• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.28-36
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• 2014

Objectives : The goal of this study was to examine the association between zinc and lead level and symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among Korean children. Methods : A total of 89 clinic-referred children participated in the study (ADHD group=45, control group=44). The participants were 5-15 years old, and were mainly from urban areas of Seoul, Korea. ADHD was diagnosed using the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version. We excluded children with a comorbid psychiatric disorder, medical illness requiring medication, or a prior history of taking ADHD medication. In order to evaluate the severity of ADHD symptoms, parents' Korean ADHD Rating Scale (K-ARS) was used. The ADHD diagnostic system (ADS) was used for evaluation of the severity of inattention and impulsivity. All participants completed the intelligence test and hair mineral analysis. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the effect of hair zinc and lead levels on the K-ARS and ADS. We measured the predictive ability of the zinc and lead levels using logistic regression analysis. Results : The lead level explained the score for omission errors, commission errors, and response time SD in visual ADS in the ADHD group (adjusted $R^2$=.243, p<.01, adjusted $R^2$=.362, p<.01, and adjusted $R^2$=.275, p<.01), the score for omission errors of auditory ADS in ADHD group (adjusted $R^2$=.407, p<.01) and the entire group (adjusted $R^2$=.292, p<.01). Zinc was significantly explanatory for the K-ARS scores for the entire group (adjusted $R^2$=.248, p<.001) and the ADHD group (adjusted $R^2$=.247, p<.05). Conclusion : These findings suggest a possible role of zinc and lead in ADHD. Lead concentration in hair samples affected the ADS scores, and this was more prominent in children with ADHD. Children with ADHD had a lower zinc concentration in their hair, and the zinc concentration in hair showed negative correlation with the K-ARS score.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2011

Objectives:We conduct this study to investigate the common features between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) and epileptic patients compared to normal control. Methods:Epileptic patients were recruited from the department of pediatic in Jesus Hospital. ADHD patients were recruited from the department of neuropsychiatry in Jesus Hospital. We excluded mental retardation or brain organic pathology. We use ADHD Diagnostic System and Korean-Child Behavior Checklist(K-CBCL) to assess features of ADHD. Electroencephalogram(EEG) of ADHD, epileptic patients and normal control were analyzed and compared. Results:Compared to normal control group, inattention, reaction time deviation were increased in both ADHD and epilepsy group. EEG abnormalities(control 13.8%, epilepsy 97.1%, ADHD 40%) in three groups were reported. Conclusion:There are common features of ADHD and epileptic patients.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.213-219
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• 2013

Objectives : It is known that adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often concurrently exhibit attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The objective of this study is to investigate how ADHD symptoms modify clinical characteristics in adolescents with ASD. Methods : Subjects were recruited from the Program for the Education Enrichment of Relational Skills program, which is a program for adolescents with ASD to promote and train social skills. The study participants and their parents completed the study questionnaires, such as the ADHD rating scale, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, and Korean version of Child Behavior Checklist. Results : Adolescents with ASD and ADHD (N=19) were found to have more impaired sociality, less open communication with their parents, and more behavioral and emotional problems compared with adolescents with ASD, and without ADHD (N=28). Conclusion : Although further research is needed, the results of our study suggest that adolescents with ASD present different clinical characteristics when comorbid with ADHD.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.54-62
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• 2005

Objective : Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common childhood psychiatric disorder, affecting $3-5\%$ of school age children. Although the biological basis of ADHD is unknown, family studies provide strong evidence that ADHD has a genetic basis. Recent genetic studies have suggested associations between ADHD and Taq I polymorphism of dopamine beta hydroxylase gene(DBH) . The aim of this study is to test the association between ADHD and Taq I polymorphism of DBH in Korean population. Method : We processed DNA extraction and genotyping for 106 korean children with ADHD and their parents. Genotyping was additionally performed for 212 age and gender matched normal controls. Case-control association study was applied. And we tested the association using the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) and haplotype-based haplotype relative risk test (HHRR). Results : There were no statistical differences of genotype distributions between cases and controls. However, we did observe preferential transmission of allele Al of DBH Taq T polymorphism in ADHD. Conclusion : On the whole, our results lend credence to the notion that the relationship between ADHD and DBH is complex. The number of cases and informative transmissions were small, therefore it would be premature to make any conclusions from our study concerning the role of DBH in ADHD. Further work is needed to support these findings.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.58-69
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• 2017

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent, impairing, and comorbid disorder that persists into adulthood. ADHD should be diagnosed in the same manner as other common adult mental health disorders. The three most important components in the comprehensive evaluation of patients with ADHD are the clinical interview, medical examination, and completion and scoring of behavior rating scales. The diagnostic evaluation of ADHD should include questions about the symptoms, family history, prior evaluation and treatment of ADHD, as well as other problems including alcohol and drug use. Screening interviews or rating scales, as well as interviews, should be used. When it is feasible, clinicians may wish to supplement these components of the evaluation with the objective assessments of the ADHD symptoms, such as through psychological tests. These tests are not essential to reaching a diagnosis, however, or to treatment planning, but may yield further information about the presence and severity of cognitive impairments that could be associated with some cases of ADHD. As comorbidity is the rule rather than the exception, clinicians should carefully screen for comorbid disorders as part of a comprehensive assessment of ADHD. To receive a diagnosis of ADHD, the person must be experiencing significant distress or impairment in his or her daily functioning, and must not meet the criteria for other mental disorders which might better account for the observed symptoms, such as mental retardation, autism or other pervasive developmental disorders, mood disorders and anxiety disorders. This report aims to suggest practice guidelines for the assessment and diagnosis of children, adolescents and adults with ADHD in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.224-232
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• 1996

