• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.123-130
• /
• 1995

A single-blind comparative study was performed using haloperidol as a reference drug in order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nemonapride, a new benzamide derivative, in sixty-nine Korean schizophrenic patients. the total period of the study was 8 weeks, maximum dosage of nemonapride was 36mg and that of haloperidol was 24mg. Psychopathology and extrapyramidal symptoms were assessed every week or four weeks until the end of the 8th week using the PANSS, BPRS, and 4 point general side effect check list, The drug safety was assessed every week until the end of the 8th week using vital sign, body weight, EEG, EKG, and blood chemistry. In total. one patient discontinued nemonapride treatment and seven patients discontinued haloperidol treatment before the end of the study. Therefore sixty-one patients(88 %) completed the study. PNASS and BPRS scores of the two groups on the end study point demonstrated a significant improvement compared with baseline score. The number of patients who had a clinical improvement of at least 20% in baseline score was similiar in both treatment groups. The difference of Simpson's rating scale socres were significant in both groups, and mean scores were more high in the haloperidol group than in nemonapride group. No significant EKG, EEG changes were induced, no relevant change in body weight or clinical laboratory parameters were observed in the sixty-one patients during 8 weeks and no Significant difference in the both groups. From these results, nemonapride is considered to be a clinically useful drug having a wide range of antipsychotic effect in schzophrenic patients.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.115-122
• /
• 1995

This study was performed to know the relationship between neurologic soft signs (NSS) and clinical variables such as psychopathology. history of illness, and premorbid social adjustment in patients with schizophrenia. The authors evaluated NSS in 31 patients with schizophrenia using the structured tool for measuring neurologic abnormalities, Neurological Evaluation Scale- Korean Version(NES-K). Relationships between NSS and clinical variables such as duration of illness, intensity of precipitating stressors, duration of outpatient treatment, schooling, peer relationship, total duration of unemployment, total days of psychiatric admission, age, total days of being medicated, age at the first psychiatric admission, frequency of admissions, content of treatment, social adjustment, and severity of symptoms were analyzed. Differences between paranoid and non-paranoid schizophrenics were examined. In addition, Differences between patients with schizophrenia who have predominant positive symptoms and who have predominant negative symptoms were examined too. Total scores of NES-K were correlated with lower schooling (${\gamma}$=0.44, p<0.01). Scores of motor coordination subcategory were correlated with poor peer relationship(${\gamma}$=0.67, p<0.001). Other clinical variables were not correlated with any scores of NES-K. Paranoid and non-paranoid schizophrenics were not different in scores of NES-K. Also positive and negative schizophrenics were not different in scores of NES-K. Most clinical variables except schooling and peer relationship were not related with NSS. This results indicated that the meaning of these signs was not fully be understood. Introduction of the new classification concepts such as deficit or non-deficit syndrome will be helpful to elucidate the meaning of NSS in patients with schizophrenia.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.106-110
• /
• 2001

Background : Dopamine receptors have been regarded as a strong candidate involved in etiology of schizophrenia and a target for various antipsychotic drugs. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether dopamine $D_1$ receptor(DRD1) gene polymorphisms would predict the treatment response to antipsychotics in schizophrenia. Method : One hundred thirty-four schizophrenic patients, who met DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia were entered into a 48 -week study. The psychopathology of the patients was assessed at baseline, 12th, 24th 48th weeks of treatment by PANSS. Responders were defined by a 20% of the reduction in total PANSS score at end point. The genomic DNA fragment corresponding to nucleotides of dopamine $D_1$ receptor gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). Result: Neither allelic frequencies nor genotypes for dopamine $D_1$ receptor differed significantly between responders and non-responders. Also, there was no difference of changes of PANSS scores among three genotype groups of the dopamine $D_1$ receptor. Conclusion : Allelic variation in the dopamine $D_1$ gene is not associated with individual differences in antipsychotic response.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.191-201
• /
• 2006

