• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.389-400
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• 2022

Objectives: Depression is a highly prevalent disease, and the market for antidepressant drugs continues to grow at a steady rate. Although current antidepressants are reported to be effective, because of their low remission rate and side effects, new antidepressants are needed. The use of Banhahubak-tang (BHT) to treat the symptoms of depression is supported by experimental evidence. The proposed study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of BHT in treating depression. Methods: A randomized, waitlist-controlled, parallel clinical trial will be conducted to assess the efficacy of BHT in depression. A total of 84 participants with depression will be randomized into the intervention group or waitlist-control group at a 1:1 ratio. Patients in the intervention group will be administered BHT three times a day for four weeks and followed up for four more weeks after therapy completion. Patients in the waitlist-control group will undergo the same intervention and follow-up after a four-week waiting period. The primary outcome is change in the Korean version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (K-HDRS) scores for major depressive disorders after four weeks. The secondary outcomes include scores on the K-HDRS, Korean Symptom Check List 95 (KSCL-95), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Korean version (STAI-K), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-Korean version (STAXI-K), and the Instrument on Pattern Identifications for Depression and EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D). Conclusions: This trial will provide high-quality clinical evidence of the efficacy and safety of BHT in the management of depression.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.102-130
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• 2022

Objectives: The persistence and unpredictability of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and new measures to prevent direct medical intervention (e.g., social distancing and quarantine) have induced various psychological symptoms and disorders that require self-treatment approaches and integrative treatment interventions. To address these issues, the Korean Medicine Mental Health (KMMH) center developed a field manual by reviewing previous literature and preexisting manuals. Methods: The working group of the KMMH center conducted a keyword search in PubMed in June 2021 using "COVID-19" and "SARS-CoV-2". Review articles were examined using the following filters: "review," "systematic review," and "meta-analysis." We conducted a narrative review of the retrieved articles and extracted content relevant to previous manuals. We then created a treatment algorithm and recommendations by referring to the results of the review. Results: During the initial assessment, subjective symptom severity was measured using a numerical rating scale, and patients were classified as low- or moderate-high risk. Moderate-high-risk patients should be classified as having either a psychiatric emergency or significant psychiatric condition. The developed manual presents appropriate psychological support for each group based on the following dominant symptoms: tension, anxiety-dominant, anger-dominant, depression-dominant, and somatization. Conclusions: We identified the characteristics of mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic and developed a clinical mental health support manual in the field of Korean medicine. When symptoms meet the diagnostic criteria for a mental disorder, doctors of Korean medicine can treat the patients according to the manual for the corresponding disorder.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.129-137
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• 2023

Objective: This study reports a clinical case of headache accompanied by epilepsy that showed improvement with Korean medicine treatments. Methods: A 67-year-old woman with headache was treated with Korean medicine therapies, including Cheongshimondam-tang, acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and cupping, for 14 days. The response before and after treatment was evaluated using the Numerical Rating Scale, Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), and Quality of Life in Epilepsy-10 (QOLIE-10). Results: After the treatments, the headache was relieved from NRS 8 to NRS 1, and anxiety decreased from NRS 7 to NRS 2. The HIT-6 changed from 66 to 48, and the QOLIE-10 dropped from 44 to 30. Conclusion: This study suggests that combined Korean medicine treatments might be a therapeutic option for relieving headache with epilepsy.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.72-87
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• 2000

Objectives : This study was to provide normative data of Korean version of DSI(K-DSI), a sensitive measure of relatively minor stressors that could be administered daily. Methods : K-DSI was administered in 524 adults, age of 19 or over, daily for 1 week. On the seventh day, Becks Depression Inventory(BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI), and Social Readjustment Rating Scale(SRRS) were also given to test the convergent validity. Analyses(ANOVA or t-test) were conducted to examine the potential effects of demographic variables on K-DSI score. Internal consistency for reliability and Pearson's corelation coefficient with BDI, STAI, SRRS for convergent validity were computed. Percentile scores were calculated for daily and weekly K-DSI Event, Impact and I/E Ratio scores. Results : K-DSI scores in women were higher than those in men. According to age and educational level, the younger and the higher educational level the normative groups were, the higher were K-DSI scores. Among the 5 categories of the inventory, the category of cognitive stressors was highest. Internal consistency of K-DSI(Cronbach's $\alpha$) was .99. Daily and Weekly events and impacts scores were significantly correlated with the scores of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Social Readjustment Rating Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory. 75 percentile scores of the daily/weekly Events, Impacts, and I/E ratio were 17/118 - 124, 57/368 - 389 and 3.48 - 3.49/3.47 - 3.48 respectively. And 95 percentile scores of daily/weekly Events, Impacts, and I/E ratio were 57/151- 161, 405/1038 - 1122, and 4.72 - 4.86/4.46 - 4.56 respectively. Conclusion : Reliability and validity of K-DSI were tested satisfactorily. Authors presented the normative data of K-DSI for Koreans. K-DSI could be a useful measure in clinical settings or researches to assess the minor stressors frequently experienced in everyday life.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.275-287
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• 1992

