• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2019

Objectives : The aim of this study was to compare severity, neurocognitive functions, and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) according to the degree of temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) in Korean patients with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease. Methods : Participants were 114 elderly subjects diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment in this cross-sectional study. MTA in brain MRI was rated with standardized visual rating scales (Scheltens scale) and the subjects were divided into two groups according to Scheltens scale. Severity was evaluated with Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) and Global Deterioration Scale (GDS). Neurocognitive functions was evaluated with the Korean version of Short Blessed Test (SBT-K) and the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease assessment packet (CERAD-K). BPSD was evaluated with the Korean version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (K-NPI). Independent t-test was performed to compare severity, neurocognitive functions, and BPSD between two groups. Results : The group with high severity of MTA showed significantly lower scores in CDR, SBT-K, MMSE-KC, modified Boston naming test, word list recognition, and word list memory (p<0.05). There were no differences in K-NPI scores between two groups. Conclusions : Severity and neurocognitive functions of dementia had significant positive association with MTA, but BPSD had no association with MTA. Evaluating MTA seems to have potential benefit in diagnosing and treating neurocognitive impairments in the elderly. Further evaluation is needed to confirm the association between certain brain structures and BPSD.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.258-265
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• 2001

Objectives : Chronic alcohol consumption has been known to result in various neurocognitive deficits. Many neuropsychological studies revealed that the major disturbances occurred in the executive function, learning and short-term memory, visuospatial performance function, perceptuo-motor skills, and abstraction and problem solving abilities. This study was done to identify which cognitive areas might be mainly affected. Methods : The cognitive disturbance was evaluated using the Korean Version of the Mini Mental State Examination(MMSEK) and the 7 Minute Screen(7MS) in male inpatients with alcohol dependence(N=3 : as well as in age and education level matched healthy male controls(N=30). Four individual tests of the 7MS were consisted of the Benton Temporal Orientation Test, the Enhanced Cued Recall, the Clock Drawing and the Category Fluency. Results : 1) The average scores of four individual test of the 7MS for the alcoholics were $2.77{\pm}4.38$ for the Benton Temporal Orientation Test, $13.90{\pm}2.02$ for the Memory Test(the Cued Recall $6.77{\pm}1.94$, the Uncued Recall $7.10{\pm}2.45$), $5.84{\pm}1.86$ for the Clock Drawing, and $12.58{\pm}3.29$ for the Category Fluency. Except the Benton Temporal Orientation Test, there were statistically significant differences between test scores of alcoholics and those of controls(p<0.01). 2) The alcoholics who had MMSE-K score <24 were 9.68%. The average(${\pm}S.D.$) score of the MMSE-K for the patient group($27.23{\pm}2.62$) was significantly(p<0.001) lower than that of the healthy controls($29.20{\pm}1.24$). There were no statistically significant differences between four individual test scores of the 7MS of alcoholics with the MMSE-K score <24(N=3) and those of alcoholics with the MMSE-K score ${\geq}24$(N=28). 3) Four individual test scores of the 7MS seemed to have statistically significant association with such variables as MMSE-K, duration of alcohol drinking, blood magnesium concentration, liver function and thyroid function. Conclusion : Mild deficits of cognitive areas such as orientation, memory, visuospatial abilities and verbal fluency could be found in alcohol dependence.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2021

