• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.295-310
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• 2015

Objectives : Symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during childhood may persist into adulthood. This study included the development and validation process of the Korean Adult ADHD Rating Scale (K-AARS), which was developed for screening and monitoring treatment of adults with ADHD. Methods : Preliminary questionnaires of the K-AARS were based on the reviews of previous adult ADHD scales and clinical experiences of the board certified child and adolescent psychiatrists in Korea. For this study, 136 adults (18-50 years old) with inattention, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity symptoms were enrolled as ADHD subjects, and compared with 406 control subjects (18-50 years old) without ADHD symptoms. Construct validity was examined using explorative factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha to obtain internal reliability coefficients. Concurrent validity was evaluated by comparison with the Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS). Results : An explorative factor analysis showed that the K-AARS had 8 factors (inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, antisocial personality disorder/conduct disorder/oppositional defiant disorder, impairment, driving, emotional dysregulation, disorganization). K-AARS was highly reliable in terms of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.77-0.95) and correlation between factors (0.57-0.86). Concurrent validity with the CAARS and discriminant validity were statistically significant. Conclusion : The K-AARS is a valid and reliable measure for assessment of Korean adults with ADHD.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.68 no.2
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• pp.161-184
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions in treatments and experiences of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) for mothers parenting a child with ADHD. Using Giorgi's 4 stages, this study investigated the meaning of ADHD treatments for mothers. Data were collected from December 2014 to February 2015 for 3 months with a sample of 13 mothers of children with ADHD via in-depth interviews. Collected data was analyzed using an interpretative phenomenological approach. Dominant issues identified were: I (mother) need to be changed for my child; Through mothers' experiences of lack of self-determination about a child with ADHD, they realized ignorance, chaos, and anxiety. While they experience multiple negative feeling, there is a positive change with unresolved issues. The findings highlight the correct awareness of ADHD and incorporated therapies for mothers and children with ADHD to improve treatment retention. Also, specialized services would be developed for mothers to promote their positive attitude to life, which is vital to cultivating the correct self-awareness.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.9
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• pp.911-921
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• 2008

Learning disabilities (LD) are heterogeneous group of disorders with evidences of genetic or familial trait, intrinsic to the individual and presume to be due to central nervous dysfunction. Learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are the two of the most common disorders in the population of school-age children. Typically academic achievements in children with learning disabilities are significantly lower than expected by their normal or above normal range of IQ. Although academic and cognitive deficits are hallmarks of children with LD, those children are also at risk for a broad range of behavioral and emotional problems. Almost all cases meet criteria for at least one additional diagnosis such as ADHD, developmental coordination disorder, depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, tic disorder, among which ADHD is particularly predominant. Because of the response to the therapeutic intervention program is promising and positive when applied early, it is critical to recognize patients as early as possible. Pediatricians often are the first to hear from parents worried about a childs academic progress. It is not the responsibility of pediatrician to make a diagnosis, referring children for a diagnostic evaluation of LD is a reasonable first step. Pediatricians can make early referral of suspicious children by asking some serial short questions about basic and processing skills. With a basic knowledge about the clinical characteristics, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures of LD, pediatricians also can provide primary counseling and education for parents at their outpatient clinical settings.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.105-116
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• 2006

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the present situation for oriental examination and treatment of ADHD by questionnaire. Methods : We surveied oriental clinics which publicized on internet that they run a clinic of ADHD and oriental university hospitals which had a department of Pediatrics or Neurophycholosy. Results : The number of responding that the period of actively attending upon treatment of ADHD children was less than 3 years was 9(60%). The number of responding that in these 3 months, the number of ADHD children visiting clinics were under ten was 8(53.3%). The number of responding that the average age of ADHD children visiting clinics were 7 to 10 years old were 10(66.7%). The number of responding that they assessed diagnosis of ADHD children were 7(46.7%). The number of responding that they assessed oriental medical examination to ADHD children were 9(60%). The number of responding that the most effective treatment to ADHD children was Herbal Medicine was 10(66.7%). The number of responding that the interval of treatment of ADHD was 1 to 3 months was 9(60%). Conclusions : Recently oriental medical treatments for ADHD has been attempted. Treatment methods were herbal medicine, acupuncture, parents education, etc. But further studies are needed.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.217-231
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• 1997

This paper first reviewed the current neurological theories concerning the etiology of ADHD and secondly, examined results of studies that applied neuropsychological assessment methods in the examination of ADHD children both here in Korea and abroad. ADHD children were found to exhibit characteristic responses indicating deficits in vigilance, sustained attention, distractibility, allocation and regulation of attention in many assessments of attention, in addition to deficits in executive functioning, working and associative memory. Such neuropsychological assessment results suggest that in addition to dysfunction in the frontal lobe and the reticular activation system, dysfunction may exist in other neural pathways involving many areas of the brain. However, because a substantial number of neuropsychological assessment tools being employed in Korea for ADHD children had been developed abroad, a Korean standardization project involving ADHD and normal control children, in addition to other child psychiatric population pools must be conducted in order to obtain appropriate age norms and test validity, and in order to make possible a more accurate and precise comparison and interpretation in the assessment of ADHD children.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.114-123
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• 1993

