• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.117-126
• /
• 2024

Background and Purpose: The Korean-Mini Mental State Examination, 2nd edition (K-MMSE~2) was recently released. This study aimed to determine whether the K-MMSE~2: Standard Version (K-MMSE~2:SV) had the same test characteristics as the K-MMSE. Methods: A total of 1,514 healthy community-based participants aged 19 to 90 years were administered the K-MMSE~2:SV Blue Form along with the language items from the K-MMSE. The item and test characteristics and test information for the K-MMSE~2:SV and K-MMSE were compared using Item Response Theory analysis. Results: Item discriminations for the K-MMSE~2:SV and K-MMSE were above the moderate range for all items except Recall. Most of the items on the K-MMSE~2:SV and K-MMSE had item category difficulty in the very easy or easy range. The test information curve (TIC) showed that the K-MMSE~2:SV and K-MMSE provide almost the same amount of information (27.86 vs. 28.44), with both tests providing the most information at an ability level of -1.57. The generalizability (G) coefficient for the K-MMSE~2:SV and K-MMSE was 0.99. Conclusions: These results indicate that the K-MMSE~2:SV and K-MMSE are equally optimal tests for screening for mild cognitive impairment and early dementia. Given that the amount of test information provided by the two tests was almost identical, the shapes of the TICs were very similar, and the G coefficient was close to 1, we can conclude that the K-MMSE and K-MMSE~2:SV are equivalent tests.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.149-154
• /
• 2017

Objectives This study investigated associations between symptom severity and neurocognitive functions in patients with major depressive disorder using comprehensive neuropsychological tests. Methods Ten patients with low depression (LD) and 22 patients with high depression (HD) participated. Symptom severity was determined by both the Beck Depression Inventory and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Additionally, anxiety was measured by the Korean version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-KYZ). Ten subtests of the Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence scale (K-WAIS), Stroop test, the word/design fluency tests were administered to assess cognition. Results The LD and HD groups did not differ in any of cognitive measures but anxiety level. Namely, the HD group obtained significantly higher scores on the state (U = 29.50, p < 0.01) and trait (U = 28.50, p < 0.001) anxiety scales than the LD group. A significant interaction effect between trait anxiety and depression severity was observed on the picture arrangement subtest of the K-WAIS [F (1, 27) = 5.09, p < 0.05]. Conclusions Cognitive deficits observed in patients with major depressive disorder may be related to other factors rather than current symptom severity. Trait anxiety possibly moderates the effect of current symptom severity on social judgment in these patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.10
• /
• pp.1026-1030
• /
• 2006

Mental retardation(MR) is one of the most common developmental disabilities, which is characterized by deficits in intellectual and adaptive functions. Most children with MR have cognitive limitation in the mild range. With respect to the etiology, it is believed that genetic and environmental factors are interrelated and show variable pictures. Most children with MR present with speech and language delay during the early years. The diagnosis can be made by clinical features and neuropsychological tests of intelligence and adaptive functioning. The treatment is limited, but many associated problems are amenable to multidisciplinary interventions. The article will review the recent advances in the management of MR and other neurodevelopmental disorders in children.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.184-196
• /
• 1998

With a rapid development of neuroscience, the theories related to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia have been changed a lot from a simple hyperdopaminergic one to the various complicated ones. Among these, the theories regarding prefrontal cortex(PFC) pathology as a cause of schizophrenia are gaining more recognition as the results of neuroimaging and neuropsychological tests in schizophrenia consistently report abnormalities in PFC. Therefore, we first reviewed the unique characteristics of PFC in anatomy, neurochemistry and neurophysiology to enhance an understanding of those ones. Secondly, various neurotransmitter, neurodevelopmental and neural network theories of schizophrenia introduced recently were reviewed in terms of PFC pathology.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.78-85
• /
• 2019