In order to survey the reality of anxiety and depression among the Koreans residing in China, a study was conducted between January and March of 1991, on the residents of Yun-Kil city, with subjects of 472 Koreans and 479 Chinese. The evaluation was based on the questionairs, named Combined self-rating anxiety depression scale(CADS), distributed among the subjects. ANOVA and t-test were applied for data processing. The results were as follows : There was not significant difference in the mean of total scores between the two groups. The scores of Koreans were $29.70{\pm}7.03$, while those of Chinese were $29.45{\pm}9.01$. The score of the CADS above 50(clinially significant level) was seen in 12(2.54%) Koreans and 21(4.38%) Chinese. The anxiety-depression scores relating to the items of indigestion and decreased appetite, sleep disturbance, apprehension, decreased libido were relatively high among the Koreans. The items appeared low in scores among the Koreans were faintness, fear, suicidal rumination, hopelessness, paresthesias. The highs among the Chinese were facial flushing, anxiousness, dissatisfaction, suicidal rumination. The items appeared low among the Chinese were fear, faintness, paresthesias, weight loss, suicidal rumination. In the comparison of evaluation by items between the two groups, the items placing the Koreans significantly higher over the Chinese are indigestion & decreased appetite, sleep disturbance, apprehension, decreased libido. The Chinese marked significantly higher in facial flushing, anxiousness, dissatisfaction, suicidal rumination. Those in the case of female (p<0.01 respectively), less than twenty years old (p<0.01 respectively), dissatisfied with family relationship(p<0.01 respectively), with past history of psychiatric hospitalization(Koreans p<0.01, Chinese p<0.05), pessimistic toward future, present, past self image(p<0.01 respectively) had significantly higher scores in both groups. In religion, neither group showed significant difference. In religion, neither group showed significant difference. In marital status, the Koreans showed a higher degree of divorce and separation and the Chinese in singleness(p<0.01 respectively). The Korean were higher in illiteracy and the Chinese had more college education(p<0.01 respectively). In place of growth, the Koreans showed not much difference in the areas while more Chinese grew up un large cities(p<0.01). More Koreans lived in the dormitory while the Chinese were engaged more in self-cooking(p<0.01 respectively). In pocket money per mouth, more Koreans were less than 1 dollar while the Chinese were between 7 and 10 dollars(p<0.01 respectively). There were no significant difference between two groups about religion.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.111-117
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• 2013

Objectives We investigated the effectiveness and safety when treated in schizophrenics with paliperidone palmitate, a long acting injectable antipsychotic. Methods This was a 24-week open-label study, performed at one center in Korea. The eligible patients with schizophrenia diagnosed by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria were enrolled. Patients received long-acting paliperidone palmitate injection (234 mg, baseline; 156 mg, week 1 ; then once 4 weeks flexible dosing). Effectiveness assessments were measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), The Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale (CGI-S), The Personal and Social Performance (PSP) at baseline, week 1, every 4 weeks untill 24 weeks or endpoint. Safety assessments were measured by The Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale (ESRS), body weight (BW) and incidence of adverse events. Oral antipsychotics were stopped or tapered off within next 14 days. Results Of 20 patients recruited, 9 patients (45%) completed the study. Paliperidone palmitate produced a significant improvement in PANSS total score from baseline to endpoint. The response rate was 75% [mean change (${\pm}SD$) $-25.9{\pm}14.4$, all p < 0.001]. The CGI-S and PSP total scores significantly improved during 24 weeks (All p < 0.001). Eighty percent of patients reported adverse events and most common adverse events (${\geq}10%$) in paliperidone palmitate were anticholinergic adverse event, extrapyramidal symptoms, weight gain, akathisia, insomnia, headache, agitation, anxiety and GI trouble. ESRS score is not statistically significant, but tends to get better at the end of the study when compared to baseline. Conclusions Our study results demonstrated maintained effectiveness and safety of paliperidone palmitate treatment in schizophrenics. And provides both clinicians and patients with a new choice of treatment that can improve the outcome of long term therapy. Their potential effectiveness and safety should be better addressed by future randomized-controlled trials.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.143-153
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• 2012

Objectives : This study examined the current prevalence rate of school bullying and its related psychopathology. Methods : A total of 3,550 elementary/middle school students and their parents were recruited for this study. A self-report questionnaire on perpetration and victimization in school bullying was used for collection of data regarding prevalence and the present state of school bullying. For evaluation of associated psychopathology, self report forms, including the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder Rating Scale (ARS), Korean-Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL), Korean-Youth Self Report (K-YSR), and the Korean Eppendorf Schizophrenia Inventory (K-ESI) were applied. Samples were classified according to four subtype groups (control, victim, perpetrator, and victim-perpetrator) and characteristics of each group were compared. Results : Overall, the prevalence rate for bullying perpetration was 64.4% and the prevalence rate for bullying victimization was 63.4%, indicating involvement of more than half of students in school bullying. Bully-victims reported high social immaturity and depressive and suicidal tendency, whereas bully-perpetrators reported less social immaturity and more externalizing problems. Among the subtype groups, the victim-perpetrator group showed the most prominent depressive/anxiety tendency and behavioral problems. Conclusions : Both victimization and perpetration of bullying are common problems for child and adolescent groups and several psycho-social problems were found to be related. The results of this study will guide direction of future study and development of strategies for prevention of bullying.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 1999

