• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.40-49
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• 2012

Objectives : To examine emotional and psychological characteristics associated with suicide attempts in depressed patients. Methods : A sample of 37 inpatients diagnosed with major depressive disorder or depressive disorder NOS was divided into two groups : lifetime suicide attempters(N=15 ; 40.54%), non-attempters(N=22 ; 59.46%). Beck Depression Scale(BDI), Beck Anxiety Scale(BAI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HDRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale(HARS), and MMPI-2 were used to evaluate symptoms severity and psychological characteristics. Results : Suicide attempters scored higher on the BDI though there were no group differences on the HDRS and on the both anxiety scales. Also they showed higher scores on the F, Fb, Pa, RC1, DEP, HEA, PK, AAS among MMPI-2 subscales. Our findings suggest that suicide attempters among depressed patients undergo more severe subjective distress and difficulties in adjustment than non-attempters. Also they were more hostile to others and showed lower trust. Lastly, they showed more somatic complaints and substance related problems. Conclusion : The present study showed that suicide attempters among depressed patients have distinct emotional and psychological characteristics. MMPI-2 would be helpful to assess suicidal risk of depressed patients.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.31-39
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• 2013

The geriatric patients with chronic physical diseases are frequently associated with the continuous clusters of depression including nonpathological sadness, subsyndromal depression, minor depressive disorder, and major depressive disorder. Because of the complex and reciprocal relationships among depression, elderly, and chronic physical diseases, screening approaches with specific nosological methods should be needed in the realm of early detection of depression. Cognitive decline is frequently manifested in geriatric depression with medical or neurological diseases. Also, somatic symptoms of depression or emotional symptoms of physical diseases can play a role as a hampering factor in the early detection of depression. Furthermore, after-care has been regarded as an essential factor of depression screening in the geriatric patients with chronic physical diseases. We reviewed the most popular examples of integrated medicine for depression in primary care. Thus, we propose a general hospital-based model for early detection of depression which includes favorable response loop between screening and therapeutic intervention. Our model can be a basis for evidence-based detection and after-care for depression in the geriatric patients with chronic medical diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.213-223
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• 1996

This study was performed to assess depression/anxiety of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) in children and adolescents and to use them as basic material for subdivied ADHD on phenomenological aspects. 51 hospitalized ADHD children and adolescents were assessed using the Korean form of the Kovacs' Children's Depression Inventory(CDI), Korean Form of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children(STAIC). Their data were compared to normal control of 50 mentally healthy children and adolescents in relation with the dermographic characteristic. The mean scores of CDI and STAIC-5(State) of ADHD group were statistically higher than those of the control group(p<0.01 or p<0.05). The mean scores of STAIC-T(Trait) of ADHD group were higher than those of the control group. These results suggest that the authors suggest that ADHD can be subdivide into pure ADHD, depressive ADHD and anxious ADHD by the comorbidity of the depression/anxiety.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.52-59
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• 2020

