• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.197-202
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• 2011

Subsyndromal anxiety disorder indicates mental states of having anxiety symptoms not fulfilling criteria for anxiety disorders. Despite of the lack of previous objective findings of the subsyndromal anxiety disorder, its clinical importance has increased. It can cause many kinds of clinical anxiety symptoms and functional disabilities. But the early intervention and early treatment make it possible not only to attenuate the anxiety symptoms and functional disabilities but also to prevent disease progression to a full syndromal anxiety disorder. In this article, we will review the previous studies about the subsyndromal anxiety disorder and discuss its clinical characteristics and importance.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.217-224
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• 2011

Subsyndromal bipolar symptoms are common during maintenance treatment and appear to be associated with relapse into an episode of the same polarity. This implies subsyndromal symptoms are an important problem in recurrent bipolar disorder and require more additive and infallible therapeutic intervention. Undetected, untreated subsyndromal states lead patients to have poor prognosis and quality of life. The combination of a long undetected illness and significant psychosocial impairment renders early identification and intervention vital for the treatment of bipolar disorders. Methods for early identification includes finding prodromes, using screening tools such as the HCL-32 (Hypomania Checklist-32) and the BSDS (bipolar spectrum diagnostic scale). Various augmentation treatment methods would be needed to reduce subsyndromal symptoms, especially, psychosocial treatment has the potential to help patients address the multiple psychosocial problems associated with this chronic illness. To overcome difficulties of diagnosing subsyndromal disorder and to treat it appropriately, a staging system was suggested by some researchers. It assumes that earlier stages have better prognosis and require simpler therapeutic regimens. Staging may assist in treatment planning and prognosis of bipolar disorder, and emphasize the importance of early intervention. Further research is required in this exciting and novel area.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.210-216
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• 2011

Subsyndromal depression (SSD) is found to be more prevalent than major depressive disorder (MDD) and minor depressive disorder (MnDD). SSD is also associated with adverse clinical outcomes, increased risk of suicide, increased social dysfunction and disability, increased risk for future mood disorders, and increased uses of medical and mental health services. DSM-IV diagnostic criteria are not suitable for capturing SSD. Although there is no agreement on gold standard to define SSD so far, three definitions of SSD are available. First, SSD is defined as having two or more current depressive symptoms without core depressive symptoms (depressive mood or loss of interest) and with time threshold (most of the day and nearly every day over at least two weeks). Second, SSD is defined as having two or more current depressive symptoms with core depressive symptoms and without time threshold. Third, SSD is defined by using cutoff points of depression rating scales. SSD may represent a prodromal, residual, or interepisode symptomatic state in the course of MDD and MnDD. More than a half of SSD patients became any type of depressive disorders (SSD, MnDD and MDD) at 1 year. SSD may represent a discrete category of its own, without prior or consequent episodes of MDD. Considering clinical significance of SSD such as its high prevalence, significant psychosocial impairment and chronicity and serious outcomes, researchers and clinicians should be more vigilant in capturing and caring for patients with SSD.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.3-7
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• 2012

Objectives : The early onset of mood symptoms in bipolar disorder has been associated with poor outcomes in many studies. However, aspects of the clinical course of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents are controversial. The goal of this article is to review the clinical characteristics and longitudinal course of children and adolescents with bipolar disorders. Methods : Searches were conducted in MedLine, PsycINFO, KISS, and RISS using the terms phenomenology, clinical course, outcome, BPD, pediatric, children and adolescents. Twenty-one reports were selected : either original articles reporting symptoms and clinical characteristics of subjects (ages 5-18 years), or published articles in reviewed journals about bipolar disorder in children and adolescents. Results : Approximately 70% of subjects with bipolar disorder recovered from their index episode, and 50% had at least 1 syndromal recurrence, particularly depressive episodes. For 60% of the follow-up time, subjects had syndromal or subsyndromal symptoms with numerous changes in symptoms and shifts of polarity. Approximately 20% of BP-II subjects converted BP-I. Conclusion : Bipolar disorders in children and adolescents are characterized by episodic illness with subsyndromal and syndromal episodes with mainly depressive and mixed symptoms and rapid mood changes. Extensive follow-up time is needed to evaluate the continuity of bipolar disorder symptoms from childhood to adulthood.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.45-53
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• 2013

Objectives Non-major depression with fewer symptoms than required for a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-4th edition diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) has consistently been found to be associated with functional impairment. In this study, we aim to estimate the cognitive impairment and the quality of life in elderly patients with subsyndromal depression (SSD) compared with non-depressive elderly (NDE). Methods The Korean version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was administered to 194 outpatients with depression and 108 normal controls. SSD is defined as having five or more current depressive symptoms with core depressive symptoms (depressive mood or loss of interest or pleasure) during more than half a day and more than seven days over two weeks. Depression was evaluated by the Korean form of Geriatric Depression Scale of a 15-item short version. Global cognition was assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination in the Korean version of CERAD assessment packet (MMSE-KC). Subjective cognitive impairment was assessed by the Subjective Memory Complaint Questionnaire. Quality of life was evaluated by the Korean Version of Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey. Results The mean score of the MMSE-KC in the SSD group was lower than that in the NDE group with adjustment for age, gender, and education [F = 4.270, p = 0.04, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)]. If we defined those having Z-score of MMSE-KC < -1.5 as a high risk group of cognitive impairment, the odds ratio for the high risk group of cognitive impairment was 1.86 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.04-3.34] in SSD and 7.57 (95% CI 3.50-16.40) in MDD compared to NDE. The scores of physical component summary (F = 9.274, p = 0.003, ANCOVA) and mental component summary (F = 53.166, p < 0.001, ANCOVA) in the SSD group were lower than those in the NDE group with adjustment for age, gender, and education. Conclusions The subjects with SSD, as well as those with MDD, showed impairment of global cognition and also experienced low quality of life in both physical and mental aspects, compared to the NDE group.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.174-183
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• 1999

