• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.85-111
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• 2016

This study aims to analyse major changes of Mental Health Promotion and Welfare Service Support Act(MHPWSSA) and critically discuss these changes based on the major discourses on Mental Health Act revision. For this purposes this study reviewed literatures and government reports to understand human rights discourses, welfare discourses, and prevention discourses. Secondly, the major changes of MHPWSSA were analysed and discussed based on those discourses. This study found that MHPWSSA defined the concept of people with mental disorders narrowly, tightened the involuntary admission procedures, introduced welfare service support provisions and mental health promotion provisions. But this study shows that the new legislation may well be criticised due to neglect of the concept of disability and people with psychiatric disability, involuntary admission without mental capacity assessment, neglect of the basic values and principles of self determination and independent living common in welfare of the persons with disability. And the new legislation may be criticised due to overuse of the concept of mental health promotion as encompassing promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.281-290
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• 2018

Objectives: The objective of this study was to review the research trends in the treatment of acupuncture on schizophrenia in traditional Chinese medicine. Methods: Articles in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) from September 2008 to August 2018 were reviewed. The selected articles were evaluated by the Jadad Scale. Results: 11 articles were selected from a total of 33 articles. 1 study was single group before-and-after study while the other 10 studies were randomized controlled trial studies. Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders-3 was most frequently used as a diagnostic criterion. Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale was most commonly used as an outcome measurement. From Jadad Quality Assessment Scale of the 11 articles, the quality of the studies generally was low. Conclusions: BaekHoi (GV20) and YinDang (EX-HN3) are most commonly used in acupuncture treatment. According to this study, acupuncture treatment in addition to western medication on schizophrenia is more effective as compared to the controls. In future, this study could be primary data for development of more clinical research on the treatment of schizophrenia in Korean medicine.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.68-76
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• 2019

Objective : The goal of this study was to investigate the characteristics of early maladaptive schemas (EMSs), and associated neurocognitive functions as seen in visitors for military designation process. Methods : This retrospective study included 111 males aged 18 to 24 years among three groups: 41 visitors for military designation process (VMD), 21 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and 49 healthy subjects. We collected the results of the Young Schema Questionnaire, Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, three neurocognitive tests as well as their clinicodemographic data. We analyzed the differences in EMSs between these three groups, and the correlations among the identified EMSs and neurocognitive performances within the VMD group. Results : Compared with both the OCD and healthy groups, the evaluation of the VMD group showed significantly higher scores in mistrust/abuse (F=6.4, p=0.002), vulnerability to harm (F=6.6, p<0.0001) and negativity/pessimism schema (F=7.3, p<0.0001), even when controlling for depression scores and levels of education. These three schemas also exhibited significant negative correlations with the score of Stroop test with r ranging from -0.34 to -0.44. Conclusion : These findings suggest that people who are likely to have difficulties adjusting to living in a military life may have psychological vulnerabilities related to certain EMSs. Further studies are warranted to test the clinical potentials of these findings, such as a treatment target and a predictor factor.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.63-70
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• 2021

Objectives: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) of mothers may negatively affect the mental health of their offspring. Little is known about the intergenerational effect of maternal ACE on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the offspring. This study investigated the impact of maternal ACEs on PTSD in the offspring. Methods: A total of 156 mothers with children aged 13-18 years completed the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC) Predictive Scales to determine the presence of psychiatric disorders in their offspring. The subjects completed the ACE questionnaire and the Early Trauma Inventory Self-Report-Short Form. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between maternal ACEs and PTSD in the offspring. Results: Of the mothers, 23.7% had at least one ACE, and PTSD was reported in 21.8% of the offspring. The offspring of the mothers in the ACE group had a significantly higher rates of traumatic experiences and PTSD than the offspring of the mothers in the no ACE group. Maternal household dysfunction independently predicted offspring PTSD [odds ratio (OR)=3.008, p=0.05), and three or more maternal ACEs were significantly related to PTSD in the offspring (OR=10.613, p=0.025). Conclusion: Maternal ACEs have a significant impact on the risk of traumatic experiences and PTSD in the offspring. These findings suggest the presence of intergenerational transmissions by which maternal ACEs affect the mental health of the offspring.