Objectives: Patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder(or PMDD) have impairments of the social, occupational or academic function due to psychological or somatic symptoms, which have the characteristic pattern of symptom exacerbation in the week before menses begin and remission shortly after the onset of menses. In the chronobiological view, many researchers have assumed that the etiology of PMDD is the advanced circadian rhythm. It has been suggested that light has a therapeutic effect on PMDD, because evening light results in phase delay of circadian rhythm through the biochemical changes including melatonin. Methods: The authors investigated the therapeutic effect of light therapy on four patients with prospectively diagnosed PMDD by DSM-IV criteria using clinical psychiatric interview, Premenstrual Assessment Form(PAF) and Daily Rating Form(or DRF). In the evening(6:30pm-8:00pm), the 2,500 lux light administered for seven consecutive days during the symptomatic late luteal phase of menstrual cycle. Beck Depression Inventory(or BDI), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression(or HAM-D), Spielberg State Anxiety Inventory(or SA), and DRF were evaluated before and after seven days of light therapy. Results: Premenstrual symptoms of PMDD could be effectively treated with the evening bright light therapy, especially in PMDD patients with atypical symptoms. In addition, the light therapy seemed to more effective on the psychologic symptoms than the somatic symptoms of PMDD. There was no significant side-effect of light therapy, except the transient and mild eye-strain in one case. Conclusions: In spite of the results of limited data from our clinical trial, the authors suggest that the potential use of light therapy as an alternative to the pharmacological management of patients with PMDD.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2001

Objectives: An Increased level of psychophysiologic arousal and diminished physiologic flexibility would be observed in patients with panic disorder compared with a normal control group. We investigated the differences of psychophysiologic response between patients with panic disorder and normal control to examine this hypothesis. Methods: Ten Korean patients with panic disorder who met the diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV were compared with 10 normal healthy subjects. In psychological assessment, levels of anxiety and depression were evaluated by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck's Depression Inventory and Hamilton Rating Scale For Anxiety and Depression. Heart rate, respiration rate, electrodermal response, and electromyographic activity were measured by biofeedback system (J & J I-330 model) to determine psychophysiologic responses on autonomic nervous system. Stressful tasks included mental arithmetic, video game, hyperventilation, and talking about a stressful event. Psychophysiologic responses were measured according to the following procedures : baseline(3 min)-mental arithmetic (3 min)-rest (3 min)-video game (3 min)-rest (3 min)-hyperventilation (3 min)-rest (3 min)-talking about a stressful event (3 min). Results: The baseline level of anxiety and depression, electrodermal response (p=.017), electromyographic activity (p=.047) and heart rate (p=.049) of patients with panic disorder were significantly higher than those of the normal subject group. In electrodermal response, patient group had significantly higher startle response than the control group during hyperventilation (p=.001). Startle and recovery responses of heart rate in the patient group were significantly lower than responses in the control group during mental arithmetic (p=.007, p=.002). In electrodermal response of the patient group, startle response was significantly higher than recovery response during mental arithmetic (p=.000) and video game task (p=.021). Recovery response was significantly higher than startle response in respiratory response during hyperventilation. Conclusion: The results showed that patients with panic disorder had higher autonomic arousal than the control group, but the physiologic flexibility was variable. We suggest that it is helpful for treatment of panic disorder to decrease the level of autonomic arousal and to recover the physiologic flexibility in certain stressful event.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2017

Objectives Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene and plasma levels of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), have previously been determined to be associated with depression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of plasma levels of ACE and cytokines with recurrent depression. Methods A total of 52 participants (14 male, 38 female, aged $43.9{\pm}14.0years$) were enrolled after being diagnosed with depression by experienced psychiatrists using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview from the outpatient clinic of the Department of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center. The participants completed blood sampling, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Scale for Suicidal Ideation. Results ACE plasma levels are higher in patients with recurrent depression ($27.4{\pm}10.4U/L$) than in patients with newly diagnosed depression ($19.1{\pm}7.7U/L$) (p = 0.004). The levels of cytokines, such as $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, are not significantly different between the two groups. Additionally, the ACE plasma level is negatively correlated with a reduction in the HAMD over six weeks (r = -0.429, p = 0.046, n = 22). Conclusions The current findings show that plasma ACE levels may be associated with recurrent depression and further suggest that the renin-angiotensin system could play a role in recurrent depression.