• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.169-175
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• 2011

Stress, a risk factor of major depression induces cytokine mediated inflammation and decreased neurogenesis. In patients with major depression, significant increases of pro-inflammatory cytokines have been consistently reported. The pro-inflammatory cytokines can stimulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to release glucocorticoids. In the brain, microglia and play a role of immune activation in response to stress. Increased pro-inflammatory cytokine play a role in restricting neurogenesis in the brain. Although neurogenesis may not be essential for the development of depression, it may be required for clinically effective antidepressant treatment. Hence, stimulation of neurogenesis is regarded as a promising strategy for new antidepressant targets. This review introduces changes in neurotransmitter, cytokine and neurogenesis in major depression and explores the possible relationship between pro-inflammatory cytokines and neurogenesis related to stress in major depression.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.258-261
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• 1996

Objective : Several studies hove suggested that reduction of cholesterol concentration and low cholesterol level increases suicide, homicide, and depression. The authors sought to determine whether low cholesterol is associated with a history of suicidal attempts among major depression patients. Method : The subjects were 105 patients with major depression, diagnosed according to the DSM-III-R criteria, and 105 age, sex matched healthy controls. Blood was token following overnight fast and serum cholesterol concentration were measured by a enzymatic method Results : The serum cholesterol level was significantly lower in the patients with major depression than in healthy controls($180.4{\pm}43.4mg/dl$ vs $199.7{\pm}35.8mg/dl$). And the serum cholesterol level was significantly lower in major depression patients with suicidal attempt than in major depression patients without suicidal attempt($156.7{\pm}38.2mg/dl$ vs $ 187.8{\pm}42.5mg/dl$) Conclusion : It is hypothesized that low cholesterol level is associated with depression by modifying the serotonin metabolism and the production of interleukin-2, low cholesterol concentration should be further investigated as a potential biological marker of suicidal risk in major depression. Prospective study with serial cholesterol determinations should be done.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2013

Major depressive disorder causes significant dysfunction and disability. Many of depressed patients tend to have cormobid anxiety disorders, substance use disorders and personality disorders, and so on. In this study, we reviewed researches about the effects of comorbid anxiety disorder, substance use disorder on depressive symptoms, progress, treatment, etc. In addition, the latest knowledges related to treatment was reviewed. If the symptoms of anxiety disorder coexist, They leads to the deterioration of the course and has an adverse effect on treatment response. Comorbid substance use disorder, such as alcohol dependence, causes worsening of symptoms and progression, and a loss of therapeutic response. Therapeutic clinical guidelines and instructions to comorbid psychiatric disorders on major depressive disorder was not established clearly, but consensus-based or evidence-based studies will be necessary for treatment for comorbid psychiatric disorders on major depressive disorder.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.127-158
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• 2010

The purpose of the study was to identify the level of mental health literacy of the Korean public and to suggest implications of prevention and early intervention for depression and schizophrenia. A household survey was conducted on a stratified sample of community residents from 80 survey clusters in Seoul and the surrounding province who were 18-74 years of age (N=1,653). The data analysis revealed that the percentages of respondents who correctly identified symptoms of depression or schizophrenia were similar, 35.2% and 33.5% respectively. On the other hand, there were differences between the two illnesses in terms of respondents' perceptions of beliefs on causes and usefulness of various methods to address respective symptoms, and sources of mental health information. The authors compared the findings with the results found in other countries, and suggested policy and practice implications for community mental health prevention in Korea.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.100-105
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• 2004

Objectives: Major depression is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. One possible explanation for this association is that major depression influences autonomic neurocardiac regulation. However, previous studies on the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and major depression have revealed conflicting results. The purpose of this study is to clarify that major depressive patients compared to healthy controls show a reduction in HRV as an expression of reduced modulation of vagal activity to the heart. Methods: According to DSM-IV, the time and frequency domain HRV indices (5-min resting study) of 30 patients with major depressive disorder were compared with those of 30 healthy controls. Standardized HRV tests enable quantitative estimation of autonomic nervous system function. Results: After controlling for age and gender, subjects with major depression showed a higher heart rate and significantly lower modulation of cardiovagal activity compared to controls. The total power (TP) band, very low frequency (VLF: 0.003-0.04 Hz) band, low frequency (LF: 0.04-0.15 Hz) band, and high frequency (HF: 0.15-0.4 Hz) band were significantly reduced in subjects with major depression compared to control subjects. Conclusion: Patients with major depression may suffer from functional disturbances in the interaction between the sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic systems.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.164-171
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• 2018

