• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.70-79
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• 2003

Object : Currently, the alteration of cytokine system has been known to play an important role in regard to depressive symptom. We focused on the relationship between immunological parameters and clinical improvement in major depressive disorder. Method : Data were collected on 26 patients with major depressive disorder using a 8-week prospective follow-up design. After 8-week treatment period with fluoxetine, patients were classified into a response group and a non-response group according to their psychopathological outcome as evaluated by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. The differences of the immunological parameters between pre-treatment phase and post-treatment phase were compared among patients. The difference of those was also compared within each phase among them. The relationship between socio-demographic variables, depression, cytokine, mononuclear cells was examined by correlation analysis. Multiple regression analyses were performed to explore the predictors of clinical improvement of major depressive disorder. Result : Pre-treatment levels of IL-$1{\beta}$ in the response group were significantly higher than those in the non-response group. Pre-treatment levels of IL-$1{\beta}$ of all patients and in the response group were positively correlated with pre-treatment monocyte counts. Patients with subsequent remission showed significantly lower IL-6 values at baseline than those with non-response. Post-treatment values of IL-6 did not differ significantly among the patients. The correlation test showed more frequent relations among cytokines and mononuclear cells in the response group than in the non-responder group. Especially, serum level of IL-6 in pre-treatment phase was only significantly correlated with HAMD score after 8-week treatement phase, while other cytokines and mononuclear cells were not. Pretreatment level of IL-6 was of paramount importance in predicting clinical improvement of depressive symptom. Conclusion : The immune system of major depressive disorder patients might dichotomize the patients into subsequent responders and non-responders. Immune system might be of great influence on the clinical improvement of major depressive disorder. The mode of interaction between depression and cellular immune function and the mediators responsible for the cytokine production need to be studied further.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.84-90
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in metabolic parameters and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores of patients previously treated with atypical antipsychotic drugs other than paliperidone, after 8 weeks of treatment with paliperidone. Methods : Changes in body weight, body mass index, leptin, lipid levels, fasting glucose, and PANSS scores of patients who switched from other atypical antipsychotic drugs to paliperidone were measured after 8 weeks of treatment with paliperidone. We compared these results with those of patients who had not been treated with antipsychotic drugs for at least 2 weeks prior to treatment with paliperidone (antipsychotic drug-free patients). Results : The antipsychotic drug-free group (n = 9) did not show significant changes in metabolic parameters, but showed a significant improvement in total and subscale scores of PANSS. In the group that switched from other atypical antipsychotic drugs to paliperidone (n = 13), body weight, body mass index and fasting glucose level significantly increased, while total and subscale scores of PANSS significantly improved. Conclusions : Paliperidone treatment will benefit patients with schizophrenia who have been antipsychotic drug-free or who have had difficulty with other atypical antipsychotic drugs, with regard to their psychopathological state. However, if patients have been treated with other atypical antipsychotic drugs before switching to paliperidone, they could gain body weight or their fasting glucose level could increase over a short period because of a change in receptor number and sensitivity caused by the previously prescribed antipsychotic drugs, and hence, paliperidone should be prescribed with caution for these patients.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2007

The pregnancy and postpartum period appear to be a time of heightened vulnerability for the development of major depression in some women. Postpartum depression affects 10% of women within a few weeks immediately postpartum. Postpartum depression is associated with disturbances in the mother-infant relationship, which in turn have an adverse impact on the course of child cognitive and emotional development. Depression during pregnancy is also common, although it has been relatively neglected. Psychopathological symptoms during pregnancy have physiological consequences for the fetus. Understanding the aetiology of perinatal depression requires integrating of multiple psychosocial and biological risk factors. The treatment of depressed pregnant women requires skilled decision making by psychiatrists. Risk-benefit analysis is appropriate method for intervention fur depression in pregnancy. Effective treatments for depression in pregnancy include psychotherapy, antidepressant medication and electroconvulsive therapy. In treatment of postpartum depression, the biological, psychological, and social interventions are included. Prescribing antidepressants(such as fluoxetine), estrogen in severe and chronic cases, and counselling can be effective for improving maternal mood and aspects of infant outcome. Ongoing research is directed to further elucidating neurohormonal and psychosocial contributions to depression during pregnancy or postpartum. Screening for risk factors and symptoms for depression need to be incorporated into antenatal and pediatric clinics.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.167-184
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• 2021