This study examined the effects of sling-complex exercise on depression, function, and quality of life in the elderly. As a study method, 40 elderly people aged 65 years or older among nursing homes in M Hospital located in D city were compared randomly with the Suspended Combined Exercise Program group (n=20) and control group (n=20). This was measured using the GDS for depression before and after the intervention for 60 minutes, two days a week for 12 weeks for the combined exercise program with a sling and the same program without a sling. In addition, the quality of life was measured using self-efficacy. For comparison within the group, a paired t-test was applied, and a two-sample t-test was used for the comparison. After the intervention, the experimental group showed a significantly greater change in all evaluations (GDS, FIM, and self-efficacy) compared to the control group (p<0.05). Moreover, there was no significant change in the general self-efficacy of the control group (p>0.05). Overall, the sling complex exercise program is effective in improving the quality of life of the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.106-113
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the triallelic serotonin transporter gene and stressful life events to determine their effect on depression with alcohol dependence. Methods : Ninety-five hospitalized patients with alcohol dependence (73 male, 22 female) were enrolled in this study. Thirty-two (33.7%) of the total patients were diagnosed with major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder by Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV. The characteristics of stress were evaluated using the stressful life events scale, and depressive symptoms were assessed using the depression scale (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI). Alcoholism with depression (n = 32) and alcoholism without depression (n = 63) were genotyped for the triallelic serotonin transporter gene ($L_A$ : higher expressing allele, $L_G$/S : lower expressing allele). Results : There was no significant difference in the allele frequency between the depression group and the non-depression group (${\chi}^2$ = 0.345, p = 0.619). $L_G$/S alleles had more comorbid depression in the higher score of stressful life events scale [Mental-Haenszel (MH)-${\chi}^2$ = 4.477, p = 0.034]. But there was no significant difference in the comorbidity according to the scores from the stressful life event scale in the $L_A$ alleles (MH-${\chi}^2$ = 0.741, p = 0.399). In the results, alcohol-dependent individuals with $L_G$/S alleles had more comorbid depression than those with $L_A$ alleles when they had experienced severe stressful life events (MH-odds ratio = 2.699, p = 0.028). Conclusions : These results suggest that there is no direct relationship between triallelic serotonin transporter gene and depression in the alcohol dependent patients. But alcohol dependent individuals with the lower expressing alleles of the serotonin transporter gene were more susceptible to depression than those with the higher expressing alleles in response to stressful life events.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.29-32
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• 2014

Objectives: The aim of current study is to evaluate the relationship between sleep, suicide and serotonin using some scales and loudness dependence of auditory evoked potentials (LDAEP). Methods: Total 65 patients who met the criteria for major depressive disorder were enrolled in current study. The patients were divided into two subgroups according to their insomnia and a history of suicide attempts. The auditory event-related potentials were measured to evaluate LDAEP before beginning antidepressants. Results: The scores of total Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and BDI item 9 (suicide) were higher in insomnia subgroup than non-insomnia subgroup (respectively, p=0.0033 and p=0.03). However, LDAEP did not differ each other. The subgroup with a history of suicide attempts had a higher score of BDI item 9 than the subgroup without a history of suicide attempts (p=0.00012). There was a tendency for the LDAEP to be higher in the subgroup with a history of suicide attempts ($1.39{\pm}0.94{\mu}V$) than the sub-group without a history of suicide attempts ($1.05{\pm}0.75{\mu}V$), although the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.078). Conclusion: Suicidality was related to insomnia. In addition, there was a tendency for serotonin activity to be lower in the subgroup with a history of suicide attempts. In future, more studies are needed.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.39-46
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• 2019

Antidepressants are widely used to treat depression in Korea, however, only a few studies have focused on the provider of the treatment. The aim of the study is to compare the differences between patients who were prescribed antidepressants by psychiatrists and those who were prescribed antidepressants by non-psychiatrists in South Korea. Patients with a diagnosis of depressive disorder who had been newly prescribed antidepressants in 2012 were selected from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database. They were classified into two groups depending on whether they received the antidepressant prescription from a psychiatrist or non-psychiatrist. Sociodemographic, clinical, and depression related cost has been investigated. Treatment resistant depression, which is defined as a failure of two antidepressant regimens to alleviate symptoms, was also investigated. Prescription adequacy was assessed based on whether a regimen was maintained for at least 4 weeks. Among the 834694 patients with pharmaceutically treated depression (PTD) examined in this study, 326122 (39.1%) were treated by psychiatrists. Patients who were treated by psychiatrists were younger and had more psychiatric comorbidities than those treated by non-psychiatrists. They had longer PTD duration (229.3 days vs. 103.0 days, p < 0.05) and a larger proportion of treatment resistant depression (9.3% of PTD) when compared to those patients treated by non-psychiatrists. The patients treated by psychiatrists had a smaller proportion of inadequate antidepressant use compared to those patients in the non-psychiatrist group (44.5% vs. 65.1%, p < 0.05). The costs related to depression corrected with PTD duration were higher in the non-psychiatrist group (32214 won vs. 56001 won, p < 0.05). Patients who receive antidepressants from psychiatrists are patients with more severe, treatment-resistant depression. Psychiatrists prescribe antidepressants more adequately and cost- effectively than non-psychiatrists.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.209-220
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• 2019

