• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.435-443
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• 2022

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disease that develops following exposure to a traumatic event and is a stress-associated mental disorder characterized by an imbalance of neuroinflammation. Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is the herbal supplement that is known to be involved in a variety of pharmacological activities. We aimed to investigate the effects of KRG on neuroinflammation as a potential mechanism involved in single prolonged stress (SPS) that negatively influences memory formation and consolidation and leads to cognitive and spatial impairment by regulating BDNF signaling, synaptic proteins, and the activation of NF-κB. Methods: We analyzed the cognitive and spatial memory, and inflammatory cytokine levels during the SPS procedure. SPS model rats were injected intraperitoneally with 20, 50, or 100 mg/kg/day KRG for 14 days. Results: KRG administration significantly attenuated the cognitive and spatial memory deficits, as well as the inflammatory reaction in the hippocampus associated with activation of NF-κB in the hippocampus induced by SPS. Moreover, the effects of KRG were equivalent to those exerted by paroxetine. In addition, KRG improved the expression of BDNF mRNA and the synaptic protein PSD-95 in the hippocampus. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that KRG exerts memory-improving actions by regulating anti-inflammatory activities and the NF-κB and neurotrophic pathway. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that KRG is a potential functional ingredient for protecting against memory deficits in mental diseases, such as PTSD.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.33-39
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• 2022

Objectives The early growth response 3 (EGR3) gene located in chromosome 8p21.3 is one of the susceptibility loci in many psychiatric disorders. EGR3 gene plays critical roles in signal transduction in the brain, which is involved in neuronal plasticity, neuronal development, learning, memory, and circadian rhythms. Recent studies have suggested EGR3 as a potential susceptibility gene for bipolar disorder (BPD). However, this requires further replication with an independent sample set. Methods To investigate the genetic role of EGR3 in Korean patients, we genotyped six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the chromosome region of EGR3 in 1076 Korean BPD patients and 773 healthy control subjects. Results Among the six examined SNPs of EGR3 (rs17088531, rs1996147, rs3750192, rs35201266, rs7009708, rs1008949), SNP rs35201266, rs7009708, rs1008949 showed a significant association with BPD (p = 0.0041 for rs35201266 and BPD2, p = 0.0074 for rs1008949 and BPD, p = 0.0052 for rs1008949 and BPD1), which withstand multiple testing correction. In addition, the 'G-C-C-C' and 'G-C-G-C' haplotypes of EGR3 were overrepresented in the patients with BPD (p = 0.0055, < 0.0001, respectively) and the 'G-T-G-C' haplotype of EGR3 was underrepresented in patients with BPD (p = 0.0040). Conclusions In summary, our study supports the association of EGR3 with BPD in Korean population sample, and EGR3 could be suggested as a compelling susceptibility gene in BPD.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.129-136
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• 2021

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between brain structure and empathy in early adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: Nineteen early adolescents with ADHD and 20 healthy controls underwent 3T MRI. All the participants were assessed for different aspects of empathy using measures including the Interpersonal Reactivity Index and Empathy Quotient. Cortical thickness and subcortical structural volume based on T1-weighted scans were analyzed using FreeSurfer. Results: Cognitive empathy (t=-2.52, p=0.016) and perspective taking (t=-2.10, p=0.043) were impaired in the ADHD group compared with the control group. The cluster encompassing the left posterior insular, supramarginal, and transverse temporal cortices [cluster-wise p-value (CWP)=0.001], which are associated with emotional empathy, was significantly smaller in the ADHD group, and the volume of the left nucleus accumbens was greater than that of the control group (F=10.12, p=0.003, effect size=0.22). In the control group, the left superior temporal (CWP=0.002) and lingual cortical (CWP=0.035) thicknesses were positively associated with cognitive empathy, while the right amygdala volume was positively associated with empathic concern (Coef=14.26, t=3.92, p=0.001). However, there was no significant correlation between empathy and brain structure in the ADHD group. Conclusion: The ADHD group had a smaller volume of the cortical area associated with emotional empathy than the control group, and there was no brain region showing significant correlation with empathy, unlike in the control group.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.113-125
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• 2023

It has been reported that stressful events in early life influence behavior in adulthood and are associated with different psychiatric disorders, such as major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder. Maternal separation (MS) is a representative animal model for reproducing childhood stress. It is used as an animal model for depression, and has well-known effects, such as increasing anxiety behavior and causing abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This study investigated the effect of MS on anxiety or aggression-like behavior and the number of GABAergic neurons in the hippocampus. Mice were separated from their dams for four hours per day for 19 d from postnatal day two. Elevated plus maze (EPM) test, resident-intruder (RI) test, and counted glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) or parvalbumin (PV) positive cells in the hippocampus were executed using immunohistochemistry. The maternal segregation group exhibited increased anxiety and aggression in the EPM test and the RI test. GAD67-positive neurons were increased in the hippocampal regions we observed: dentate gyrus (DG), CA3, CA1, subiculum, presubiculum, and parasubiculum. PV-positive neurons were increased in the DG, CA3, presubiculum, and parasubiculum. Consistent with behavioral changes, corticosterone was increased in the MS group, suggesting that the behavioral changes induced by MS were expressed through the effect on the HPA axis. Altogether, MS alters anxiety and aggression levels, possibly through alteration of cytoarchitecture and output of the ventral hippocampus that induces the dysfunction of the HPA axis.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.145-157
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• 1999