Objectives: Operational definition and its validated measure of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) are pivotal for research studies and reliable clinics. There have been ten years of clinical studies on Eum-Yang (Yin-Yang) and Sasang typology using Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) of integrative biopsychology. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review on the use of SPQ to provide insights and foundation for its further studies and clinical application. Methods: Clinical studies on SPQ were searched using five domestic and foreign research databases. Attained research articles were then subjected to predefined systematic reviews. Demographic characteristics of participants and research topics of articles were described. Psychological and physical features of SPQ and its subscales were reviewed and compiled to reveal biopsychological characteristics. Results: There were 33 articles with 15,085 participants on Eum-Yang (n=19) and Sasang typology (n=14). The SPQ-total score was in an increasing order of So-Eum, Tae-Eum, and So-Yang. Eum-Yang groups were categorized at a 3:4:3 ratio using %ile score of SPQ-total. The SPQ-total showed a significant positive correlation with Novelty-Seeking and a negative correlation with Harm-Avoidance in psychological perspective, while it was not significantly correlated with Body Mass Index or Ponderal Index in physical perspective. The SPQ-total and subscales explained psychopathological characteristics of stress recognition, negative emotion, problem behavior, and depression. Conclusions: The SPQ was found to be an objective biopsychological measure of TKM for Sasang typology and psychopathology. It would provide foundation for 'Korean Psychology' and multidisciplinary studies.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.13-23
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• 2018

Objectives The Eum-Yang (Yin-Yang in English) temperament was shown to have clinical and structural validity with Sasang Personality Questionnaire (SPQ), however the studies of the association with behavior problems and personality structure in adolescents were not satisfactory. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between Eum-Yang temperament and behavior problems in Korean middle school students. Methods 122 first grader of middle school students (68 boys and 54 girls) completed SPQ, Junior version of Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI), and Youth Self Report (YSR). The correlations between SPQ, JTCI, and YSR subscales were investigated. And, also the differences between SPQ, JTCI, and YSR subscales among Yang (high 30% of SPQ total score) and Eum (low 30% of SPQ total score) temperament groups classified with SPQ total score were examined. Results The SPQ total score were correlated with Novelty-Seeking (r=.321) and Reward-Dependence (r=.392) in boys, and with Novelty-Seeking (r=.427) and Harm-Avoidance (r=-.444) in girls. The SPQ total score were not significantly correlated with Body Mass Index, Ponderal Index and YSR total, however significantly correlated with YSR Internalizing problems and Withdrawal/depressed subscale (r=-.242 and r=-.419) in boys and Withdrawal/depressed subscale (r=-.449) in girls. There were significant differences between Eum and Yang groups in Novelty-Seeking, Harm-Avoidance and Withdrawal/depressed as for boys and girls. Conclusions The biopsychological structure of SPQ was confirmed with middle school students. The behavioral (SPQ-B) and emotional (SPQ-E) perspectives of Eum-Yang were found to be protective and risk factors, and also correlated with Externalizing and Internalizing behavior problems, respectively. The biopsychological characteristics of Eum-Yang temperament and its relation with psychopathological symptoms in late-childhood should be carefully analyzed.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2003

Objectives: Many researches have been done to compare psychopathology of functional gastrointestinal disorder and inflammatory bowel disease which involves structural change. Recently, many studies focused on the topic of alexithymia. The results from these studies were questionable for lack of valid measures of alexithymia and valid diagnostic criteria of functional gastrointestinal disorders. Therefore, we tried to overcome these two problems and to assess alexithymia, personality characteristics, and other psychopathology. Methods: The subjects consisted of ulcerative colitis group(N=28) who were diagnosed by colonoscopy and biopsy, irritable bowel syndrome group(N=27) who were diagnosed by Rome II criteria and normal control group(N=22). All patients were diagnosed at outpatient department of Kyungpook National University Hospital. All these groups completed three psychological tests, including MMPI, Rorschach test, and well validated TAS-20K(The Korean Version of the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale). Results: Twenty-five percent of the ulcerative colitis group and 22% of the irritable bowel syndrome group scored in the alexithymia range, compared with 0% of the normal group. In Rorschach test, irritable bowel syndrome group showed high levels of weighted Sum C and EA. Most of clinical scales of MMPI were higher in two gastrointestinal groups than the normal control group. And two gastrointestinal groups showed low ego strength level, but there was no statistical significant difference between them. Conclusion: Two gastrointestinal groups showed high rate of alexithymia, other psychopathological profiles, and low ego strength but there was no significant difference between two groups.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.225-236
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• 2001

Introduction：Test anxiety is a pervasive problem among high school students in Korea. While anxiety in test situations may actually facilitate the performance of some students, more often it is disruptive and leads to performance decrements. Over the past years, many child psychiatrists have become concerned with understanding the nature of test anxiety, but it is not clearly understood yet. In order to understand the nature of test anxiety, the relationship between test anxiety and depression, state anxiety, trait anxiety was examined. In addition, the relationships between the subscores of test anxiety (worry and emotionality) and the subscores of CDI, state anxiety or trait anxiety were examined. Methods：The Test Anxiety Inventory, Chidlren's Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were administered to 425 high school students in Seoul. The relationships between test anxiety and other measures were tested using Pearson correlation coefficients and to test the causal ralationship among the variables, regression analysis was performed. Results：The correlation coefficients between test anxiety and depression, state anxiety, trait anxiety were 0.56(p<0.05), 0.75(p<0.05), 0.53(p<0.05) respectively. The correlation coefficients between subscales of test anxiety and depression were all significant. The correlation between subscales of test anxiety and state and trait anxiety were also statistically significant. Conclusions：This study indicates that test anxiety is closely related with depression, state and trait anxiety. In addition, the subscales of test anxiety are significantly related with those of the depression. The correlation coefficients between test anxiety and state-trait anxiety are also statistically significant. Thus, in order to develop the preventive and effective methods for treatment, these psychopathological characteristics should be kept in mind.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.50-63
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• 1999

