and heterozygote frequency DRD2 TaqI A polymorphism between the social phobia patients and the control groups. However, we found significant decrease in somatic anxiety of the HAM-A in the patients having A2A2 homozygotes(p=0.014). In addition, patients having A1A2 heterozygotes showed more anxiety in two subscales (p=0.042 in anxiety, p=0.019 in performance) of the LSAS-SR. Conclusion : These results suggest that DRD2 A2 homozygote might have a protective role against somatic anxiety, and molecular heterosis of DRD2 TaqI A polymorphism might be related with more severe anxiety in social phobia.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.62-67
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• 2008

Objectives : Gender differences in demographic characteristics, symptom presentation, and severity may influence the selection of target behaviors as well as the course and outcome of therapeutic interventions for patients with social phobia. The purpose of this study was to explore the gender differences in the symptomatic characteristics of Korean patients with social phobia. Methods : A total of 256 outpatients with social phobia at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital were included in this study. All subjects were evaluated using the Korean version of the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus. Potential differences in demographic characteristics, severity of anxiety, and situational fear and avoidance were examined. Self-report questionnaires and interviewer-administered instruments, including the Social Phobia Scale (SPS), Social Phobia subscale of the Fear Questionnaire (FQ-social), Appraisal of Social Concerns (ASC), and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), were used to evaluate the severity of the patients' symptoms. Results : There were no gender differences in demographic characteristics, age, age at onset of social phobia, total SPS score, FQ-Social score, ASC score, and LSAS score. In addition, there was no gender difference in the severity of fear in specific social situations. However, women reported significantly higher total scores on the social helplessness category of the ASC than men (p=0.009). Conclusion : Previous studies reported that the severity of social phobia symptoms is greater in women than in men, but our results suggest that there are no significant gender differences in the severity of social phobia symptoms. Thus, gender differences among patients with social phobia are discussed in the context of traditional sex-role expectations.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2009

Objectives : It is reported that panic disorder is frequently comorbid with other psychiatric illnesses. The aim of this study was to investigate differences of psychiatric comorbidity according to age of onset of panic disorder. Methods : Three hundred-two patients participated in the study. All the patients were evaluated by clinical instruments for the assessment the presence of other comorbid psychiatric disorders and various clinical features; Korean version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, Self-report questionnaires(Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Anxiety Sensitivity Index and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and clinical rating scale (Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Hamilton Depression Scale and Global Assessment of Functional score). Chi-square test was used to determine the difference between early onset and late onset panic disorder. Results : Forty percent of panic patients were found to have at least one comorbid psychiatric diagnosis. There were no differences among the groups divided by number of comorbidity in sex, agoraphobia comorbidity, duration of panic disorder, except onset age of panic disorder. Early onset group had more comorbidy with social phobia, agoraphobia, PTSD. We also found that Early onset panic disorder patients were more likely to experience derealization, nausea, parethesia than late onset panic disorder patients. Conclusion : The results of our study are in keeping with previous data from other parts of the world. Our finding suggest that earier onset of panic disorder related to more psychiatric comorbidity.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.225-237
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to analyze the Relationshipss of Ego-Identity, Social support and Mental health of Adolescents. The subjects for this study were 347 adolescents composed of 169 middle school students, 347 high school students in Kyung-gi Do. The data was conducted by using a correlations coefficient and the multiple regression analysis. The results of the study were as follows: First correlations among measured subordinate variables of Ego-Identity, Social support on subordinate variables of Mental health of Adolescents were significant. except compulsiveness and support of friend, hostility, phobia and support of teacher, somatization and confidence of one's future, intimacy, support of teacher, support of friend, depression, psychosis and confidence of one's future. Second, the result of the multiple regression analysis, the significant variables affected mental health are ranked in the order of self-acceptance, aim for goal, support of parents, intimacy, independence. while confidence of one's future, leading, support of teacher, support of friend are not significant. The result of this study shows that adolescents of high level of self-acceptance, aim for goal, intimacy, independence and perceived highly support of teacher are high level of mental health.

• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.805-822
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• 2009

This study aims to investigate the mental health level of the elderly people living alone and examine the difference in mental health level by socio-demographic factors and analyze the factors impacting on mental health level. The study subjects were 131 elderly people living alone who lived in "G" city. Symptom Check List-90-Revision(SCL-90-R) was used to measure mental health level. The results of this study were as follows. First, the study subjects' mental health level(3.53, 5 rating scale) was very severe and this means the mental health level of elderly people living alone is more severe than the mental health level of general elderly people. The study subjects showed depression symptom most seriously and also had severe somatization symptom. Second, there was significant difference in mental health level by gender and education level among socio-demographic factors. Third, in the final regression model, statistically significant factors impacting on the mental health level of the elderly people living alone were life satisfaction, ADL, IADL, welfare service support, informal support, contact frequency with children, duration of living alone, subjective state of economy. And comprehensive(macro and micro) implications were recommended.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.266-272
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• 1997

We examine the clinical efficacies of fluoxetine in treating the children with selective mutism. In an 8-week open-label clinical study, 17 children with selective mutism are received 20-60mg/day of fluoxetine. Our results reveal that 13 subjects(76%) of 17 subjects improve statistically in within subjects comparison of pre- and post-treatment changes in the scores of Clinical Global Impression scale for mutism, Children’s Depression Inventory scale, and Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale. These data suggest that selective serotonergic antidepressants may be effective in treating selective mutism in children and adolescents.

• Proceedings of the Korea Information Processing Society Conference
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• 2017.11a
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• pp.997-1000
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• 2017

가상현실이 심리학에 확대 적용되며 주목할 만한 많은 연구결과들이 발표되고 있다. 이와 더불어 현대사회에서 필수적으로 갖춰야할 능력 중 하나는 바로 발표능력이다. 하지만 제대로 연습을 할 수 있는 조건을 갖추기가 힘들고, 발표 연습 현장은 실제 발표 상황과 많이 다르기 때문에 크게 도움이 되지 않을 수도 있다. 따라서 본 논문에서는 좀 더 현실감 있고, 실제 상황을 반영할 수 있는 발표연습 프로그램을 제안한다. 제안 시스템은 VR기기를 통해 사용자가 실제로 발표하는 느낌을 받도록 환경을 제공하며, 라이프 풍선요소를 배치하여, 사용자의 시선처리 능력을 향상시킬 수 있도록 이끌어 주며, 직접 PPT자료를 업로드 함으로써, 제한적인 공간에서도 PPT이용 발표를 할 수 있도록 도와준다. 마지막으로 본 제안 시스템에서는 사용자 음성 피치와 채점, 침묵시간의 분석을 통해 발표 흐름을 피드백할 수 있는 기능을 제공하였다.