• Anxiety and mood
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2007

Objective : The present study was carried out in order to assess the effects of Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy (CBGT) on victims of school violence, as assessed by the CAPS-CA. Methods : The subjects were 14 children who had experienced school violence and were subsequently diagnosed with PTSD and partial PTSD using the Clinician-Administered PTSD scale for Children and Adolescents (CAPS-CA). Seven children agreed to participate in CBGT, and they received 10 sessions of therapy. After CBGT, both the CBGT and non-CBGT groups were assessed using the CAPS-CA and School Adaptation Test. Results : The study results showed significant decreases in avoidance (p=0.010) and hyperarousal in the CBGT group (p=0.009) following the completion of CBGT. The analysis of school adaptation showed that there was a significant improvement in peer relationships after CBGT in the CBGT group (p=0.045). Conclusion : CBGT is effective in improving PTSD symptoms in children who experience school violence and subsequently suffer from PTSD.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.155-164
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• 2023

Objectives : The aim of this study was to identify the factors affecting ideas of persecution in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients who underwent Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 116 patients who underwent CAPS and MMPI 2 between May 2013 and April 2020 at Veteran Health Service Medical Center. Based on the CAPS score, the patients were divided into the PTSD group (n=63, age: 58.16±17.84) and the trauma exposed without PTSD group (n=53, age: 67.34±12.05). After checking the correlation between Ideas of persecution, CAPS, and MMPI-2 scales, linear regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for clinically relevant symptoms. Results : The PTSD group showed significant differences in Schizophrenia, Ideas of persecution, Dysfunctional negative emotions, Aberrant Experiences, Psychoticism, Negative Emotionality/Neuroticism, Anxiety, Depression, and Anger scales compared to the trauma-exposed without PTSD group. When analyzing the correlation between Idea of persecution, CAPS and MMPI-2 scales, there was a strong association with most of the scales in MMPI-2 and Idea of persecution except Disconstraint. Multiple linear regression analysis performed in PTSD group identified that risk factors for Idea of persecution were Dysfunctional negative emotions and Anger scale. Conclusions : The PTSD group had increased idea of persecution compared to the trauma exposed without PTSD group. Dysfunctional negative emotions and anger may be risk factors for idea of persecution in trauma exposed population.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 2009

Objective : The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between plasma serotonin concentration and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in chronic PTSD patients who have been taking medication. Methods : Plasma serotonin level of 14 PTSD patients and a control group of 28 Vietnam War veterans was measured by HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography). The Combat Exposure Scale (CES), Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (M-PTSD), Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD), and Hamiltion Anxiety Scale (HAS) were used to evaluate PTSD symptom severity. Results : Serotonin level was significantly higher in the PTSD group than in the control group (p=0.036, p=0.006, respectively). M-PTSD (p<0.001), CAPS (p<0.001), HRSD (p<0.001), and HAS (p<0.001) scale scores were significantly higher in the PTSD group than in the control group; however, the CES score failed to show a significant improvement (p=0.964). There were no significant differences between plasma serotonin and PTSD symptoms. Conclusion : In chronic PTSD patients who have been taking medications, we can not predict treatment effect and symptom severity by measuring only plasma serotonin levels. PTSD is a complicated disorder which may likely be related to a variety of neurotransmitter systems. Therefore, further research which investigate relationships with norepinephrine, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters as well as serotonin is needed to improve the treatment of PTSD.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2008

Objective : This study was conducted to evaluate the changes in the levels of neurotransmitters and cortisol in patients with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to evaluate their correlation with symptoms after long-term pharmacological treatment. Methods : Twenty-eight Vietnam veterans with chronic PTSD and 34 non-PTSD patients were consecutively recruited. The Combat Exposure Scale (CES), Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (M-PTSD), Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS) were used to evaluate symptom severity. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to measure the plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine, and a radioimmunoassay (RIA) was performed to evaluate the plasma level of cortisol. Results : Plasma cortisol was significantly lower in PTSD patients than in control subjects, while there was no significant difference in plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine between the two groups. The scores of M-PTSD, CAPS, HAMD and HAMA were signigicantly higher in PTSD patients than control group. Conclusion : After long-term treatment, the levels of neurotransmitters in PTSD patients returned to within the normal range, and the patients' symptoms showed some improvement. However, the core symptoms of PTSD continued to appear intermittently, and they are thought to be associated with hormonal systems, such as the HPA axis. It is also suggested that PTSD should be considered to be a complex disorder associated with multiple systems and that combinations of the effective medications for each system should be used to treat patients with PTSD.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.48
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• pp.306.1-306.6
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• 2018

This study examined the add-on efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy among adult civilians with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who continued to be symptomatic after more than 12 weeks of initial antidepressant treatment. Scores for the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) were rated pre- and post-EMDR and at a 6-month follow-up. After an average of six sessions of EMDR treatment, seven of 14 patients (50%) showed more than a 30% decrease in CAPS score and eight (57%) no longer met the criteria for PTSD. Our results indicate that EMDR could be successfully added after failure of initial pharmacotherapy for PTSD.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2013

