• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.27-33
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• 2014

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-depressant effects of pharmacopuncture using sumsu (Bufonis venenum). Methods: Animals were divided into three groups (control, sham, and experimental), with eight mice per group. The sham and the experimental groups were exposed to 2 hours of immobilization stress daily for 14 days. They were also injected with normal saline (sham) or subjected to pharmacopuncture with sumsu at the acupoints HT7, SP6, and GV20 (experimental). The depression or anxiety-like behaviors of the mice in each group were evaluated 1 day after treatment. Results: There was no difference in locomotor activity between the groups during the open-field test; i.e., all groups had normal motor function. However, the open-field and the forced-swimming tests revealed that depression and anxiety-like behaviors were decreased significantly in the group treated with sumsu pharmacopuncture. Conclusion: Sumsu pharmacopuncture attenuated depressive or anxiety-like behavior in mice stressed with chronic immobilization. These results suggest that sumsu pharmacopuncture has therapeutic potential for treating neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety or depression disorder.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.124-131
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• 2005

Childhood and adolescent onset-bipolar disorders have higher rate of comorbidity with anxiety disorders as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder. Obsessive compulsive disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, and separational anxiety disorder are common comorbid anxiety disorders with bipolar disorders in child and adolescent. Prospective and reliable data on temporal and causal relationship between the onset of bipolar disorders and the onset of comorbid anxiety disorders are still in debate. The authors report 2 adolescent cases with antidepressant induced-manic episodes with preceding anxiety symptoms. The authors suggest careful prescription of antidepressants for anxiety disorders, even for those who do not have definite past history or family history of bipolar disorders. Further comprehensive and prospective studies are requested for the temporal relationship and pharmacological guideline for comorbid bipolar disorders and anxiety disorder in child and adolescent.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.92-99
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• 2016

Purpose: The use of flumazenil administration in the emergency department is still controversial because of concerns about adverse effects. The present study was conducted to re-evaluate the risk-benefit ratio associated with flumazenil administration to patients suspected of having acute hypnotics and sedatives poisoning in the emergency department. Methods: A retrospective chart review study was conducted for patients whose final diagnoses were "poisoning" and "benzodiazepine" or "sedatives-hypnotics" from Mar. 2006 to Feb. 2015. The basal characteristics of the patients, including past medical history, ingredients and dose of ingested drug and co-ingested drugs were investigated. For patients administered flumazenil, responsiveness and time from admission to flumazenil administration were investigated with supplement. All collected data were analyzed in aspect terms of risk/benefit. Results: A total of 678 patients were included in our study. Benzodiazepine was the most common sedative/hypnotic drug prescribed, and the frequency of prescription continuously increased. The proportion of TCA as co-ingestion decreased from 13.1% to 3.9% in patients with acute sedative/hypnotic poisoning. Flumazenil was administered to 55 patients (8.1%), of which 29 patients (52.7%) were applied to contraindications. Fifty-three patients (96.4%) showed positive responsiveness, including partial responsiveness after flumazenil administration. No severe adverse events were identified. Conclusion: Based on the current trends in prescription patterns for sedative/hypnotic drugs, increased use of non-TCA antidepressants, and responsiveness to administration of flumazenil, benefit seemed weighted more in this study, although the observed benefits were based on limited results. Further prospective multicenter studies will be needed to optimize benefit-risk ratio.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.91-95
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• 2013