The authors applied Toddler Temperament Scale(TTS) to ADHD patient group, other disease group and normal control group to elucidate temperamental characteristics of ADHD patients in their toddler stage. 1) ADHD group showed significant difference from the control group in 'activity', 'rhythmicity', 'approach', 'adaptability', 'intensity', 'persistence' and 'threshold' categories. 2) ADHD group and other disease showed significant difference from the control group in 'adaptability' and 'persistence' categories. 3) ADHD group was significantly different from other disease group or control group in 'activity' and 'approach' categories. 4) In total scores of TTS, ADHD group and other diease group showed significant difference from control group. 5) Classification ratio of TTS for ADHD by discriminant analysis was 84.3%. Above results suggest that the ADHD patients may reveal characteristic traits in their toddler stage Further research should be focused on the development and refinement of assessment tools for the early detection and prevention for ADHD.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.69-75
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• 2023

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and its associated societal responses are anticipated to have wide-ranging effects on youth development and mental health. Depression, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are the three most common mental health problems among university students. Many factors that can threaten mental health during the outbreak affect these three conditions, as well as sleep conditions, in undergraduate students. Thus, determining how these abrupt changes in students' circumstances impact their mental health is very important from a public health perspective. Methods: We investigated the usual conditions and changes in ADHD symptoms during the outbreak, in relation to depressive and sleep-related symptoms among undergraduate students. A total of 252 students, primarily juniors, completed the online survey. Results: The results showed that 12% of the students exceeded the cut-off score of the ADHD questionnaire before the pandemic. Approximately 6%-21% of the university students, especially those with ADHD traits, rated their ADHD behaviors as worse during the outbreak than that before the outbreak. Conclusion: Female students and undergraduates with ADHD traits are more susceptible to experiencing further deterioration of ADHD (inattention) symptoms during the pandemic. In cases where it is difficult to intervene with ADHD symptoms, approaching circadian rhythm or depression will be of considerable clinical use.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.64-71
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• 2016

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of osmotic-controlled release oral delivery system methylphenidate on changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Methods: A total of 26 children with ADHD (21 boys, mean age: $9.2{\pm}2.05$ years old) were recruited. Each ADHD participant was examined for changes in rCBF using technetium-99m-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime brain SPECT before and after 8 weeks methylphenidate medication. Brain SPECT images of pediatric normal controls were selected retrospectively. SPECT images of ADHD children taken before medication were compared with those of pediatric normal controls and those taken after medication using statistical parametric mapping analysis on a voxel-wise basis. Results: Before methylphenidate medication, significantly decreased rCBF in the cerebellum and increased rCBF in the right precuneus, left anterior cingulate, right postcentral gyrus, right inferior parietal lobule and right precentral gyrus were observed in ADHD children compared to pediatric normal controls (p-value<.0005, uncorrected). After medication, we observed significant hypoperfusion in the left thalamus and left cerebellum compared to pediatric normal controls (p-value<.0005, uncorrected). In the comparison between before medication and after medication, there was significant hyperperfusion in the superior frontal gyrus and middle frontal gyrus and significant hypoperfusion in the right insula, right caudate, right middle frontal gyrus, left subcallosal gyrus, left claustrum, and left superior temporal gyrus after methylphenidate medication (p-value<.0005, uncorrected). Conclusion: This study supports dysfunctions of fronto-striatal structures and cerebellum in ADHD. We suggest that methylphenidate may have some effects on the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, and cerebellum in children with ADHD.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.2-8
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the quality of life reported by patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to the patients' quality of life as reported by their caregivers. In addition, it aimed to examine how emotional problems, including depression and anxiety, and the severity of the symptoms affect the quality of life reported by the patients and their caregivers. Methods: The patients' quality of life and their degree of depression and anxiety were measured using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) 4.0 Child Self-Report, the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), and the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale, respectively. The caregivers' perception of the patients' quality of life and severity of the ADHD symptoms were measured using the PedsQL 4.0 Parent Proxy Report and the Conners' Parent Rating Scale (CPRS), respectively. A total of 66 participants completed the survey. The independent-samples t-test, Pearson's correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were conducted. Results: The mean score of the PedsQL 4.0 Child Self-Report was significantly higher than the mean score of the PedsQL 4.0 Parent Proxy Report. However, for school function, the PedsQL 4.0 Child Self-Report score was significantly lower than that of Parent Proxy Report. The correlation between the PedsQL 4.0 Child Self-Report and PedsQL 4.0 Parent Proxy Report scores was significant only for emotional function and social function. The multiple regression analysis showed that the PedsQL 4.0 Child Self-Report and PedsQL 4.0 Parent Proxy Report scores were significantly predicted by the CDI and CPRS scores, respectively. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that there are clear differences between the quality of life reported by the patient themselves and that reported by their caregivers. In addition, the findings suggest that it is critical to treat the patients' accompanying depressive symptoms.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.102-113
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship among dietary behavior, meal balance, and clinical symptoms related nutritional status and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) in preschool children. The survey was conducted using questionnaires and the subjects were 3~6 years old preschool children in Samcheok. Subjects were divided into an ADHD dispositions group(n=88) and a normal group(n=129) based on assessments conducted by the children's mother using the Abbreviated Conners's Parent Rating Scale. There was no significant difference in meal frequency, meal speed, meal regularity or meal balance between children with ADHD dispositions and the normal groups. The ADHD disposition group had a higher proportion of children with picky eating(p<0.05), too much snacking(p<0.05) and over eating (p=0.05) habits than the normal group. In addition, the ADHD dispositions group had a higher frequency of clinical symptoms such as 'breathlessness when going up stairs', 'sleeplessness', 'anxiety' and 'tiredness'. Overall, there was a significant relationship between ADHD disposition and dietary problems and clinical symptoms related to poor nutritional status in preschool children. Therefore, to prevent and treat ADHD in preschool children, proper dietary management such as correcting of picky eating, over snacking and overeating is needed.