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate clinical meaning of hallucination among patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods : PTSD patients with hallucination (n=50) were selected and matched with the PTSD patients without hallucination (n=50) by age and sex. The patients were evaluated in two different aspects, pathologic aspects which can develop after traumatic event, and positive/adaptive aspects which are concerned in positive psychology. In addition to these, temperament and character features between two groups were also evaluated using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Results : Except for the total score of DES (Dissociative Experience Scale) and the score of re-experience subscale of CAPS (Clinician Administered PTSD Scale), clinical characteristics did not show any significant difference between the two groups. Among the comparison of seven higher dimensions in TCI profiles, only Self-transcendence showed significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion : The two groups did not show significant differences in pathologic aspects except for factors that may contribute to development of hallucination. Furthermore, authors could not find any differences in positive/adaptive aspects.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.256-265
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• 2009

Objectives : The aims of this study were to assess a) the prevalence of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD) in schizophrenic patients and b) the differences in symptomatology and outcome after 1year treatment between those with and without PTSD. Methods : Twenty eight schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder patients completed the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS), Life Stressor Checklist-Revised(LSCL-R), Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale(CAPS), Dissociative Experiences Scale(DES), Hamilton Psychiatry Rating Scale for Depression(HAM-D), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale(RSE). Results : Twenty six patients(92.9%) had at least one trauma in their life time. Eleven patients(39.3%) were diagnosed with PTSD. PTSD group had significantly higher scores on HAM-D and DES but lower scores on RSE. PTSD group also had significantly lower score in the baseline PANSS Negative score. Higher CAPS scores were significantly correlated with lower baseline PANSS Negative score and greater change after 1year of PANSS Negative score. Conclusion : These results showed that the prevalences of trauma and PTSD are high in schizophrenic patients and suggested that PTSD and trauma-related symptoms affected the symptomatology and treatment outcome. More research is warranted to better understand the effects of PTSD in schizophrenic patients.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2021

Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship among the degree of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social support, stress coping strategies, and self-esteem in patients with PTSD. Methods : A total of 48 patients meeting DSM-5 criteria for PTSD and 48 normal controls were recruited for participation in this study. We evaluated subjects using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and The Ways of Stress Coping Questionnaire (SCQ). We analyzed data using an independent t-test and Pearson's correlation analysis. Results : In PTSD patients, total CAPS scores showed a significant positive correlation with HAM-A and HAM-D scores and a significant negative correlation with MSPSS scores. RSES scores showed a significant positive correlation with MSPSS and SCQ scores. MSPSS scores showed a significant negative correlation with PTSD avoidance and numbing and HAM-D scores. SCQ scores showed a significant negative correlation with PTSD avoidance and numbing. Conclusion : These results revealed that the better the stress coping strategies and social support, the lower the degree of symptoms in patients with PTSD. In addition, it was found that the higher the social support and self-esteem, the lower the degree of depression and anxiety. Therefore, in the treatment process, it seems important to identify and correct the self-esteem, social support system, and stress coping strategies of patients with PTSD.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2011

Objectives : The three symptom clusters of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are reexperience, avoidance, and hyperarousal. Alcohol use disorders frequently co-occur with PTSD, and possible functional correlations are suspected. Scholarly evaluation of the differences between the symptoms of PTSD and those of alcohol problems may be useful in understanding the pathophysiology of the comorbidity. Methods : We recruited Vietnam veterans with PTSD (n=97) and without PTSD (n=132). The alcohol use disorder identification test (AUDIT), and clinician-administered PTSD scale (CAPS) were administered to participants. The PTSD group was divided into two categories: those with PTSD only (n=57) and those with concurrent alcohol-related problems (n=40). Results : The PTSD group showed higher AUDIT scores compared to the control group. In the PTSD group, participants with alcohol problems had a severer symptoms of recurrent dream and sleep disturbance symptoms compared to the PTSD only group. No significant differences were found in the three major symptom clusters of PTSD. Conclusion : These findings support the proposed existence of a functional correlation between PTSD and alcohol use disorder. Clinicians should carefully evaluate and treat comorbid alcohol use disorder in patients with PTSD.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this study is to assess the utility of clinician administered posttraumatic stress disorder scale (CAPS) to diagnose combat related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Korean veterans of the Vietnam War. Methods : Sixty-one Korean male veterans of the Vietnam war participated in this study. We compared the diagnostic values of CAPS, Korean version of mini international neuropsychiatric interview (MINI) against the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) in diagnosing PTSD. Results : The overall internal consistency of CAPS was 0.93. Compared to the SCID, total severity 45 (TSEV45) showed the best results among 5 CAPS scoring rules. In detail, sensitivity was 71.4%, specificity was 85.1, positive predictive value was 58.8%, negative predictive value was 90.9%, and accuracy was 82.0. Conclusion : CAPS was demonstrated as a reliable tool to diagnose combat related PTSD in the elderly. The optimum CAPS scoring was TSEV45.