• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.74-82
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• 2016

Objectives : Suicide attempters have impaired decision making and are at high risk of reattempt. Therefore it is important to refer them to psychiatric treatment. Especially, People with medical comorbidity are at higher risk of suicidal attempt and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of suicidal attempters and to analyze the influence of the medical comorbidity on decision to receive psychiatric treatment after visit to an emergency department. Methods : One hundred and thirty two patients, who visited the emergency room of a general hospital in Gyeonggi-do between January, 2012 and December, 2012 were enrolled as the subjects of this study. After reviewing each subject's medical records retrospectively, demographic and clinical factors were analyzed. Results : Regardless of the engagement type, either via admission or outpatient clinic, the determinant factors of psychiatric treatment engagement were psychiatric diagnosis, employment status, previous psychiatric treatment history, and previous attempt history. Comparison of severity of medical comorbidity(Charlson Comorbidity Index) showed that suicide attempters who received psychiatric treatment via admission or refused the treatment tended to have higher level of medical comorbidity than who received psychiatric treatment via outpatient department. Conclusions : Our findings showed that medical comorbidity of suicide attempters affected the decision to accept psychiatric treatment. All psychiatrists should evaluate the presence and the severity of medical comorbidity of the suicide attempters and consider implementing more intervention for the medically ill attempters who are willing to discharge against advice.

• Journal of the Korean society of biological therapies in psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.184-193
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• 2018

Objectives : This study investigated the effects of social support and chronic medical conditions on depressive symptoms in elderly people living alone in a rural community. Methods : Sociodemographic information on 173 subjects aged 65 years or older who lived alone in a rural community and were recipients of National Basic Livelihood Security was collected and analyzed. All participants completed the Korean Form of the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Lubben Social Network Scale. Additionally, the current prevalence of chronic medical conditions that interfere with the activities of daily living was examined. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the associations of social support and chronic medical conditions with depressive symptoms. Results : Social support(odds ratio: OR, 0.96; 95% confidence interval: 95% CI, 0.92-0.99) and chronic medical conditions(OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.23-2.05) were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in all subjects. When analyzed by gender, social support served as a protective factor against depressive symptoms in elderly men only(OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.83-0.99), and chronic medical conditions increased the risk of depressive symptoms in elderly women only(OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.26-2.40). Furthermore, osteoarthritis and lumbar pain were risk factors for depressive symptoms in all subjects(OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.10-4.56 and OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.08-4.12) and in elderly women(OR, 4.07; 95% CI, 1.68-9.84 and OR, 3.34; 95% CI, 1.47-7.57), respectively. Conclusion : This study indicates that improving the social support and managing the chronic medical conditions of elderly people living alone are important for the prevention of depression in this population. Additionally, the present results suggest that it is necessary to establish different depression-prevention strategies for elderly men and women living alone.

• Mood & Emotion
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.134-139
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• 2018

Objectives : Treatment for bipolar disorder is often complicated by various clinical situations. We undertook a survey of expert opinions to facilitate clinical decisions in special situations such as weight gain, metabolic syndrome, hyperprolactinemia, genetic counseling, and treatment adherence. Methods : A written survey that asked treatment strategies related to safety and tolerability, was prepared focused on weight gain, antipsychotic related hyperprolactinemia, lamotrigine related skin rash, treatment non-adherence and genetic counseling. Sixty-one experts of the review committee completed the survey. Results : In the case of weight gain related to medications, experts preferred exercise and education for diet-control. First chosen medications were lamotrigine, aripiprazole and ziprasidone. Recommendations based on expert survey results for treatment of bipolar patients in other special situations are outlined. Conclusion : With limitation of expert opinions, authors hope that results of this study provide valuable information to make clinical decisions about treatment of bipolar disorder in complicated situations.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.179-186
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• 2022

Objectives : This study aimed to examine the moderating effects of reasons for living on the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation among psychiatric patients. Methods : Patients were recruited from the department of psychiatry of university hospital. A total of 137 participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing depression (Beck Depression Inventory), suicidal ideation (Ultra-Short Suicidal Ideation Scale) and reasons for living (The Reasons for Living Inventory). Results : Among 4 sub-scales of the reasons for living inventory, survival and coping beliefs, fear of death and social disapproval, and future expectation moderated the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation. Conclusions : The results suggest that the reasons for living can work as a protective factor on the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation among psychiatric patients.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2019

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate consensus relative to treatment strategies for psychosocial treatment in panic disorder, that represents one subject addressed by the Korean guidelines for treatment of panic disorder 2018. Methods : The executive committee developed questionnaires relative to treatment strategies for patients with panic disorder based on guidelines, algorithms, and clinical trials previously published in foreign countries and Korea. Seventy-two (61.0%) of 112 experts on a committee reviewing panic disorder responded to the questionnaires. We classified the consensus of expert opinions into three categories (first-line, second-line, and third-line treatment strategies), and identified treatment of choice using the Chi-square test and 95% confidence intervals. Results : For psychosocial treatment of panic disorder, individual and group cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) were recommended treatments of choice, and mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) was recommended as first line strategy. There was statistically significant consensus among experts regarding usefulness of each component of CBT and MBCT, for treatment of patients with panic disorder. Conclusion : Results, that reflect recent studies and clinical experiences, may provide the guideline for psychosocial treatment strategies for panic disorder.