Objectives:　The purpose of this study is to evaluate the development of the near poor Families' Children via learning disability indices, frontal executive function. Methods: Seventeen children (10 boys, 7 girls, 6.6-11.9 years) from the near poor Families' were enrolled in this study. Children were evaluated for a learning disability and frontal executive function. Results: In Learning disability indices, 3 children showed low scores in subscales and 2 children showed low scores in learning quotient. In Frontal executive function, 3 children showed low scores in CCTT (Children's Color Trails Test) and 11children showed low scores in STROOP (Stroop Color and Word Test). Conclusions: Intensive management, educational programs, and additional neuropsychological tests will be needed in children with low learning scores.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.25-36
• /
• 2009

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the association between Korean ADHD patients and the l/s polymorphism of serotonin transporter(5-HTTLPR). Methods : The study sample consisted of 189 Korean ADHD children diagnosed by Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version-Korean Version(K-SADS-PL), both parents of ADHD children, and 150 normal children. DNA were extracted from the blood of all samples, and genotyping was done. Based on the allele and genotype information, not only the case-control analysis between ADHD and normal children but also the family-based association test among ADHD children and their parents. Transmission disequilibrium test(TDT) were performed for family-based associated test(number of trio=113). The results of the clinical rating and neuropsychological tests were compared according to the l/s genotype of ADHD children. Results : In case-control analysis, there were no statistically significant difference of l/s gene polymorphism between ADHD and normal children in various kinds of analysis condition. In family-based association study, TDT failed to detect linkage disequilibrium between l/s gene polymorphism and ADHD in whole ADHD families. However, in the families of ADHD inattentive type only(number of trio=23), I allele was transmitted more preferentially in the proband with ADHD even if the number of families was small(${\chi}^2$=4.57, p=.032). In the analysis of the results from the clinical scales and neuropsychological tests in ADHD children, the score of the Novelty- Seeking of ADHD children with l/l genotype was significantly lower than with the other genotypes(F=3.15, p=.047), and that of Self Transcendence was significantly higher(F=4.25, p=.017). Conclusion : The results of this study suggest there were no significant genetic association between the 5- HTTLPR gene polymorphism and Korean ADHD.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.17-28
• /
• 2008

Purpose: It was well known that cerebral blood perfusion is normal or diffusely decreased in the majority of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Actually we interpreted brain perfusion SPECT images of PD patients in the clinical situation, we observed various cerebral perfusion patterns in patients with PD. So we performed brain perfusion SPECT to know the brain perfusion patterns of PD patients and the difference of perfusion patterns according to the sex and the age. Also we classified PD patients into small groups based on the brain perfusion pattern. Methods and Materials: Two hundred nineteen patients (M: 70, F: 149, mean age: $62.9{\pm}6.9$ y/o) who were diagnosed as PD without dementia clinically and 55 patients (M:15, F:40, mean age: $61.4{\pm}9.2$ y/o) as normal controls who had no past illness history were performed $^{99m}Tc$-HMP AO brain perfusion SPECT and neuropsychological test. Results: At first, we compared all patients with PD and normal controls. Brain perfusion in left inferior frontal gyrus, left insula, left transverse temporal gyrus, left inferior parietal lobule, left superior parietal lobule, right precuneus, right caudate tail were lower in patients with PD than normal controls. Secondly, we compared male and female patients with PD and normal controls, respectively. Brain perfusion SPECT showed more decreased cerebral perfusion in left hemisphere than right side in both male and female patients compared to normal controls. And there was larger hypoperfusion area in female patients compared with male. Thirdly, we classified patients with PD and normal controls into 4 groups according to the age and compared brain perfusion respectively. In patient below fifties, brain perfusion in both occipitoparietal and left temporal lobe were lower in PD group. As the patients with PD grew older, hypoperfusion area were shown in both frontal, temporal and limbic lobes. Fourthly, We were able to divide patients into small groups based on cerebral perfusion pattern. There was normal cerebral blood perfusion in 32 (14.7%) of 219 patients with PD, decreased perfusion on the frontal lobe in 45 patients (20.6%), the temporal lobe in 39 patients (17.4%), the parietal lobe in 39 patients (17.9%), the occipital lobe in 40 patients (18.3%), diffuse area in 14 patients (6.4%) and unclassified in 10 patients (4.6%). Fifthly, we compared the results of the neuropsychological test and cerebral perfusion pattern. There was no correlation between two tests except visuospatial function. Conclusion: Various perfusion state were found in patients with PD according to the age and sex. Also we were able to classify perfusion state into several groups and compare the neuropsychological test with cerebral perfusion.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.136-144
• /
• 2017

