• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.119-126
• /
• 2018

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate correlation between degree of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and neurocognitive function along with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in Korean patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods : Participants were 115 elderly subjects diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment in this retrospective study. WMH in brain MRI were rated with standardized visual rating scales (Fazekas scales) and the subjects were divided into two groups according to Fazekas scale. Cognitive function was evaluated with Korean version of the consortium to establish a registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD-K), and BPSD was evaluated with Korean neuropsychiatric inventory (K-NPI). Independent t-test was performed to analyze the relationship between the degree of WMH and neurocognitive functions & BPSD. Results : Especially, the group with high severity of WMH showed significantly lower language fluency (p<0.05). In addition, the group with high severity of WMH showed significantly higher score in K-NPI. Conclusions : There was a significant association between WMH and neurocognitive test related with executive function. Moreover, WMH seems to affect BPSD severity. Evaluation of WMH would provide useful information in clinical settings.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.147-154
• /
• 1998

Objective : This study was designed to find the characteristics of MMPI that could influence the outcome of cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) for panic disorder. Methods : 34 patients who met DSM-IV criteria for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia had completed 11 weekly sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy. All the patients were assessed with MMPI before the initiation of treatment. Five self-report measures including Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI), Agoraphobic Cognition Questionnarie(ACQ), Body Sensation Questionnaire(BSQ), and Daily Anxiety Selfrating (0 - 8 scales) were also assessed as a pre- and post-treatment assessment. After the completion of treatment, patients were classified by the High End-State(HES) functioning group and the Low End-State(LES) functioning group for the data analysis. Results : 1) The LES group showed significantly higher scores in Hypochondriasis Scale(HS), Depression Scale(D), Hysterical Scale(Hy), Obsessive Scale(Pt), Schizophrenia Scale(Sc) and Validity Scale(F) of MMPI than the HES group. However, these differences gave impressions that the LES group had more severe symptoms rather than that they could be the factors influencing the outcome of CBT. 2) Though, the severity of symptoms of the LES group in the 5 measures of pre-assessment was basically higher than that of the HES group. The fact that both group showed the similar improvement between pre- and post-assessment supported the above interpretation. Conclusion : In regarding the above results, MMPI was not a proper tool that could provide the factors influencing the outcome of CBT. In the future study, the authors need to use a different tool that can find the personality characteristics more directly.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.11 no.sup2
• /
• pp.19-28
• /
• 2008

Chronic abdominal pain, defined as long-lasting intermittent or constant abdominal pain, is a common pediatric problem encountered by primary care physicians and medical subspecialists. Chronic abdominal pain in children is usually functional, i.e., without objective evidence of an underlying organic disorder. Functional abdominal pain is categorized as functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, functional abdominal pain, abdominal migraine, and aerophagia according to the Rome II criteria for pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders. There is insufficient evidence to state that the nature of abdominal pain or the presence of associated symptoms can discriminate between functional and organic disorders. The presence of alarming symptoms or signs, such as weight loss, gastrointestinal bleeding, persistent fever, and chronic severe diarrhea, is associated with a higher prevalence of organic disease. Most children with chronic abdominal pain are unlikely to require diagnostic testing; such children often need pharmacologic and behavioral therapy.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.81-91
• /
• 1993

The consulting internist will encounter patients with psychiatric symptoms and those who take psychotropic medications in many settings. The internist must loam to feel comfortable interacting with patients who display psychiatric symptoms. while maintaining an open and unprejudiced attitude toward their evaluation. The proper delineation of psychiatric disorders from normal emotional reactions resets on a careful history, a mental status evaluation. and a knowledge of psychiatric syndromes. Many physicians tend erroneously to view behavioral changes only in a psychological framework Abrupt changes in behavior, personality, mood. or ability to function should be evaluated for possible organic causes. Then, the internists should take their consultation to psychiatrists and freely discuss psychologic problems of the patients.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.55-69
• /
• 2010

A college student who exhibited several post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms was used as a case study in order to investigate the therapeutic effects of sandplay therapy for PTSD sufferers. In total, 27 sessions of the sandplay treatment program were used to conduct psychological tests before and after the sessions. Any changes in the manner of expressions on the sand box during the treatment, and the results of pre and post psychological tests on aspects of depression, anxiety and interrelationships were analyzed. Overall results showed that the subject exhibited progressive behavioral improvement and signs of recovery. Psychological tests revealed reduced levels of depression and anxiety, and improved interrelationship scores. In conclusion, sandplay therapy does exhibit positive benefits as an effective treatment modality for PTSD in adolescents and young adults.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.51 no.9
• /
• pp.935-943
• /
• 2008

