• 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 Biological Psychiatry
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2023

Objectives This study aims to develop valid experimental models for depression through chronic reserpine exposure to zebrafish (Danio rerio). Methods The effect of chronic reserpine on zebrafish behavior in the novel tank was examined. Changes of gene expression on telencephalon were also investigated. Results Chronic reserpine (40 mg/L, 7 days) induced overt behavioral effects, but markedly reduced activity, resembling motor retardation in depression. In telencephalon of zebrafish, gene expression associated with monoamine oxidase and norepinephrine transporter was decreased. Expression of serotonin transporter gene was increased. Conclusions Our results show that the pharmacological model of depression in zebrafish can induce not only behavioral changes, but also monoamine changes in the homology of human mood regulation centers.

• Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.37-43
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• 2017

Objectives : This study was aimed to investigate the associations of childhood trauma with psychopathology and clinical characteristics in patients with schizophrenia. Methods : This study enrolled 66 inpatients with schizophrenia. Korean Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (K-CTQ) and Life Event Questionnaire (LEQ) were administered to assess childhood trauma. Psychopatholgy and clinical characteristics were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Korean Version of Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (K-ISMI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and visual analogue scale of EuroQoL-5 Dimension Index (EQ-5D). Results : Total scores on K-CTQ were positively associated with scores on the BDI, K-ISMI, PSS, and PANSS and negatively associated with the score on the EQ-5D. Among subscales of K-CTQ, emotional abuse was significantly associated with all measures for psychopathology and clinical characteristics. Patients with physical abuse (36.5%), emotional abuse (30.2%), or bullying (30.6%) according to the LEQ showed sighificanlty higher the ISMI score and lower EQ-5D score. Emotional abuse and bullying were also significantly associated with higher scores on BDI and/or PSS. Conclusion : Our results suggest that childhood trauma negatively influences on internalized stigma, depression, perceived stress and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia. Clinicians should carefully evalute and manage childhood traumatic experience of patients with schizophrenia.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.38-46
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• 2002

Disaster psychiatry is a new emerging area of psychiatry, in which psychiatrists help to minimize psychological impact of a disaster and to reduce secondary morbidities. In our society, more children and adolescents are facing disasters nowadays. Thus, the necessity for the disaster psychiatry is increasing. After a trauma, children express various symptoms in relevance to their age, development, and their environmental support. The recovery from the disaster and its long-term effect are also influenced by those factors. Psychiatric intervention in a disaster consists mainly of crises intervention and supportive psychotherapy, which includes counseling the victims, educating and providing information to the public, providing support and consultation to the community, and referring of at-risk or severely impaired individuals for more intensive clinical evaluation and care. In addition to a summarized concept of disaster psychiatry, this article presents the adverse psychological effects of children and adolescents exposed to disaster and issues related to the psychiatric intervention.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2016

Many patients with dizziness present with a symptom pattern that does not reveal the cause by neurotologic diagnostic approaches. In such cases, the physician frequently diagnoses psychogenic dizziness. Psychogenic dizziness is not characterized by true vertigo, and occurs in combination with other psychiatric symptom cluster. One out of two to four patients with dizziness are psychogenic dizziness. But there are few concern about this including clinical practice and study in Korea. I wrote this paper to increase concerning and attending to this for psychiatrists in Korea. I reviewed etiology including biological and psychological relations between dizziness and psychiatric disorder(especially anxiety), diagnostic approaches of, characteristics of dizziness of various psychiatric disorders related to, and the treatment of psychogenic dizziness. I also briefly reviewed the central and peripheral dizziness for psychiatrists. I suggest psychiatrists and clinicians in the psychosomatic field in Korea to acknowledge, concern, and attend to psychogenic dizziness. In turn, it will be helpful to well treat the patients with psychogenic dizziness.