Objectives : Depression is a common mental illness and a major cause of suicide. Although serum lipids have been associated with depression and suicide, there has been much debate. In this study, we investigated the relationship between depression, suicide, and serum lipids in patients admitted with depressed mood. Methods : A total of 134 subjects were divided into 86 non-suicide patients and 48 suicide attempters. The serum lipid levels and sub-scores of the Korean Symptom Checklist-95 (KSCL95) were compared. We also investigated the relationship between serum lipids and sub-scores of KSCL95 and investigated whether serum lipids were risk factors for suicide attempts. Results : There was no difference in serum lipids between the two groups. Among the sub-items of KSCL95, obsession was higher in non-suicide group. Triglyceride showed positive correlations with anxiety, phobic anxiety, agoraphobia, schizophrenia, and self-regulation problem. High triglyceride was a risk factor for suicide attempts. Conclusions : Triglyceride is associated with depression, anxiety, and self - regulation, and high serum triglyceride levels may be a risk factor for suicide attempts.

• 대한핵의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1997.05a
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• pp.176-176
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• 1997

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.10 no.11
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• pp.525-533
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• 2012

This aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of suicide-related behavior(suicide ideation, plans and attemps) and its relationship in college students. 384 college students in Daejeon, Chungbuk provice were selected for this study from April 2 to April 21, 2012. Collected data was analyzed by using the SPSS 19.0 pragram. The prevalence of lifetime suicide ideation, plans and attemps were 32.3%, 4.7% and 3.0%. Respondents with mild ~ severe depressive symptoms were 42.2%. Depressive symptom was the consistent and crucial risk factor associated with suicide-related behavior indicates(suicide ideation, plans and attempts) commonly. We consider the suicide ideation and depressive symptom when develop the suicide prevention program. To prevent suicide, institutionalization of suicide screening program for who experience suicide ideation, depression, follow management of pre-suicide attemptor, surrounders of suicide victims, development of manual about strategy toward suicide, operating mental health program, delicate media representation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.4
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• pp.677-685
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• 2012

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of forest environment and therapeutic program to the patients with major depressive disorder in antidepressant medication. The first group participated the four sessions of therapeutic program in the forest environment ("forest therapy"), the second group did in the program in a hospital environment, the third group did merely walking in the forest ("forest bath"), and the last group was controls. All the participants was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and had been taking antidepressant medication longer than 3 months. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Hamilton Rating Scales for Depression(HRSD), Montgomery-Asberg Depressin Rating Scales(MADRS), Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), and general health perception was measured by Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire(SF-36). Heart rate variability(HRV) were also examined to observe the physiological parameters before and after the program. In the results, HRSD score of forest program group was significantly lower than controls after the program. MADRS score of forest therapy group and hospital program group was also significantly lower than controls after 4 sessions of the program. The remission rate defined as below 7 points in HRSD was higher in the forest therapy group, hospital program group, forest bath group, and controls in order. These results reveals that the therapeutic program performed in forest environment may improve unremitted depressive symptoms of patients with major depressive disorder. Although not significant, the forest therapy program showed better outcome than hosptial program and forest bath.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2009

The use of natural environments to change lifestyle and health has been long recognized. In particular, forests, trees, and open space have been shown to promote mental health. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of the structured psychotherapeutic program using forest environment ("forest activity program") to improve the symptoms of nine patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) who were taking variable doses of antidepressants. We assessed the depressive symptoms, quality of life, and autonomic nerve regulation among the MDD patients. Hamilton Rating Scales for Depression (HRSD) scores significantly decreased after the forest therapy (13.56 vs. 5.56, p=0.003), and some subscores of Short Form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF-36) and heart rhythm coherence are improved as well. Combined with antidepressant pharmacotherapy, the structured psychotherapeutic program using forest environment showed an improved health status for MDD patients and thus has potential as an adjuvant treatment for MDD, especially for rehabilitation and relapse prevention.