• Mood & Emotion
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.123-128
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• 2018

Objectives : The fourth revision of Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder (KMAP-BP) was performed to provide more proper guidelines for clinicians. In this study, we evaluated treatment strategies of elderly patients with bipolar disorders of KMAP-BP 2018. Methods : Sixty-one psychiatrists of the review committee with vast clinical experiences in treating bipolar disorders, completed the survey. An expert consensus was obtained, on pharmacological treatment strategies for elderly patients with bipolar disorder. The executive committee analyzed results, and discussed the results to produce the final algorithm. Results : In elderly patients with bipolar disorder, first-line treatment option for acute manic episode is monotherapy, with atypical antipsychotics or mood stabilizer, and a combination of mood stabilizer and atypical antipsychotics. First-line treatment option for acute depressive episode, was a combination of mood stabilizer and atypical antipsychotics, monotherapy with atypical antipsychotic or mood stabilizer, and atypical antipsychotics with lamotrigine. Conclusion : In KMAP-BP 2018, the recommendation for treatment option in elderly patients with bipolar disorder, was newly introduced. We expect this algorithm may provide valuable information, and facilitate treatment of elderly patients with bipolar disorder.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.118-124
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• 2018

Objectives Although impulsivity has long been thought as an important factor influencing suicidal behaviors, it is unknown whether impulsivity increases the risk of dying from suicidal behaviors and what specific component among constructs of impulsivity contributes to the risk of dying among suicide attempters. Methods To elucidate the association between impulsivity and medical lethality of suicide attempt among suicide attempters, we consecutively recruited 46 suicide attempters who visited an emergency room of a general hospital located in a metropolitan area, Seoul, Republic of Korea, due to suicide attempts and consented to participate in this study. Then we assessed medical lethality with the Beck Lethality Scale (LS) and impulsivity with the Korean version of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11-Revised (BIS). Demographic variables were obtained from medical records and structured social work reports for suicide attempters. Results Although total scores of the BIS did not correlate with LS scores, only the scores of self-control, that is one of the Barrett's six theoretical constructs of impulsivity in which the higher score indicates less self-control and more impulsivity, had a significant positive correlation with scores of LS (p = 0.003). The association remained significant after adjusting for variables known to affect suicide lethality such as job status, recent alcohol consumption, diagnosis of depressive disorders, and having a plan for suicide (${\beta}=0.429$, p = 0.009). Conclusions Not impulsivity in general, but poor self-control, in particular, predicts lethal suicidal behaviors among suicide attempters. The degree of self-control should be evaluated when assessing patients with elevated suicide risk, and proper measures should be installed to prevent possible future lethal suicide attempts.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2023

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors that influencing mental health literacy. Methods : We obtained data on 2016 general population from the Korean Mental Health Literacy Survey (2021) conducted by Ministry of Health and Welfare. Multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations between sociodemographic characteristics and the score of questionnaire items in Korean Mental Health Literacy Survey. Results : Among the factors, female (p<0.001), higher age (p=0.005), higher income level (p<0.001) were significantly correlated with higher score of questionnaire items. Awareness of mental health center & community addiction management center (p=0.002), awareness of mental health hotline service (p<0.001) were also significantly associated with higher response score. Conclusions : The factors affecting mental health literacy could be considered when providing community mental health services.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.37-41
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• 2020

Modified electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) which started in 1950s is a safe and efficacious treatment for several mental disorders including mood disorders and psychotic disorders. However, its usage in present days is still limited by misconceptions and stigmata of ECT. This paper overviews the background from which the stigmata of ECT stemmed and the current status of stigmata surrounding ECT among the public and medical professionals. In addition, a few potential strategies for reducing stigmata of ECT are provided in this review.

• Mood & Emotion
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.109-122
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• 2018

Objectives : The objective of this study was to revise the Korean Medication Algorithm Project for Bipolar Disorder (KMAP-BP) 2014: Children and Adolescents. Methods : We performed the survey, using a questionnaire comprising 22 questions according to each situation, in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder. Results : First-line pharmacotherapeutic strategies for manic episode in children with bipolar disorder were a combination of mood stabilizer (MS) and an atypical antipsychotics (AAP), monotherapy with an AAP, risperidone, and aripiprazole. Aripiprazole was selected as first-line medication for depressive episode in children with bipolar disorder, and aripiprazole, and risperidone were selected as first-line at high-risk children. First-line pharmacotherapeutic strategies for manic episode in adolescents were a combination of MS and an AAP, monotherapy with an AAP valproate, lithium, risperidone (Treatment of Choice, TOC), aripiprazole, and quetiapine. First-line pharmacotherapeutic strategies for depressive episode in adolescents, were a combination of an atypical antipsychotics and lamotrigine, valproate, aripiprazole (TOC), risperidone, and quetiapine. For depressive episodes in adolescents at high risk for bipolar disorder, valproate, aripiprazole (TOC), and risperidone were selected as first-line medication. Conclusion : We expect that the present KMAP-BP 2018-children and adolescents, is useful for clinicians to treat children and adolescents with bipolar disorder.