• CELLMED
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.14.1-14.9
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• 2021

Background: Cuscuta reflexa Roxb is a member of the Cuscutaceae family, and in Unani medicine, it is known as Aftimoon. It is a parasitic plant that can be found growing abundantly on various host plants in India up to 3000 metres in altitude during the rainy season. Unani physicians have been using it for years to cure a variety of illnesses, including psychiatric illnesses like melancholia, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. It has been used to cure hepatitis, palpitations, and skin disorders, among other things. Objective of the study: To evaluate anti-anxiety effect of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb in Swiss Albino mice of either sex. Materials and Methods: A total of 24 Swiss Albino mice weighing 25-35 g were used in this study. Animals were chosen at random and held in their cages for at least 7 days in a standard setting. Group A was given regular saline as a vehicle, Group B was given a hydro alcoholic extract of the lower dose of the test drug, Group C was given a hydro alcoholic extract of the higher dose of the test drug, and Group D was given the standard drug Diazepam 5 mg/kg orally. Aftimoon as hydro alcoholic extract (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body wt.) was given in single and double doses and observed for 7 days. Results: For each parameter in each category, mean and standard deviations were computed. For multiple group comparisons, a one-way ANOVA was used, followed by Turkey's post hoc test. (p<0.05) was used as the significance standard. Conclusion: These results advocate that the Aftimoon as double dose (400 mg/kg body wt.) revealed anti-anxiety effect similar to standard drug.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.123-131
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the experience and perception of using Korean medicine treatments for patients with mental disorders. Methods: The method of a qualitative analysis was used, and semi-structured interviews were conducted. The researchers developed the survey questionnaires with consultation from psychiatrists from various university hospitals. Before conducting interviews, an IRB was approved KHSIRB-21-131 (RA), and the Hankook Research Company managed the interviews. The question composition comprised 11 questions based on symptoms and treatment situations accompanying treatment due to mental distress, perception of Korean medicine, awareness of treatment costs, and awareness of treatment costs. Results: A total of six patients were interviewed. Each interviewee took 90 minutes to answer questions. Through the analysis of the data, the patients comprised four categories: characteristics, awareness of Korean medicine, awareness of Western treatment, and daily life due to mental disorder. The experience and perception of patients using Korean medicine showed positive attitudes. There was an opinion among patients that Korean medicine treatment was less dependent on drugs, and had fewer side effects, than Western medicine. Some patients said that Korean medical treatment is expensive and burdensome medical expenses. Some patients were not aware of the application of insurance to mitigate medical expenses. Conclusions: Based on the findings of the study, it is urgent to expand the application of insurance benefits to Korean medicine.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.294-304
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• 2021

Ankylosing spondylitis causes ankylosis of the spine due to ossification of the articular cartilage and ligaments around the vertebral body as well as the sacroiliac joint. This pathophysiology limits joint movement and, in many cases, causes pain and deformity of the spine. If this disease is left untreated, it ultimately causes ankylosis and ossification of the whole-body joints. The symptoms generally develop before age 30 years, and the gradual progression of the disease adversely affects the physical function, professional ability, and quality of life. This increases the likelihood of developing psychiatric disorders, such as depression. The authors are aware of this severity and introduce recent trends and studies to prevent surgical treatment with various medications before systemic ossification. This paper presents various surgical treatments and complications in patients who were unable to prevent progression and underwent surgical treatment.

• 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.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.293-298
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• 2022

Antipsychotics have been widely accepted as a treatment of choice for psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia. While atypical antipsychotics such as aripiprazole are not associated with obesity and diabetes, olanzapine is still widely used based on the anticipation that it is more effective in treating severe schizophrenia than aripiprazole, despite its metabolic side effects. To address metabolic problems, metformin is widely prescribed. Hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons have been identified as the main regulator of metabolism and energy expenditure. Although the relation between POMC neurons and metabolic disorders is well established, little is known about the effects of olanzapine and metformin on hypothalamic POMC neurons. In the present study, we investigated the effect of olanzapine and metformin on the hypothalamic POMC neurons in female mice. Olanzapine administration for 5 days significantly decreased Pomc mRNA expression, POMC neuron numbers, POMC projections, and induced leptin resistance before the onset of obesity. It was also observed that coadministration of metformin with olanzapine not only increased POMC neuron numbers and projections but also improved the leptin response of POMC neurons in the olanzapine-treated female mice. These findings suggest that olanzapine-induced hypothalamic POMC neuron abnormality and leptin resistance, which can be ameliorated by metformin administration, are the possible causes of subsequent hyperphagia.

• 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.