This study was performed by the children and adolescents who were abused or neglected physically, emotionally that were selected in child & adolescents psychiatric ward. We investigated the number of these case in admitted children & adolescents, and also observed characteristics of symptoms, developmental history, characteristics of abuse style, characteristics of abusers, family dynamics and psychopathology. We hypothesized that all kinds of abuse will influnced to emotional, behavioral problems, developmental courses on victims, interactive effects on family dynamics and psychopathology. That subjects were 22 persons of victims who be determined by clinical observation and clinical note. The results of the study were as follows：1) Demographic characteristics of victims：ratio of sex was 1：6.3(male：female), mean age was $11.1{\pm}2.5$. According to birth order, lst was 12(54.5%), 2nd was 5(23%), 3rd was 2(9%) and only child was 3(13.5%). 2) Characteristics of family：According to socioeconomic status, middle to high class was 3(13.5%), middle one was 9(41.% ), middle to low one was 9(41%), low one was 1(0.5%). according to number of family, under the 3 person was 3(13.5%), 4-5 was 17(77.5%), 6-7 was 2(9%). according to marital status of parents, divorce or seperation were 5(23%), remarriage 2(9%), severe marital discord was 19(86.5%). In father, antisocial behavior was 7(32%), alcohol dependence was 10(45.5%). In mother, alcohol abuse was 5(23%), depression was 17(77.3%), history of psychiatric management was 6(27%). 3) Characteristics of abuse：Physical abuse was 18(81.8%), physical and emotional abuse and neglect were 4(18.2%). according to onset of abuse, before 3 years was 15(54.5%), 3-6 years was 5(27.5%), schooler was 1(15%). Only father offender was 2(19%), only mother offender was 8(35.4%), both offender was 8(35.4%), accompaning with spouse abuse was 7(27%), and accompaning with other sibling abuse was 4(18.2%). 4) General characteristics and developmental history of victims：Unwanted baby was 12(54.5%), developmental delay before abuse was9(41%), comorbid developmental disorder was 15(68%). there were 6(27.5%) who didn‘t show definite sign of developmental delay before abuse. 5) Main diagnosis and comorbid diagnosis：According to main diagnosis, conduct disorder 6(27.3%), borderline child 5(23%), depression4(18%), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) 4(18%), pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified 2(9%), selective mutism 1(5%). According to comorbid diagnosis, ADHD, borderline intelligence, mental retardation, learning disorder, developmental language disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, chronic tic disorder, functional enuresis and encoporesis, anxiety disorder, dissociative disorder, personality disorder due to medical condition. 5) Course of treatment：A mean duration of admission was $2.4{\pm}1.5$ months. 11(15%) showed improvement of symtoms, however 11(50%) was not changed of symtoms.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2011

Objective : This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of the early maladaptive schemas in patients with panic disorder. Methods : Patients (n=35) included people who had met the DSM-IV-TR criteria for panic disorder. The normal control group (n=35) were those people who had no psychiatric disorder and had never experienced panic attack. The early maladaptive schemas and the severity of depression and anxiety were assessed by the Young Schema Questionnaire Short-form (YSQ-SF), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results : The scores on the STAI-S, STAI-T, and BDI were significantly higher in the patient group. Compared to the control group, the scores of vulnerability to harm and illness, and abandonment/instability schemas were significantly higher in the patient group. In the patient group, defectiveness/shame and subjugation schemas were found to predict BDI, dependent/incompetence, abandonment/instability schemas were found to predict STAI-S, and vulnerability to harm and illness, and abandonment/instability schemas were found to predict STAI-T. In normal controls, failure and insufficient self-control/self-discipline, failure, and emotion inhibition schemas were found to predict BDI, STAI-T, and STAI-S. Conclusions : Vulnerability to harm and illness and abandonment/instability schemas may be characteristic schema in patients with panic disorder.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.150-161
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• 1994

Clinical Characteristics of 83 tic patients referred to child psychiatric clinics were studied including the patients' sexes, birth orders and onset ages. We compared the differences between patients and normal control regarding the co-morbidity, and mothering attitude using CBCL(Child Behavioral Check List) and MBRI(Mothering Behavior Rating Instrument). And we also evaluated the influence of types of tic disorder and the presence of behavioral characteristics of the tic patients. The following results were obtained. 1) The sex ration was 5.9:1, male dominant. 2) The eldest children were being twice as many as the youngest children(eldest : youngest : single=4.7 : 1.7 : 1). 3) The eldest children tended to have earlier onset than others. 4) The tic children as a whole had more accompanying behavioral problems than the normal children according to the CBCL scales' scores. 5) The mothers of tic children had more negative view of their children, more rejecting and more hostile attitude toward their children. 6) The types of tic disorder(the Tourette disorder vs chronic moter tic disorder) did not make a difference in the incidence of behavior problems. 7) Those who had attentional problems regardless the types of tic had more behavioral problems than those who had not. 8) Those who had familial loadings of tic disorder tended to have more likely Tourette disorders than chronic tic disorders.