Objectives : Cognitive complaints are reported frequently after breast cancer treatments. The causes of cognitive decline are multifactorial, a result of the effect of cancer itself, chemotherapy, and psychological factors such as depression and anxiety. However, cognitive decline does not always correlate with neuropsychological test performance. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of subjective cognitive decline with objective measurement and to explore associated factors of cognitive function in breast cancer survivors. Methods : We included 29 breast cancer survivors who complain cognitive decline at least 6 months after treatment and 20 age-matched healthy controls. Neuropsychological tests were performed in all participants. Multivariable regression analysis evaluated associations between neuropsychological test scores and psychological distress including depression and anxiety, also considering age, education, and comorbidity. Results : There were no statistically significant differences in neuropsychological test performances. However, the breast cancer survivors showed a significantly higher depression(p=0.002) and anxiety(p<0.001) than the healthy controls did. Among the cancer survivors, poorer executive function was strongly associated with higher depression(${\beta}=-0.336$, p=0.001) and anxiety(${\beta}=-0.273$, p=0.009), after controlling for age, education, and comorbidity. In addition, poorer attention was also significantly related with depression(${\beta}=-0.375$, p=0.023) and anxiety (${\beta}=-0.404$, p=0.013). Conclusions : The results of this study showed the discrepancies between subjective complaints and objective measures of cognitive function in breast cancer survivors. It suggests that subjective cognitive decline could be indicators of psychological distress such as depression and anxiety.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.123-135
• /
• 2013

Exposure to manganese (Mn) is associated with neurobehavioral effects. There is disagreement on whether commonly occurring exposures in welding, ferroalloy, and other industrial processes produce neurologically significant neurobehavioral changes representing parkinsonism. A reviewof methodological issues in the human epidemiological literature onMnidentified: (1) studies focused on idiopathic Parkinson disease without considering manganism, a parkinsonian syndrome; (2) studies with healthy worker effect bias; (3) studies with problematic statistical modeling; and (4) studies arising from case series derived from litigation. Investigations with adequate study design and exposure assessment revealed consistent neurobehavioral effects and attributable subclinical and clinical signs and symptoms of impairment. Twenty-eight studies show an exposure-response relationship between Mn and neurobehavioral effects, including 11 with continuous exposure metrics and six with three or four levels of contrasted exposure. The effects of sustained low-concentration exposures to Mn are consistent with the manifestations of early manganism, i.e., consistent with parkinsonism. This is compelling evidence thatMnis a neurotoxic chemical and there is good evidence that Mn exposures far below the current US standard of $5.0mg/m^3$ are causing impairment.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.45-51
• /
• 2015

Objectives : Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been shown to display more inhibitory deficits and executive function deficits. This study investigated the treatment effects of neurofeedback (NF) training on executive function by comparing the results of neuropsychological tests of the trained children at pre- and post-training. Methods : Fifteen children with ADHD, aged 6 to 14 years, participated in the study. The NF treatment consisted of slow cortical potential (SCP) training and these sessions took place once a week. The ADHD children performed 20 sessions of NF training within 6 months. Pre-training and post-training assessments encompassed Continuous Performance Test (CPT), Stroop Test, Children's Color Trails Test I&II (CCTT) and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Results : Patients receiving NF training showed significant improvement in visual commission error and standard deviation of auditory response time on CPT ; and total errors on WCST. But there was no significant improvement in the Stroop test and CCTT. Conclusion : SCP training using NF improves the self-regulatory capacities and impulsivity in ADHD patient, especially impulsivity in visual stimulation tasks. This study showed evidence of clinical efficacy of NF on executive function in ADHD.