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral developmental disorder characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity, as well as forgetfulness, poor impulse control or impulsivity, and distractibility. The recommended evaluation includes documenting the type and severity of ADHD symptoms, verifying the presence of normal vision and hearing, screening for comorbid psychological conditions, reviewing the child's developmental history and school performance, and applying objective measures of cognitive function. Prevailing opinion characterizes ADHD as a disorder of executive function attributable to abnormal dopamine transmission in the frontal lobes and frontostriatal circuitry. A clearly defined etiology remains unknown, but studies suggest a strong genetic link. The aim of treatment is to decrease symptoms, enhance functionality, and improve well-being for the child and his or her close contacts. Stimulants remain the pharmacological agents of first choice for the management of ADHD, and psychosocial, behavioral and educational strategies that enhance specific behaviors may improve educational and social functioning in children with ADHD.

• Proceeding of Spring/Autumn Annual Conference of KHA
• /
• 2004.11a
• /
• pp.99-104
• /
• 2004

Nowadays the number of people suffering from Sick House Syndrome have been increasing, especially after they move into a new apartment. The symptom varies with people and it develops gradually. It is known that the symptom is caused by chemicals. In spite of many unknown factors related to the symptom, lifestyle and behavioral factors of occupants were possibly. The purpose of this study was to find out the residents' self-reported symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome in new apartment houses. The response could be self-consciousness symptom, health damage and the improvement plan.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.98-104
• /
• 2005

Approximately 1% to 3% of all children have obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). OSAS in children can lead to a variety of symptoms and sequalae; impairment of development and quality of life, behavioral and personality disturbance, learning problem, cor pulmonale and hypertension. Diagnosis and treatment of OASA for children are different from those for adults in many respects. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is major cause of childhood OSAS. Overnight polysomnography in a sleep laboratory is the gold standard for diagnosing childhood OSAS. However, because full polysomnography in children may be difficult to obtain, expensive, and inconvenient, other methods to diagnose OSAS have been investigated. Adenotonsillectomy is the most common surgical treatment of childhood OSAS. But if residual symptoms remained after adenotonsillectomy, it should be considered to additional treatment such as weight control, sleep positional change, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.101-110
• /
• 2016

Depression is a mental symptoms that accompany psychological symptoms such as anxiety, gloom, a sense of failure, helplessness as well as a physical symptoms that shows in the adaption process of stress. Depression may result in cognitive, emotional, and behavioral disorders in accordance with individual experience. In particular, the depression when growing lowers the concentration on studies of children and adolescents and also increases the violence and interpersonal problems causes a serious loss to individuals and society. This study analyzed the longitudinal data using mixed models to investigate how depression affects girls who experienced violence in home or at school.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.92-98
• /
• 2007

Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is the most common form of sleep-disordered breathing and often presents with comorbid depressive symptoms. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between depressive symptoms and sleep parameters as measured by nocturnal polysomnography (NPSG) and simultaneous wrist actigraphy. Methods: Two hundred sixty-four subjects with clinically suspected cases of OSAS underwent one-night polysomnography, while simultaneously wearing a wrist actigraphy device. They also completed two questionnaires；the Epworth Sleepiness Scale-Korean version (ESS-K) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Of the cases studied, 105 subjects were proven by NSPG to have OSAS without other sleep disorders. NPSG and wrist actigraphy data from the subjects were analyzed. Pearson correlation and paired t-test were used in order to evaluate the relationship between depressive symptoms and sleep-parameters. Results: Mean age of the subjects was $46.1{\pm}13.1$ years. Means of the ESS-K score and BDI scores were $10.9{\pm}4.7$ and $12.8{\pm}8.1$, respectively. NPSG sleep parameters significantly differed from those of wrist actigraphy. There was no correlation found between subjects' respiratory disturbance index (RDI) and BDI scores. When directly comparing sleep parameters between subjects who were more depressed versus subjects who were less depressed, both total sleep time and sleep efficiency were decreased in the more depressed. A correlation between RDI and ESS-K scores was also found in the more depressed group. Conclusions: Although our findings suggest that there is no relationship between RDI and depressive symptoms, there are other significant differences in the sleep parameters between subjects who are more depressed versus those without depression. We recommend that patients with depression should also be evaluated for clinical symptoms of OSAS.