Objective : This study was designed to evaluate the incidence and characteristics of posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD) after motor vehicle accidents(MVA) in 44 consecutive MVA victims referred to psychiatry for the diagnosis, treatment and psychiatric assessment. Method : The diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder was made on the basis of DSM-IV criteria, and posttraumatic stress symptoms were assessed by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale(CAPS). Correlation between the extent of physical injury and the severity of PTSD symptoms using the Abbreviated Injury Scale(AIS) was analyzed and the frequency of psychiatric comorbidity of PTSD was invested. Result : Twenty-two(45.5%) MVA victims met DSM-IV criteria for PTSD, while thirteen(29.5%) showed a subsyndromal form of it. AIS scores significantly related with the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms(r=0.565, p=0.0001). PTSD group showed high percentages of each of the 17 symptoms(criterion B, C, D), while subsyndromal PTSD group showed relatively high percentages of criterion Band D. The most frequent symptom was 'distressing dreams' of criterion B in both group. A high percentages(56%) of the MVA-PTSD group also met the criteria for current major depression. Conclusions : These findings suggest that there is apparently a high likelihood of developing all or part of the PTSD syndrome after motor vehicle accidents. So it does appear that for those MVA victims who seek medical attention and eventually need psychiatric referral, diagnostic possibility of PTSD should be taken into account in treatment planning and early intervention.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.22-26
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• 2006

Circadian rhythms have been observed to be disturbed in mood disorders, especially seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Clock related gene variants also have been suggested to be associated with seasonality (seasonal variations in mood and behavior). This study tested the potential association between a length polymorphism of Period3 gene and seasonal variations in mood and behavior. 297 Korean college students were genotyped for the Period3 polymorphism and were for evaluated the seasonal variation by Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). The genotype frequencies were 0.76 for 4R/4R, 0.22 for 4R/5R and 0.013 for 5R/5R. The global seasonality score was not different among Period3 gene variants (4R/4R, 4R/5R and 5R/5R) except for 'sleep length' subscore. The 5R/5R genotype showed the higher 'sleep length' subscore than others (p=0.024). The comparison between seasonals (syndromal plus subsyndromal SAD determined by SPAQ) and non-seasonals did not show any significant difference in frequencies of genotypes. These findings suggest that there is a possibility that the investigated Period3 polymorphism may play a partial role in the susceptibility of seasonal variations in a Korean population.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1425-1434
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• 2021

Lately, the mental issues of Chinese worldwide understudies have become an unavoidable examination issue. As per important explores in different nations, the level of discouragement inclination of Chinese understudies has been on the ascent. This examination utilizes the Bread cook Wretchedness Scale II to test the psychological condition of 249 Chinese understudies concentrating in South Korea. The outcomes show that Chinese understudies in South Korea likewise have a specific level of mental issues. The extent has reached 34.5% of the absolute number of Chinese understudies in South Korea. This exploration investigates the current circumstance dependent on the review results, and directs a top to bottom examination of the attributes of worldwide understudies in Korea. Simultaneously, it is recommended that mental treatment can be utilized to work on their psychological state. Through the pertinent inquiries for grounds mental directing administrations, it obviously presents the issues that Chinese global understudies face in South Korean grounds mental guiding, just as the school's improvement measures. Simultaneously, this examination consolidates the media SNS social stage, investigates existing issues, and proposes how schools can adequately construct a SNS stage at the degree of mental advising, just as the adapting techniques and systems for Chinese understudies dealing with mental issues.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.124-134
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• 2022

Based on existing research, the psychological state of Chinese students has become a very significant issue that needs to be resolved. In addition to paying attention to the daily life and study of Chinese students, the psychological problems of Chinese students are also worthy of attention. At the same time, if the existing psychological problems are not resolved in time, serious consequences may result. Based on the ART(Attention Restoration Theory) theory, this article uses VR (Virtual Reality) content as a medium, uses 3D modeling software to build a healing scene that helps Chinese students improve their psychological and emotional state, and presents it in a VR device. To achieve the purpose of improving the psychological and emotional state of Chinese students. According to experimental tests, the VR recovery scene constructed by this method can help improve the psychological mood of Chinese international students who already have subliminal depression. The results of independent sample T-tests after data analysis experiments show that after the intervention of the experiment, the depression of the experimental group is significantly improved compared to the control group. It is proved that the method in this study is effective for the mentality and emotion of Chinese international students who have subliminal depression. There is a significant improvement effect.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.65-73
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• 2014

Objectives This study aimed to identify the differences and the profiles of cognitive deficits in remitted patients with schizophrenia and first-degree relatives of schizophrenic probands. Methods A total of 26 remitted states of schizophrenia patients were included in the study and the same number of unaffected first-degree relatives of schizophrenic probands and healthy controls were matched for age, sex, years of education. Cognitive function of all participants was measured by using the Digit span test, the Continuous performance test, the Rey auditory & visual learning test, the Complex figure test, the Verbal fluency test, the Wisconsin card sorting test and the Finger tapping test. The effects of subsyndromal symptomatology and general intelligence score were controlled. Results Schizophrenia patients' group showed more significant impairment than other groups in verbal memory (learning, immediate recall, delayed recall), visual memory (copy, immediate recall, delayed recall) and cognitive flexibility domains. The family group and the patient group commonly performed significantly worse than healthy controls in working memory and verbal fluency (category) tests. There were no differences in sustained attention, psychomotor performance. Conclusions Our research shows that the deficit in working memory and verbal fluency could be strong candidates of endophenotypic marker in schizophrenia.