• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.196-206
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• 2016

Objectives: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are considered to have problems with empathy. It has recently been suggested that there are two systems for empathy; cognitive and emotional. We aimed to investigate the neural response to cognitive and emotional empathy and elucidate the neurobiological aspects of empathy in patients with ASD. Methods: We recruited patients with ASD (N=17, ASD group) and healthy controls (HC) (N=22, HC group) for an functional magnetic resonance imaging study. All of the subjects were scanned while performing cognitive and emotional empathy tasks. The differences in brain activation between the groups were assessed by contrasting their neural activity during the tasks. Results: During both tasks, the ASD group showed greater neural activities in the bilateral occipital area compared to the HC group. The ASD group showed more activation in the bilateral precunei only during the emotional empathy task. No brain regions were more activated in the HC group than in the ASD group during the cognitive empathy task. While performing the emotional empathy task, the HC group exhibited greater neural activities in the left middle frontal gyrus and right anterior cingulate gyrus than the ASD group. Conclusion: This study showed that the brain regions associated with cognitive and emotional empathy in ASD patients differed from those in healthy individuals. The results of this study suggest that individuals with ASD might have defects both in cognitive empathy and in emotional empathy.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.25-30
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• 2017

Objectives: The study compared the intelligence test profiles of Tourette's Disorder (TD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and TD with ADHD (TD+ADHD) groups. Methods: The Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-third edition (K-WISC-III) and Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-fourth edition (K-WISC-IV) were administered to 13 children and adolescents with TD, 17 children and adolescents with ADHD, and 15 children and adolescents with TD+ADHD. Each parameter was compared among the groups using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The mean scores of the freedom from distractibility/working memory index (FD/WMI) and the digit span and arithmetic subtests of the TD+ADHD group were significantly lower than those of the TD group. Conclusion: According to the intelligence test results, the comorbid ADHD+TD group showed a significant decrease in working memory compared to the TD group. These findings are similar to those of previous research on cognitive functions and suggest that the TD+ADHD comorbid and TD alone groups exhibit different endophenotypes. The results also imply that WISC-III and WISC-IV, the most commonly used intelligence tests clinically, are effective in evaluating cognitive functions such as attention. Further research is required to confirm these results.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.147-152
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the deficits in executive function in children with ADHD and anxiety disorder, and further, to characterize executive function deficits among the two groups. Methods : Subjects consisted of 60 children between the ages of 5 and 14 (16 Normal, 24 ADHD, 20 Anxiety Disorder). Neuropsychological tests (KEDI-WISC, CCTT, STROOP, WCST, ROCF) for assessing cognitive and executive function were individually administered to all subjects. Results : There were no significant differences in FSIQ or PIQ among the three groups. However, the ADHD group tended to score lower on the VIQ and subtest of similarity, vocabulary, and digit span tests. The three groups did not significantly differ with respect to CCTT test results. On the STROOP test, the ADHD group showed poor performance on the word, color, and color-word subtests. The three groups did not exhibit significant differences in WCST test results ; however, the anxiety group performed poorly belonging to below 25 percentile rank on perseverative response. On the ROCF test, the ADHD group performed poorly with respect to their organization score and in particular, regarding copy and immediate recall. The anxiety group also performed poorly with regard to organization ; however, this was limited only to immediate recall. Conclusion : Children with ADHD displayed poor inhibition and organizational abilities compared to children with anxiety and normal controls. Further, children with anxiety disorder exhibited low cognitive flexibility and voluntary problem-solving abilities compared to ADHD children and normal controls. Based on these results, we suggest that the characteristics of executive dysfunction in ADHD and anxiety disorder in children are different.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.53-59
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• 2012

Objectives : Autobiographical memory (ABM) is a special type of episodic memory, containing events that have occurred in a personal life. Overgeneral tendency of ABM refers to the retrieval of memory with only general and categorical descriptions rather than specific events. ABM specificity in depression and posttraumatic stress disorder is a robust finding with relation to cognitive vulnerability, affect regulation, problem-solving ability. It is also implicated in bipolar disorder with frequent relapses. In this study, we investigated whether ABM specificity was related to manic or euthymic mood states in patients with bipolar disorder. Methods : Forty bipolar patients with manic and euthymic episodes and 25 healthy controls participated in this study. Prompted by 5 positively and 5 negatively valenced emotional cue words, each participant was instructed to recall positive or negative memories and describe them in detail. The One-way ANOVA was used to compare ABM scores and post-hoc analyses were done. Results : Comapred to the healthy persons, the bipolar patients reported significantly more general than specific negative memories in both manic and euthymic episodes (p = 0.003). However, there was no significant difference between manic and euthymic patients (p = 0.074). Conclusions : These results suggest that overgeneral tendency of negative ABM may be a trait abnormality in bipolar disorder. Moreover, this phenomenon might be related to underlying cognitive deficits or affect regulation irrespective of the mood state.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.83-88
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a disorder that usually occurs in the elderly, leading to dementia in some progressive cases. The purpose of this study is to examine the utility of central auditory processing tests as early diagnostic tools for identifying the elderly with MCI. Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted on 20 elderly patients with MCI and 20 healthy matched peers. The speech perception ability in a quiet environment and in the presence of background noise and also temporal resolution were assessed by using Speech Perception in Noise (SPIN) and Gap in Noise (GIN) tests, respectively. Results: The results indicated that the ability to understand speech in a quiet environment did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, SPIN at the three signal-to-noise ratios and the temporal resolution scores were significantly different between the two groups (p<0.001). Conclusions: Individuals with MCI appear to have poorer speech comprehension in noise and a lower temporal resolution than those of the same age, but without cognitive defects. Considering the utility of these tests in identifying cognitive problems, we propose that since the GIN test seems to be less influenced by intervening factors, this test can therefore, be a useful tool for the early screening of elderly people with cognitive problems.