The present study was conducted to investigate cognitive characteristics of children with dyslexia and/or attention deficit/hyperacidity disorder. Cognitive characteristics were evaluated by using KEDI-WISC, the Basic Achievement Test, TOVA, MFFT, and neuropsychological tests. ADHD group showed significantly lower level of performance in response time for correct responses and presented variability for correct responses in TOVA. Dyslexia and mixed group showed lower performance in Reading I and Reading II, Writing subtest in the Basic Achievement Test than those of ADHD group and in Information subtest of KEDI-WfSC. In order rd determine the diagnostic effectiveness of each psychological tests, discriminant analysis was conducted. In this analysis, 11 subtests of KEDI-WISC and 4 variables of TOVA, 4 subtests of the Basic Achievement Test, and MFFT, WCST were included as independent variables and each diagnostic roups were dependent variables. Discriminant analysis indicated that overall percentage of correct classification was 93.88%. The clinical implifications and limitations of the present study were listed and discussed.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.253-266
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• 2001

Background: The causes of ADHD(attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) are various, so it is impossible to understand the whole characteristics of ADHD, only with simple intelligence testing scales. We compared cognitive characteristics of ADHD group with normal controls with Korean Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children(K-ABC). It is well known to evaluate neuropsychological and cognitive aspects of the children. Materials and Methods: Age and sex matched 40 ADHD patients and 40 normal controls tested with the K-ABC. Each subscales compared between pre-treatment patients and controls, pre-treatment and post-treatment in patient group, post-treatment patients and controls. Results: Significant differences are observed in sequential processing, simultaneous processing, cognitive processing and achievement between pre-treatment patients and controls, and in gestalt closure between pre-treatment and post-treatment patients group. But there are no significant differences between pre-treatment patients and controls in gestalt closure and reading/decoding. Conclusions: Methylphenidate improved the scores of simultaneous scale, which means improvement of executive functions such as divided attention, analysis and organization. Methylphenidate also reduced distractibility.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.199-210
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• 2005

Objective : Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) affects $5-10\%$ of children in Korea, with more boys and girls being diagnosed. Despite seriousness of ADHD, little is known about its causes. From the current genetic epidemiologic studies, ADHD is known as a heritable disorder. Till now, however, there have been very few genetic studies about ADHD in Korea. The aim of the this study is to examine the association between dopamine transporter gone type 1 and ADHD using case-control design in Korean ADHD probands and normal controls. Materials and Method : Child Psychiatric Genetic research team in Seoul National University Hospital, Clinical Research Institute recruited the ADHD probands using clinical interview/observation, diverse rating scales, and neuropsychological tests. For eliminating phenocopy or ADHD, diagnosis of ADHD was based upon clinical data, psychometric data, and parent/teacher reports. Total 85 ADHD-probands were recruited as final study subjects and independent 100 normal adults participated in this study as control group. For all the ADHD probands, and controls, the 3'-UTR-VNTR polymorphism of DAT1 was analyzed. Based on the DAT1 allele and genotype informations, Chi-square test based on case-control design was performed. Results : As for genetic study, total of 85 probands and 100 controls were included for the genetic analysis. Four different alleles, 350bp (7repeat), 440bp (9repeat), 480bp (10repeat) and 520bp (11repeat) were found in DAT1 gene of study subjects. In case-control analysis, ADHD probands and parents have significantly more 9 repeat allele and 9/10 genotype. Also, The probands with 9repeat allele have more commission errors in ADS. Conclusion : The positive association between ADHD and DAT1 gene was replicated in this report like other previous results for caucasian children and Korean children with ADHD. There are ongoing studies on other candidate genes such as DRD4 and DRD5 and it would be required to explore the association of these candidate genes in Korean children with ADHD. These ongoing genetic research will contribute to the understanding of heterogenous genetic and environmental etiologies of ADHD phenotype, which will lead to the development of more comprehensive treatment and preventive interventions for ADHD.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 2023

Objectives: Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is often comorbid with other psychiatric disorders in childhood. This study aimed to investigate comorbid psychiatric symptoms and associated factors in elementary school children with symptoms of ODD. Methods: The participants consisted of 205 mother-offspring pairs. Psychiatric symptoms were measured using the Diagnostic Predictive Scales and Korean Child Behavior Checklist. Psychiatric comorbid symptoms were compared between children with ODD symptom and those without ODD symptom. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio of psychiatric symptom on ODD. Results: ODD group had a significant association with internalizing and externalizing problem (p=0.001, p<0.001, respectively). ODD group were more comorbid with anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and conduct disorder. Among psychiatric disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=18.620, p<0.001) and conduct disorder (AOR=9.529, p=0.014) were associated with ODD symptom. Conclusion: These findings suggest that children with ODD symptom had significantly higher rates of comorbid psychiatric symptoms. And GAD and conduct disorder are related to ODD symptom.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.247-270
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of multimedia-assisted language learning on vocabulary learning and attention for elementary school students who are ADHD-prone. Among thirty-three students attending a private English academy in Daegu, four students who were prone to develop ADHD were chosen for this study. They were observed in a multimedia-assisted language learning class for four months and they were given a series of tests designed to measure their attention period and vocabulary ability. The results of the study are as follows. First, studying English by using multimedia was effective in improving the attention of those children prone to develop ADHD. Second, studying English through multimedia was effective in improving their vocabulary ability. Based on the findings, some pedagogical suggestions have been made for further study.