Objectives: As a general emotion, everyone can temporarily experience depression, but depressive disorder is a disease that excessively affects daily life. Among the various causes of depression, the deficiency of monoamine-based neurotransmitters such as serotonin and epinephrine are considered significant. Thus, antidepressants that target monoamines are used frequently. However, side effects such as nausea, vomiting, insomnia, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction are observed. Thus, it is necessary to develop a new therapeutic agent with fewer side effects. In this study, we investigated the antidepressant effect of JG02, used to treat depression by normalizing the flow of qi (氣) in Korean medicine. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were selected and randomly divided into six groups: normal, control, amitriptyline, and JG02 (50, 125, 250 mg/kg), respectively. Except for normal, depression was induced by applying restraint stress at the same time for six hours daily for 14 consecutive days. Saline, amitriptyline or JG02 samples were orally administered two hours before applying the stress. After that, a forced swimming test and an open field test were performed. Additionally, serum corticosterone, serotonin mRNA, BDNF mRNA, and protein in the hippocampal region were measured and compared. Results: JG02 decreased immobility time rate in the FST and increased the zone transition number and travel distance in the OFT. Also, JG02 inhibited the release of serum corticosterone, and increased serotonin, BDNF gene expression, and BDNF protein in the hippocampus. Conclusions: In this study, JG02 showed significant antidepressant effects on the chronic restraint stress mice model. When further research is performed based on JG02, the development of a new antidepressant is considered highly possible.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.211-218
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• 2005

Objectives : The purpose of the study was to evaluate the related factors of depression in mothers bringing their offspring for evaluation or treatment of problematic behaviors. Methods : Fifty mothers were recruited through their offspring's evaluation or treatment for offspring's problematic behaviors. Psychological tests battery including Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and the Korean Educational Development Institute-Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children was administered to all mothers and their offspring. Mothers completed Korean version of Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL), and teachers completed Teacher's Report Form (TRF). On the basis of the maternal depression, the mothers were divided into two groups. Results : 1) Among the fifty mothers, $42\%$ of the mothers had depressive disorder, $16\%$ had anxiety disorder, and $42\%$ had no psychiatric disorder. 2) Depressed mothers rated significantly higher in aggressive behaviors, externalizing problems of K-CBCL in their children. 3) Children of depressed mothers had lower score in picture arrangement and coding subtests of KEDI-WISC than those of no psychiatric disorder mothers. 4) After controlling for the total problematic behavior scores of TRF, mother's depression is positively correlated with aggressive behaviors, externalizing problems, total problematic behaviors of K-CBCL, and negatively correlated with coding of KEDI-WISC. Conclusion : Children's aggressive behavior, externalizing behavior, total problematic behaviors and low coding score may be associated with mother's depression.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2006

Objectives : In the psychiatry, structured interview is very important tool to be used in epidemiological or psychopharmacological studies. However, investigators often find that the administration of comprehensive diagnostic interviews is time-consuming and expensive to be used in clinical or research settings. Considering these points, Sheehan and his colleagues developed MINI (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview) to meet the need for a brief, reliable, and valid structured diagnostic interview for psychiatric disorders. The MINI has been translated into many languages and used in many countries. Therefore, we translated the MINI into Korean and determined its validity in this study. Methods : Twohundred seventy patients and normal subjects participated in the validation of the MINI versus an expert's professional opinion. Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, mood disorders including major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders including panic and other phobic disorders, and alcohol dependence were included in this study. The validity was obtained by examination whether MINI based diagnoses were compatible with diagnoses by expert psychiatrists. Results : The range of Kappa values was 0.22 (somatoform disorder) to 0.93 (bipolar disorder - past). Overall agreement between MINI and expert's diagnoses were good. The Kappa values for anxiety disorders seemed to be higher than those for other disorders. Conclusion : The MINI Korean version has the good validity. It also has potential applications as a diagnostic tool for psychiatric disorders.