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the cognitive functions would be correlated with psychotic symptoms and whether antipsychotic treatments would affect the cognitive functions after 8 weeks. Methods : The thirty-five schizophrenic patients were conducted in this study. The psychopathology was measured using PANSS. The memory function, executive function, and sustained attention were measured using Memory Assessment Scale(MAS), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test(WCST), and Vigilance(VIG) and Cognitrone(COG) in Vienna Test System. After 8 weeks of antipsychotic treatment, we retested the cognitive tests. Results : 1) The cognitive tests after the 8 week's treatment showed significant improvements in memory and executive function in the schizophrenic patients. On the other side, sustained attention did not show improvement. 2) The change of PANSS were correlated with perseverative response, perseverative error and total correct in WCST at baseline. WCST scores at baseline were correlated with negative symptoms, but not positive ones. Conclusion : These study suggests that 1) the impaired sustained attention could be a vulnerability marker in schizophrenia, 2) memory & executive function deficit could be reversible after treatment, and 3) medication might have a benefit in improving the cognitive functions in schizophrenia. Furthermore, the data supports that the better premorbid executive function was, the more favorable was the treatment response in schizophrenic patients. Finally, this study indicates that executive function might be an index of treatment improvement.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.95-101
• /
• 1997

The recent hypothesis about the pathophysiology of schizophrenia has been centered mainly on two theories, i.e. dopamine hypothesis and serotonin hypothesis. We investigate the correlations between plasma monoamine metabolite concentrations and clinical symptoms in schizophrenic patients. The first purpose of our study was to examine whether the plasma levels of HVA(homovanillic acid) and 5-HIAA(hydroxyindoleacetic acid) are significantly different in schizophrenics, compared to normal controls. And, with the intention of clarifying the interaction between dopaminergic system and serotoninergic system, the ratio of HVA/5-HIAA also was measured. The second purpose was whether the basal(pre-treatment) levels of these metabolites show the correlation with clinical symptoms. Finally, third purpose was whether basal HVA and 5-HIAA levels can be held as a predictor of treatment response. We used Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms(SAPS) and Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms(SANS) as the clinical symptom rating scales. Our results were as followed, 1) only the level of basal plasma HVA was significantly differ in schizophrenics. 5-HIAA and HVA/5-HIAA were not. 2) basal HVA showed significant correlation with SAPS score, especially delusion subscale. 3) the higher was the basal HVA level, the more improvement in clinical symptoms was observed. The basal 5-HIAA level and the HVA/5-HIAA ratio did not show any significant findings. These results support the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia, but fail to examine on the possible involvement of serotonin in schizophrenia.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.251-257
• /
• 1996

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs), as haloperidol, ore metabolized in the cytochrome P450IID6. They can cause inhibition of metabolism of antipsychotics to elevate the serum level of antipsychotics and exacerbate the extrapyramidal symptoms when co-administered with antipsychotics. Among these SSRIs, there ore a few studies about paroxetine compared to fluoxetine or sertraline. In this study, we have intended to know the drug interaction of paroxetine and haloperidol when co-administered two drugs for the chronic schizophrenics by assessing the changes of positive, negative symptoms and extrapyramidal symptoms. for this purpose, we selected 29 subjects, the chronic schizophrenics with no physical problems. They were under maintenance therapy of haloperidol. They ore randomly assigned to placebo group(n=12) and drug group(n=17) by using double blind method. And then, placebo or paroxetine 20mg were administered to the subjects of each groups during 8 week period. We have assessed their psychopathology and extrapyramidal symptoms using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS), Hamilton Rating Scale lor Depression(HRSD), Simpson-Angus Scale at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks and serum haloperidol, reduced haloperidol levels at 0, 4, 8 weeks during the period. The results ore analysed by using repeated measure MANOVA. 27 subjects have completed the study during 8 weeks. among the subjects, 1) PANSS, HRSD ; no significant difference between groups. 2) Simpson-Angus Scale ; no significant change according to the time and no significant difference between the groups(no group and time effect). 3) Haloperidol and reduced haloperidol level ; no significant change. When co-administered paroxetine and haloperidol, there ore no significant changes of the psychopothology and no significant changes of the extrapyramidal symptoms. In this result, paroxetine seems to be not to affect the metabolism of haloperidol.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.253-260
• /
• 2013