• 한국융합학회논문지
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2022

본 연구에서는 웹기반 인지재구조화 교육과 결합된 VR 노출 프로그램이 사회 불안 감소에 미치는 영향을 확인하였다. 실험 집단(n=12)은 웹기반 인지 재구조화 교육과 가상현실노출 프로그램(VRET)에 4회기 참석하였고, 비교집단(n=15)은 동일한 가상현실노출 프로그램(VRET) 이외에 연설기법에 대한 교육을 받았다. 두 집단 모두 프로그램 참여 전,후에 자기보고식 증상심각도 척도와 암묵적 해석 편향을 측정하였으며, 4주 후에 추후평가를 실시하였다. 프로그램 직후 실험집단과 비교집단 모두 사회적 불안 수준이 감소하였으나, 4주가 지난 후 실험집단에서만 긍정적인 해석 편향이 증가하였고, 부정적인 해석 편향이 감소하였으며, 감소된 사회불안 수준이 유지되었다. 이러한 결과는 VRET 치료효과를 증진시키기 위해서 자신의 생각에 대한 객관적 점검을 시도해 볼 수 있는 인지적 개입이 결합될 필요가 있음을 시사한다.

• 대한청각학회지
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.83-88
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a disorder that usually occurs in the elderly, leading to dementia in some progressive cases. The purpose of this study is to examine the utility of central auditory processing tests as early diagnostic tools for identifying the elderly with MCI. Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted on 20 elderly patients with MCI and 20 healthy matched peers. The speech perception ability in a quiet environment and in the presence of background noise and also temporal resolution were assessed by using Speech Perception in Noise (SPIN) and Gap in Noise (GIN) tests, respectively. Results: The results indicated that the ability to understand speech in a quiet environment did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, SPIN at the three signal-to-noise ratios and the temporal resolution scores were significantly different between the two groups (p<0.001). Conclusions: Individuals with MCI appear to have poorer speech comprehension in noise and a lower temporal resolution than those of the same age, but without cognitive defects. Considering the utility of these tests in identifying cognitive problems, we propose that since the GIN test seems to be less influenced by intervening factors, this test can therefore, be a useful tool for the early screening of elderly people with cognitive problems.

• 대한한방소아과학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.50-59
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• 2015

Objectives The purpose of this study is to report seven cases of autism spectrum disorder treated by oriental medicine. Methods Seven patients who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder were treated with herbal medicine (Kwakhyangjungkisanhapyukmijihwangtang-gamibang), and the effect was measured. Results After the treatment, cognitive skill, speech, motor function, communication skill, and the patients' general conditions have gotten better. Conclusions This study has shown that the oriental medical treatment for autism spectrum disorder was effective, but further studies are needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제51권9호
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• pp.935-943
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• 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.

• 우울조울병
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.67-72
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• 2017

Objectives : Mindfulness meditation has recently become a major component in mainstream modern cognitive behavioral therapy. The purpose of this study was to examine effects of a mindfulness meditation program on positive resources of outpatients with depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. Methods : Participants were 55 psychiatric clinic outpatients. Participants received eight weekly sessions in a mindfulness meditation training program, that was approximately 90 minutes each. Measures included the Positive Resources Test (POREST), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-16 (AAQ-16), Life Satisfaction Expectancy Scales (LSES), and Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS). Variables were measured at two time points : pre- and post-implementation (eight weeks later). Results : Paired t-test results of participants before and after the mindfulness meditation program revealed statistically significant improvement in positive resources (t=-5.847, p<.001), acceptance (t=-4.090, p<.001), life satisfaction expectancy (t=-3.892, p<.001), but not in subjective happiness. Conclusion : Results suggest mindfulness meditation may be effective to enhance positive resources, acceptance, and life satisfaction in outpatients with depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. Mindfulness meditation may be a factor in improving psychological well-being and positive psychological features in outpatients with depressive disorder and anxiety disorder.