• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.74-82
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• 2011

Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between sustained attention deficits in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) children and short-term Heart Rate Variability(HRV) parameters. In addition, we evaluate the relationship between The ADHD rating scale(ARS), the computerized ADHD diagnostic system(ADS) and Parenting stress index- short form(PSI-SF). Methods:This study was performed in the department of children and Adolescent psychiatry, Korea university Guro hospital from august 2008 to January 2009. We evaluated HRV parameters by short-term recordings of 5 minutes. K-ARS and ADS are used for screening and identifying ADHD children. Intelligence was measured using Korean educational Developmental Institute-wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. The caregivers Complete Parenting Stress Index scale for evaluation parent stress. Results:The low frequency(LF) was significantly correlated with response variability of ADS. However, the other variables of ARS and ADS were not significantly correlated with LF. Hyperactivity subscale of ARS was significantly correlated with parental distress subscale and difficult child subscale of PSI-SF and inattention subscale of ARS was also significantly correlated with dysfunctional interaction and difficult child subscale of PSI-SF. Conclusion:The LF, 0.10-Hz component of HRV is known to measure effort allocation. This study shows that the LF component of HRV is significantly correlated with the response variability of ADS. This means that more severe symptoms of ADHD were correlated with the increase in the LF that means decreased effort allocation. These results also support the clinical usability of HRV in the assessment of ADHD. Furthermore, PSI-SF is correlated with hyperactivity and inattention variables of ARS.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.127-134
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• 2012

Objectives : Perceived stress scale is a self-report inventory to estimate the degree of individual perceived stress in daily life. The aim of this study was to introduce this scale and test the reliability and validity of the Korean version of PSS. Methods : The total of 154 female hospital workers were included in this study. The survey questionnaires were conducted for demographic information. All participants were required to complete PSS, Hamilton Anxiety scale and Beck Depression Inventory. Reliability and validity studies were conducted and internal consistency was examined. Results : The mean score of the PSS reported in this sample was $20.69{\pm}4.56$. The overall Cronbach's alpha was 0.819, and the test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.66. PSS had a significant positive correlation with the HAM-A(r=0.49, p<0.01), and the BDI(r=0.55, p<0.01). Factor analysis yielded 2 factors with eigenvalues of 3.924 and 2.608, accounting for 65 percent of variance. Factor 1 represented "stress" and factor 2 represented "control of stress". Conclusions : This study indicates that the PSS is appropriate for estimating the perceived stress levels. These results support the use of PSS in large sections of the population in Korea.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2005

Objectives: Although many reports have been written on seasonal variations in mood and behavior in foreign countries, few reports have dealt with Korean adolescents, except medical students. The goal of this study was to estimate the frequency of seasonal variations in mood and behavior among Korean high school students. Methods: A total of 656 high school students living in southeastern Seoul participated in this study. The subjects were investigated with the Korean translated version of the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ), and their responses were evaluated for seasonal patterns in mood and behavior change according to Kasper's criteria to make SAD (seasonal affective disorder) or SSAD (subclinical seasonal affective disorder) diagnosis. Results: A total of 565 subjects completed the questionnaire and the responses (M：F=324：241) were collected and used for analysis. The mean age was 16.73 (SD=0.65) years, and mean global seasonality score 5.88 (SD=4.72). Of the respondents, 413 (73.1%) reported problems related with seasonal changes. Total prevalence rates were 13.6% for SAD, 10.8% for S-SAD. The estimated frequencies were 5.1% for summer SAD, 3.2% for summer S-SAD, 0.5% for winter SAD and 1.1% for winter S-SAD. The prevalence rate of summer SAD or S-SAD was higher than winter SAD or S-SAD. Conclusion: The subjects showed a higher prevalence rate of summer type than winter type in SAD or S-SAD. These results were similar to those of other studies carried out in East Asian countries. However, the unpleasant feelings resulting from high temperature and humidity in summer rather than depression may have influenced the results. Therefore, it is necessary to make new SAD criteria of the SPAQ suitable for East Asian countries.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2007

Objectives : Recently, many authors investigated the relation of temperament and character to seasonality and the genetic factors in seasonality and personality. In this study, we investigated the relation between personality structure obtained from the psychobiological Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and self-reported seasonal variations in mood and behavior measured by the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). Methods : 600 high-school students who live in Seoul of Korea, were participated in this study. Subjects were surveyed with the Korean translation of the SPAQ of Rosenthal, an instrument for investigating mood and behavioral changes with respect to the seasons of the you. Korean version of the TCI of Cloninger was also used for assessment of personality. Results : Female students were significantly higher scores on harm avoidance, reward dependence, and cooperativeness than male students who had significant higher scores on persistence and self·transcendence than the formers. GSS were showed positive correlation with harm avoidance and self-transcendence, and negative correlation with cooperativeness and self-directedness. By employing logistic regressions, the regression coefficients of SAD were significantly negative in SD, and positive in ST. Also, the regression coefficients of S-SAD were significantly negative in CO, and positive in ST. Those with GSS at least 11 were significantly higher mean ST values compared to the remaining individuals, and those with worst in winter were significantly lower mean CO values compared to the remaining individuals. Those who considered the seasonality as a problem at least to a moderate degree were associated with high HA and ST. Conclusion : We add the evidence that the seasonality is related to the temperament and character. Although there have been many reports about the seasonality in relation to the temperament and character in foreign countries, there has been very limited report from Korea before. We hope that this result would be a helpful in the clinical field in Korea.