This study was focused on the relationships between menstrual history and psychological variables in middle school girls. The study included 165 students. Self image, optimism and self-efficacy are measured structured questionnaires each. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test, ANOVA and Scheffe's test. The proportion of the students with bleeding period less than 7 days was higher in the group with high self image(p=.002). The self image was higher in the group who take analgesics occasionally than the group who take daily(p=.009) and in the group with irregular menstruation(p=.024). Emotional tone was higher in the group with irregular menstruation(p=.008), and psychopathology was higher in the group who take analgesics occasionally(p=.008). Family relationship was higher in the group with bleeding period less than 7 days(p=.004), in the group who take analgesics occasionally(p=.007) and in the group with irregular menstruation(p=.015). Mastery and coping was higher in the group with bleeding period less than 7 days(p=.026). Adaptation was higher in the group with irregular menstruation(p=.034). Also optimism was higher in the group with bleeding period less than 7 days(p=.005), in the group who experienced menorrhalgia a few years after menarche(p=.014) and the group with irregular menstruation(p=.027). Self-efficacy was higher in the group of polymenorrhea(p=.029). Because menstruation is related with psychiatric factors, it is necessary to ask menstruation history and psychiatric status. This study can be used in the development of the questionnaire for the oriental medical examination.

• Anxiety and mood
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.107-112
• /
• 2011

Objective : This study aimed to ascertain the effect of interpersonal sensitivity/resilience on depression and anxiety in firefighters whose frequency of exposure to traumatic events is high. Method : A survey was performed and data related to 75 firefighters were analyzed. Questionnaires included the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). To assess the susceptibility or protector roles with respect to psychopathology, the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM) and Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) were used. Results : The personality characteristic, interpersonal sensitivity (IPSM) showed a significant positive correlation with depression (BDI, r=0.557, p<0.001) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (IES-R, r=0.316 ; p<0.001). In contrast, resilience and symptom parameters (BDI, IES-R) were negatively correlated with each other, but not statistically significant. However, an adaptive factor for change, a third sub-factor of CD-RISC, had significant negative correlation with depression and anxiety symptoms (BDI, r=-0.275, p<0.005 ; IES-R, r=-0.254, p<0.005). Conclusion : The results of the present study showed that some personality traits may act as vulnerability or protective factors with respect to the psychopathologies of depression and anxiety.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.105-119
• /
• 2005

Purposes： This study was to examine the effects of empowerment education programs on empowerment and mental health in high school students. Methods： This study involved a nonequivalent control group pre-test and post-test design. The subjects for this study consisted of 421 high school students who attended two general high schools in Busan. The 211 students in the experimental group received empowerment education training, while the 210 students in the control group did not. The data were collected from March 2, 2004 to July 20, 2004. The empowerment education program consisted of 17 separate 50-minute sessions. The questionnire was developedby authors and revised it based on experts' advice. SPSS 11.0 program was used to analyze the data. Chi-square test and t-test were used to test the homogeneity of general characteristics and dependent variables. Student's t-test was used to evaluate the differences between the experimental group and control group after the treatment. Results： Just as we hypothesized, the experimental group exhibited higher empowerment scores than the control group. For subcategory, Score of self-efficacy and self-esteem increased significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group. However, the score of decision-making ability did not increase significantly. The data failed to support our second hypothesis that the experimental group would have higher mental health scores than the control group. Although the score of self-scale increased significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group, the score of social-support and psychopathology did not. Conclusions： Empowerment education programs are effective for empowerment of high school students. However, such training is effective only for promoting the self scale but not overall mental health. Thus, we suggest the application of the empowerment education program to make high school students aware of their abilities. Furthermore, we suggest the implementation of mental health programs to supplement such empowerment education programs.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.95-102
• /
• 2011

Objectives : This present study examined the power of the Korean Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL) subscales to predict a DSM-IV diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Methods : The sample included 37 children and adolescents with ODD and 46 normal controls. The participants and their parents were interviewed for clinical diagnosis using the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) and the parents completed the K-CBCL. Logistic regression analysis was used to predict the diagnosis of ODD. Results : Among the CBCL subscales, Delinquent and Aggressive Behavior scales significantly predicted ODD diagnosis. The means of these CBCL subscales were significantly higher in the ODD group when compared to the controls. Conclusion:Two CBCL subscales (Deliquent and Aggressive Behavior) displayed good diagnostic efficiency for assessing ODD in children and adolescents. Through combining information from the CBCL, an empirical-quantitative approach to psychopathology in children and the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, the results demonstrated that a clinical diagnostic approach is an effective diagnostic paradigm for children with ODD.