• Journal of the Korean society of biological therapies in psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.173-183
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• 2018

Objectives : The aim of study was to estimate the prevalence of poor sleep quality and depressive symptoms as well as to examine the moderating effect of positive psychology on the relationship between poor sleep quality and depressive symptoms among Korean university students. Methods : A total of 2,338(1,071 male and 1,267 female) university students at seven universities of four cities in Korea were randomly selected to participate in a survey. Data were collected by self-report questionnaires, including Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI), Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Satisfaction with Life Scale(SWLS), Positive Psychotherapy Inventory(PPTI), and sociodemographic characteristics. Results : The prevalence was 44.8% for poor sleep quality and 14.4% for depressive symptoms among Korean university students. By moderated regression analysis, the results showed that poor sleep quality(${\beta}=0.453$, p<0.001) aggravated depressive symptoms of university students, and life satisfaction(${\beta}=-0.087$, p<0.001) and happiness(${\beta}=-0.145$, p<0.001) respectively buffered the negative effect of the poor sleep quality on depressive symptoms. Conclusion : This study showed very high prevalence of poor sleep quality and depressive symptoms among Korean university students. Overall, these findings demonstrates that positive psychology can be effective in the enhancement of subjective and psychological well-being and may help to reduce depressive symptom levels. In the context of public health, positive psychology can be used as preventive, easily accessible and non-stigmatizing tools.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 1996

• Journal of the Korean society of biological therapies in psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.163-172
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• 2018

Objectives : The aim of this study was to examine associations between quality of life in patients with schizophrenia and their family relationships. Methods : A total of 68 patients with schizophrenia participated in the study. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected, as well as results from the Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptic Treatment Scale-Short Form(SWN-K), Family Emotional Involvement and Criticism Scale(FEICS), a visual analogue scale for evaluating the degree of perceived criticism(VAS), the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale(FACES), Beck Cognitive Insight Scale(BCIS), and Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale(R-SES). Psychiatrists administered the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia(CDSS), and collected a history of previous suicide attempts. Results : The SWN-K total scores showed significant negative correlations with scores on the FEICS perceived criticism, CDSS, and VAS measures and significant positive correlations with scores on the R-SES, FACES, and BCIS. Multiple regression analysis revealed that FEICS perceived criticism, FACES, and BCIS scores were significantly associated with SWN-K scores. The FACES total score was significantly lower in patients with a history of previous suicide attempt. Conclusion : The quality of life of patients with schizophrenia was negatively associated with greater perceived familial criticism and positively associated with better family cohesion and higher patient insight. In patients with a history of suicide attempts, family adaptability and cohesion were significantly low.

• Journal of the Korean society of biological therapies in psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.194-201
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• 2018

Objectives : Some studies have reported that chronotypes, among several factors, could contribute to problematic drinking. However, there is little evidence confirming this relationship between chronotype and problematic drinking based on gender differences in mood disorder. This study is to investigate the difference of the relationship between chronotype and problematic drinking according to gender differences in mood disorder. Methods : Two hundred fifteen patients with mood disorder were recruited. Problematic drinking and chronotypes were assessed by the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test in Korea(AUDIT) and the Korean translation of composite scale of morningness(KtCS). We analyzed the correlation between KtCS and AUDIT using Pearson's correlation, and compared AUDIT scores according to chronotypes classified by KtCS between male and female patients using analysis of variance(ANOVA). Results : There was no significant difference in AUDIT scores between the male and female patients(t=0.91, p=0.183). In female patients, eveningness had significantly higher AUDIT scores than other chronotypes(F=0.199, p=0.033). Meanwhile, in male patients, there was no significant difference in AUDIT score among chronotypes(F=0.008, p=0.933). Conclusion : This study suggests that eveningness might be associated with problematic drinking in female patients who suffer from mood disorder. It also suggests that chronotherapeutical treatment might be able to help improve the course in female patients with mood disorder. In the future, a large-scale prospective study is needed to confirm these results.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.114-120
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• 2015

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the risk factors of depression for patients with tuberculosis(TB). Methods : A total of 57 patients with TB were recruited. All participants completed the Becks Depression Inventory-II for evaluating depressive symptoms. The risk factor for depression was analyzed by binary logistic regression analysis. Nomogram was performed for probability of depression. Results : Low body mass index(BMI, OR 0.801, 95% CI 0.65, 0.98), interruption of treatment for TB(OR 5.908, 95% CI 1.19, 29.41), past history of depression(OR 24.653, 95% CI 1.99, 308.44) were associated with increased risk for depression. The calibration curve for predicting probability of survival showed a good agreement between the nomogram and actual observation(Original C-index=0.789, bias corrected C-index=0.754). Conclusions : The result of the present study indicate that low BMI, interruption of treatment for TB, and past history of depression were risk factors for depression in patients with TB. The psychiatric intervention may be needed to prevent depression if the patients with TB have risk factor during treatment for TB.