Objectives : The aim of this study was to compare activities of daily living (ADLs) according to degenerative changes in brain [i.e., medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA), white matter hyperintensities] and to examine the association between neurocognitive functions and ADLs in Korean patients with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods : Participants were 111 elderly subjects diagnosed with AD or MCI in this cross-sectional study. MTA in brain MRI was rated with standardized visual rating scales (Scheltens scale) and the subjects were divided into two groups according to Scheltens scale. ADLs was evaluated with the Korean version of Blessed Dementia Scale-Activity of daily living (BDS-ADL). Neurocognitive function was evaluated with the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease assessment packet (CERAD-K). Independent t-test was performed to compare ADLs with the degree of MTA. Pearson correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed to analyze the relationship between ADLs and neurocognitive functions. Results : The group with high severity of the MTA showed significantly higher BDS-ADL scores (p<0.05). The BDS-ADL score showed the strongest correlation with the word list recognition test among sub-items of the CERAD-K test (r=-0.568). Findings from the hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that the scores of MMSE-K and word list recognition test were factors that predict ADLs (F=44.611, p<0.001). Conclusions : ADLs of AD and MCI patients had significant association with MTA. Our study, which identifies factors correlated with ADLs can provide useful information in clinical settings. Further evaluation is needed to confirm the association between certain brain structures and ADLs.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2009

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is characterized by severe neuropathic pain and disability, which can result in psychological and behavioral dysfunction. The goal of the present study was to evaluate neurocognitive disability, and to assess the relationship between clinical variables and neuropsychological features in CRPS patients. Methods: We investigated the neuropsychological features of 15 CRPS I patients. The neuropsychological tests that we made comprised of a full intelligence quotient, memory quotient, trail-making test A, trail-making test B (TMT-B), and MMPI (Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory). Results: The results showed severe disability in performance on TMT-B. There was no significant correlation between specific cognitive variables and MMPI scales. Conclusions: Decreased performance on TMT-B which shows mental flexibility in the prefrontal lobe exists independently from depressive disorders in CRPS patients.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to find out cognitive function of the patients with subjective memory complaint. Material and Methods : From March 1st 2005 to May 31st 2009, 155 normal individuals without any medical illness who visited Yeungnam University Hospital to undergo medical checkup with neurocognitive test was enrolled, and checked by using Cognitive Assessment & Reference Diagnostic System. Results : 107 of the patients had normal cognitive function, 21 patients (about 15%) were diagnosed with dementia, and 10 patients (about 7%) were diagnosed with considerable psychiatric illness, such as depression, anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder. In amnesia, agnosia, aphasia, attention, calculation, dysexecution, Dementia group and Psychiatric illness group has worse score than Normal individuals group. But, in apraxia, Dementia group has worse score than Psychiatric illness group and Normal individual group. Conclusion : Because the patients with subjective memory complaint can be diagnosed as any psychiatric illness as well as dementia, sensitive screening test and early psychiatric approach is needed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Neurocognitive Rehabilitation
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.9-18
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• 2018

The research has sought to examine the effect of cognition training using smart device application games on the cognition function of traumatic brain injury patients. The research was conducted to the seventeen traumatic brain injury patients with slight symptoms who were treated with occupational therapy. The patients were divided into the two groups, nine for the experimental group and eight for the control group. The experimental group was assigned to conduct cognition training using smart device application games and traditional cognition training for fifteen minutes each, and the control group has conducted the traditional cognition training for 30 minutes. All arbitrations were conducted for 30 minutes a day, five times a week and for four weeks. To assess the cognitive function, Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), Lowenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (LOTCA) and visual memory 1 and 2 of Motor-free Visual Perception Test-3 (MVPT-3) were measured before and after the intervention. In the comparison of the change between the two groups, the experimental groups showed a significant improvement in the visual memory of Motor-free Visual Perception Test-3 and remembrance section of the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (p<.05). The result of this research has confirmed that the cognition training using the smart device application game can make the positive change to the visual memory of the traumatic brain injury patients more than the traditional cognition training.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.54-70
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• 1998