Introduction：Test anxiety is a pervasive problem among high school students in Korea. While anxiety in test situations may actually facilitate the performance of some students, more often it is disruptive and leads to performance decrements. Over the past years, many child psychiatrists have become concerned with understanding the nature of test anxiety, but it is not clearly understood yet. In order to understand the nature of test anxiety, the relationship between test anxiety and depression, state anxiety, trait anxiety, temperament and family environment were examined. Methods：The Test Anxiety Inventory, Chidlren's Depression Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Temperamnet and Family Environment Scale Scale were administered to 576 high school students in Seoul. The relationships between test anxiety and other measures were tested using Pearson correlation coefficients and to test the causal relationship among the variables, regression analysis was performed. Results：The correlation coefficients between test anxiety and depression, state anxiety, trait anxiety, temperament and family environment scale were 0.42(p<0.01), 0.34(p<0.05), 0.38(p<0.05), 0.36(p<0.05) and -0.23(p<0.01), respectively. Regression analysis showed that only state and trait anxiety had direct causal relationship with test anxiety. Depression, temperament and family environment were indirecly related with test anxiety. Conclusions：This study indicates that the level of state and trait anxiety are directly related with test anxiety, and other variables such as temperament, family environment and depression are indirectly related with test anxiety. Thus, in order to develop the effective methods for treatment, these psychopathological characteristics should be kept in mind and the most important factors are the levels of state and trait anxiety.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2021

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of depressive patients who admitted to general hospital. We examined the clinical characteristics of patients who were referred to the Department of Psychiatry as depressive symptoms, according to the type of consultation request, and comparing 'with re-consultation' and 'without re-consultation' groups. Methods : We performed a retrospective chart review of 4,966 inpatients who were referred to the Department of Psychiatry from August 2005 to December 2011. Results : For about 6 years, among the inpatients referred for psychiatric consultation, a total of 647 patients were referred for depressive symptoms, accounting for 13.82% of the total consultations. The average age of depressive patients was 58.6 years, which was higher than the average of 56.4 years of overall patients. Among the depressive patients, 275 patients were included in 'with re-consultation' group and there was no statistically significant difference when comparing 'with re-consultation' group and 'without re-consultation' group. However, there was a difference in the tendency of the two groups in the type of consultation request. 'With re-consultation' group was in the order of frequency of consultation type 3-2-1, whereas the 'without re-consultation' group was in the order of frequency of consultation type 2-3-1. Conclusions : The group of inpatients who were referred for depressive symptoms in general hospital showed the largest proportion of the group of patients referred to the Department of Psychiatry. 'With re-consultation' group had a higher rate of re-consultation due to the occurrence of new symptoms after hospitalization compared to 'without re-consultation' group. Therefore, doctors in each department and psychiatrists should pay attention to the depressive symptoms of inpatients and actively discuss treatment plans to improve the quality of medical services, identify risk factors, and make efforts to intervene early if necessary.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2023

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of patients referred for delirium and depressive disorder and to find direction of improvement of consultation-liason psychiatry in general hospital. Methods : We performed a retrospective computed chart review of the 4,966 inpatients hospitalized at Konkuk University Hospital who were referred to the Department of Psychiatry from August 1, 2005 to December 31, 2011. Results : Depressive disorder shows the order of frequency of consultation type Parallel-Complementary-Mending. Delirium shows the order of frequency of consultation type Mending-Parallel-Complementary. When comparing 'follow up consultation' and 'without follow up consultation' group within the depressive disorder, the proportion of men in the 'follow up consultation' group was higher. In the analysis of the consultation type, the 'follow up consultation' group showed the order of consultation type Parallel-Mending- Complementary, and type Parallel-Complementary-Mending in the 'without follow up consultation' group. When comparing 'follow up consultation' and 'without follow up consultation' group within the delirium, the proportion of the surgical field in the 'follow up consultation' group was higher. In the analysis of the consultation type, both group showed the order of consultation type Mending-Parallel- Complementary. Conclusions : Doctors in each department and psychiatrists should pay attention to delirium symptoms that may occur in surgical inpatients and preventive measures should be taken. Screening tests should be conducted in medical patients to properly evaluate coexisting psychiatric diseases. Risk factors of Delirium and Depressive disorder should be identified from the time of hospitalization, and actively discussing treatment plans and early interventions could improve the quality of medical services.