• Psychiatry investigation
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.1046-1052
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• 2018

Objective The aims of the present study were to explore the occurrence of childhood trauma and importantly to determine the impacts of childhood trauma on psychosocial features in a Chinese sample of young adults. Methods A survey was carried out in a group of 555 university students by using Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Dysfunctional Attitudes Questionnaire (DAS), Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS). The moderate-severe cut-off scores for CTQ were used to calculate the prevalence of childhood trauma, and then psychosocial features were compared between individuals with and without childhood trauma. Results A proportion of 18.6% of university students had self-reported childhood trauma exposures. Subjects with childhood trauma reported higher scores of SDS, SAS, DAS, and psychoticism and neuroticism dimensions of EPQ (t=4.311-5.551, p<0.001); while lower scores of SSRS and extraversion dimension of EPQ (t=-4.061- -3.039, p<0.01). Regression analyses further revealed that scores of SAS and DAS were positively (Adjusted B=0.211-0.230, p<0.05), while scores of SSRS were negatively (Adjusted B=-0.273- -0.240, p<0.05) associated with specific CTQ scores. Conclusion Childhood trauma is still a common social and psychological problem. Individuals with childhood trauma show much more depression, anxiety, distorted cognition, personality deficits, and lower levels of social support, which may represent the social and psychological vulnerability for developing psychiatric disorders after childhood trauma experiences.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.227-236
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• 1998

Objectives：Conduct disorder is one of the most frequent diagnosis in outpatient and inpatient mental health facilities for children and adolescents. This study investigated the clinical characteristics of children and adolescents with conduct disorder. Methods：The study employed a retrospective review of 45 inpatients diagnosed with conduct disorder by DSM-IV criteria at SNUH Child Psychiatric Unit from 1993, March to 1998, September. Results：The results were as follows：1) The sex ratio was 2：1, male dominant. Mean age on admission was $12.8{\pm}2.4$ years old(male：$12.2{\pm}2.3$, female：$14.1{\pm}2.1$). The mean age of male subjects was significantly lower than that of female subjects(p<.05). 2) We classified all subjects according to child- or adolescent-onset type by DSM-Ⅳ. Childhoodonset type was 42.2%, and adolescent-onset, 57.8%. The onset of male subjects were significantly earlier than that of female subjects(p<.05). 3) The most common complaint was 'serious violation of rules'(77.8%) by DSM-Ⅳ dimensions, while the most common single symtom was 'run away from home overnight at least twice while living in parental or parental surrogate home'(48.9%). 4) The comorbid psychopathology of the subjects were frequently described as follows, in order of frequency：substance use(42.2%), ADHD(35.6%), depression(20.0%), tic disorder(11.1%), bipolar disorder(4.4%). 5) On MMPI, both Pd and Ma subscales got the highest scores. The mean of total IQ by KEDIWISC was $100.0{\pm}15.1$. Female subjects' IQ was higher than that of male subjects. 6) Regarding the number of visits to the OPD after discharge, many subjects(33.3%) had visited OPD fewer than four times. Conclusions：In this study, the male to female ratio of adolescent type showed a decreasing trend. An interesting finding was the fact that socio-economic circumstances, as well as the level of education among patients, were higher than those of previous studies. The subjects' problem were also principally self contered and posed no threat to others.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.179-191
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• 2013

Kleine-Levin syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of hypersomnia, hyperphagia, hypersexuality and delusion and hallucination with spontaneous recovery. A 17-year-old female suddenly showed hypersomnia, severe fatigue, and compulsive hyperphagia. She was diagnosed with suspected Kleine-Levin Syndrome. The precipitating factor was an upper respiratory tract infection that the patient had undergone 2 weeks prior. Past psychiatric history included somnambulism and ADHD; her symptoms of ADHD included attention deficit, impulsiveness, hyperactivity, and irritability. This was her third episode. Her hypersomnia was longer in duration but lower in frequency compared with usual KLS. Her low LF/HF ratio in heart rate variability measurement showed high parasympathetic nerve activity. A MMPI report showed some psychological problem. The patient was diagnosed of gastric fever by pattern identification. Her hypersomnia episode improved 6 weeks after onset. This is the first reported case of suspected Kleine-Levin Syndrome in the field of Oriental Medicine in Korea.