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of structural and functional changes of the brain in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Methods : The authors measured the regions of interest on the magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in 20 patients with paranoid schizophrenia(15 men and 5 women) and 23 control subjects(15 men and 8 women). We also assessed the neurocognitive functions with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, the Benton Neuropsychological Assessment, and the Weschler IQ test-Korean version, soft neurologic signs, and psychiatric symptoms in the patient group. Results : In the patient group, all ventricles and basal ganglia including caudate nucleus and globus pallidus were significantly enlarged. Although there were no significant differences between the two groups in the values of right frontal lobe and left temporal lobe, there was a tendency of decrease in the values of right frontal lobe and left temporal lobe. There were significant positive correlations between the values of ventricles and the frequency of previous hospitalization. However, there were no significant correlations between other values of regions of interest and clinical data. The value of the right frontal lobe was significantly correlated with the score of soft neurologic signs, which is suggestive of the neurodevelopmental abnormalities. There were significant correlations between the value of frontal lobe and the scores of the various subscales of Benton Neuropsychiatric Inventory. In contrast, the value of left amygdala and putamen showed significant correlation with the score of verbal IQ on the Weschler IQ test. Structural changes of the temporal lobe areas were related with the positive and general symptom scores on PANSS, while those of the basal ganglia were related with the negative symptom scores. Conclusions : These results suggest that the structural changes of the brain in the patients with schizophrenia show the dual process, which is suggestive that the enlarged ventricle show the neurodegenerative process, while enlarged basal ganglia, and shrinked right frontal and left temporal lobe show the neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Among these changes, structural changes of the frontal lobe related with various neuropsychological deficits, while those of left temporal lobe related with language abnormality. Relative to the relation between structural changes and psychiatric symptoms, structural changes of the temporal lobe areas were related with the positive and general symptoms, while those of the basal ganglia were related with the negative symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Society of Neurocognitive Rehabilitation
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.45-52
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• 2018

The purpose of the present study was to determine correlations between the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Korean (MoCA-K) and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) targeting stroke patients, and it seeks to analyze the influence among each factor to establish the fundamental research in evaluating the functional performance capability of stroke patients. The study was conducted between December 2017 and March 2018 and the target of the study was 34 stroke patients who are hospitalized and treated in Y rehabilitation hospital located in Goyang city. Following in criteria of how participants were selected. First, a person without the onset of 6months or more. Second, a person who can communicate and score over 20 points on MMSE-K. Third, a person without unilateral neglect. Fourth, a person without lower motor neuron lesion and orthopedic disease on the bilateral lower extremity. Fifth, a person without audiovisual problem and history of using drug or surgery that influence athletic function. sixth, patients who agreed on participating in the study. The evaluation was processed by measuring BBS, MoCA-K, and MBI with the occupational therapist and physical therapist. Also, one assistant was participated in measuring balanced ability for the safety reason. It was found that significantly correlates (p<.01) with BBS and MoCA-K (r=.459), BBS and MBI (r=.550), MoCA-K and MBI (r=.565). This study is meaningful that it provided the basis for the active use of BBS, MoCA-K and MBI as a clinical evaluation tool and its usefulness.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.134-141
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• 2023

Objectives : The purpose of this study was investigating the differences in temperament, personality, and cognitive function among athletes and non-athletes, as well as differences within athlete groups participating in different-paced sports like baseball and basketball. Methods : A total of 57 professional basketball players, 51 professional baseball players, and 44 non-athletes subjected to temperament and characteristics inventory assessments and computerized neurocognitive function test. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to analyze the average differences in demographic characteristics, temperament, personality traits, and cognitive functions among the three groups, followed by Bonferroni post hoc tests. Comparisons between starters and non-starters within the athlete groups were conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results : In the analysis of temperament, the basketball and baseball player groups exhibited higher reward dependence and persistence compared to the control group. Additionally, in the assessment of personality traits, both basketball and baseball player groups scored higher in self-directedness and cooperativeness compared to the control group, whereas self-transcendence scores were lower. In cognitive ability assessments, baseball and basketball players outperformed the control group in emotional perception tests. Both baseball and basketball players showed lower card movement counts compared to the control group. Conclusions : This study compared the differences in temperament, personality, and cognitive abilities between professional basketball and baseball players and non-athletes. These results provide valuable insights into the temperament, personality, and cognitive abilities of professional athletes, contributing important information for athlete development and coaching goals in the future.