It is important to check the types of drugs when treating acute drug intoxication. This study researches the clinical characteristics and types of patients hospitalized in emergency medical center for drug addiction in 2009 and 2010. By applying a drug addiction selecting kit, it studied the flexibility and clinical efficiency during diagnosis and treatment. The study result shows, among the drugs causing addiction, Sedative accounts for 34.4%, Herdicide 23.5%, Analgesic 17.2%, Insectide 7.8% and else 17.2%. Sedative showed the highest proportion both in 2009 and 2010. Among the drug addicted patients, 39 cases did not know that the drugs are poisonous and among them, the drug addiction selecting kit was positive in 32 cases (82.0%). In 42 cases where addiction was suspicious, 25 cases (59.5%) were positive in the drug addiction selecting kit. In 57 cases of using drug addiction selecting kits, the cases in which benzodiazepine was positive, were 30 and the most frequently cases were as follows; Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA) 13 cases, Amphetamines 3 cases, barbiturate 3 cases, and piate 3 cases. In the district using drug addiction kit meaningfully had Flumazenil injection much greater impact than the one not using the kit. This proves the efficiency of the kit (p<0.05). The uses of drug addiction selecting kits are for acute drug intoxicated patients and for providing objective and scientific information when emergency medical doctor are checking unchecked poisoning drugs. It is considered that drug addiction selecting kits would give help when treating the early stage of drug addicted patients in emergency medical treatment.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.251-258
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• 1997

The dysfunction of either or both noradrenaline and serotonin system are important in the pathophysiology of depression. Previous reports have suggested that there may be an important interaction between these two systems. Recently, some investigators have suggested that the combination of tricyclic antidepressants(TCAs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs) would produce a rapid synergistic effect on down-regulation of either or both of these two systems and that this combination may produce a more rapid and absolute antidepressant effect. We compared the treatment efficacy, treatment associated side effects, treatment satisfaction, and the quality of life between the combination therapy of dothiepin-sertraline as well as the therapy of dothiepin alone in the treatment of major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder. In our study, the combination therapy of dothiepin and sertraline produced a more rapid and absolute antidepressant effect than dothiepin alone. And the patients with combination therapy experienced relatively high treatment satisfaction than the patients with dothiepin therapy. The patients' quality of life improved more rapidly in the combination therapy, especially, in the health perception, social behavior, and life satisfaction, than dothiepin alone. These results support the hypothesis that the combination of TCA and SSRI may produce a rapid synergistic effect on either or both norepinephrine and serotonin system, and more rapid antidepressant effect and high treatment satisfaction.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.262-267
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• 2007

The serotonin 6(5-HT6) receptor gene is a candidate gene for influencing the clinical response to treatment with antidepressants. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the C267T polymorphism in the 5-HT6 receptor gene and the treatment response to citalopram in a Korean population with major depressive disorder(MDD). Methods : Citalopram was administered for 8 weeks to the 90 patients who completed study. 21-item Hamilton depression rating scale(HAMD-21) was used as a outcome measure. Results : We found that the genotype, allele, and allele-carrier distributions did not differ significantly between MDD patients and normal controls. A main effect of an interaction of genotype with time on the decrease in the HAMD-21 score during the 8 weeks study period was not found. ANOVA revealed no significant effects of the C825T polymorphism on the decrease in the HAMD-21 score at each time period. Conclusions : These results suggest that the C267T polymorphism in the 5-HT6 receptor gene is not associated with the treatment response to citalopram.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.201-209
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• 1998

Background: Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) have been used for various pain syndromes for their analgesic effects. They, however, often have anticholinergic side effects and therefore search for more selective drugs with fewer side effects is justified. Paroxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor devoid of autonomic side effects, was evaluated for its role as an analgesic adjuvant in the management of neuropathic pain. Method: According to individual diagnostic group as diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, central pain syndrome and cancer related plexopathy, 10 patients per each group were equally accumulated. Patients have been stabilized in their analgesic regimen at least four weeks prior to enrollment into study. TCA, if taken, was discontinued for two weeks for wash out period. Baseline four point verbal pain intensity score was obtained and oral administration of paroxetine 20 mg was initiated. At two weeks follow-up visit, pain intensity scores, pain improvement scores judged by family, drug efficacy, tolerability and overall evaluation were assessed. The incidence of side effects were also obtained. Result: After two weeks of treatment, pain intensity scores decreased in 77.5% of patients and no patients experienced aggravation. These findings were objectively reflected in pain improvement scores judged by family members. But, the number of nonresponders was different among groups. In drug efficacy, tolerability and overall evaluation, the proportions of patients who scored as excellent or good were 75%, 80% and 80% respectively. Incidence of side effects was 27.5%, but the side effects spontaneously disappeared after discontinuation of medication. Conclusion: Paroxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, appears to be effective as adjuvant analgesic for the management of various neuropathic pain syndromes.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.155-173
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• 2018

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is an unwanted adverse event in any operation. It leads to functional limitations and psychological trauma for patients, and leaves the operative team with feelings of failure and humiliation. Therefore, it is crucial that preventive strategies for CPSP are considered in high-risk operations. Various techniques have been implemented to reduce the risk with variable success. Identifying the risk factors for each patient and applying a timely preventive strategy may help patients avoid the distress of chronic pain. The preventive strategies include modification of the surgical technique, good pain control throughout the perioperative period, and preoperative psychological intervention focusing on the psychosocial and cognitive risk factors. Appropriate management of CPSP patients is also necessary to reduce their suffering. CPSP usually has a neuropathic pain component; therefore, the current recommendations are based on data on chronic neuropathic pain. Hence, voltage-dependent calcium channel antagonists, antidepressants, topical lidocaine and topical capsaicin are the main pharmacological treatments. Paracetamol, NSAIDs and weak opioids can be used according to symptom severity, but strong opioids should be used with great caution and are not recommended. Other drugs that may be helpful are ketamine, clonidine, and intravenous lidocaine infusion. For patients with failed pharmacological treatment, consideration should be given to pain interventions; examples include transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, botulinum toxin injections, pulsed radiofrequency, nerve blocks, nerve ablation, neuromodulation and surgical management. Physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and lifestyle modifications are also useful for relieving the pain and distress experienced by CPSP patients.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.256-262
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• 1999

Because chronic pain disorder may has multiple causes or contributing factors, including physical, psychological, and socio-environmental variables, the treatment of patients with the disorder requires biopsychosocial approaches in a multidisciplinary setting. In treating chronic pain, it is important to address functioning as well as pain, and treatment should be to increase functional capacity and manage the pain as opposed to curing it. Therefore treatment goal should be adaptation to pain or minimizing pain with corresponding greater functioning. Treatment begins with the initial assessment, which includes evaluation of psychophysiologic mechanisms, operant mechanisms, and overt psychiatric comorbidity. Psychiatric treatment of the patients requires adherence to sound pharmacologic and behavioral principles. There are four categories of drugs useful to psychiatrist in the management of chronic pain patients : 1) narcotic analgesics, 2) nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, 3) psychotropic medications, and 4) anticonvulsants, but antidepressants are the most valuable drugs in pharmnacotherpy for them. Psychological treatments tend to emphasize behavioral and cognitive-behavioral modalities, which are divided into self-management techniques and operant techniques. Psychodynamic and insight-oriented therapies are indicated to some patients with long-standing interpersonal dysfunction or a history of childhood abuse.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 1992

This study was objected to evaluate clinical progressions about both the degree of pain relief and the occurrence of morphine tolerance while the epidural analgesia with low dose of morphine, bupivacaine and antidepressant continued repeatedly at every 5 day intervals of the constant-rate infusion(0.5 ml/hr, 60 ml capacity). The subjects were divided to 56 cancer and 36 non-cancer patients who failed to respond to palliative treatments. Before the relief of pain, the pain severity was moderate(10%) and severe(90%). The dose escalation of morphine noted to 11(20%)patients in cancer pain and to one(5%) case only in non-cancer. During the epidural analgesia, the effect of pain relief was moderate(11%) and good(89%). It suggest that the morphine tolerance may be reduced to some degree such as an initial minimum dose of epidural morphine with local anesthetic and antidepressant should be adjusted on an individual basis using the constant-rate infusor, even though rapid dose escalation occurrs in some patients who the diseases progress over a short period of time.