• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.116-121
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• 2016

Objectives Experience of early childhood abuse elevates the risk of developing schizophrenia in later period of life, incidence of psychiatric comorbidity, symptomatic severity and complexity. In this context, we hypothesized that the pattern of psychotropic medication used would reflect this; those with childhood trauma will received more types and higher doses of psychotropic medication. Methods From our database of 102 outpatients diagnosed with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) schizophrenia, we analyzed experiences of childhood trauma measured by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form and types and dose of prescribed psychotropic medication. Results We found significant positive correlations between child sexual abuse and the number of psychotropic medications (p = 0.029) and between child emotional neglect and the number of psychotropic medications other than antipsychotics (p = 0.045). Conclusions This preliminary study suggests that the pattern of psychotropic use may be affected by types of childhood trauma. Further studies will have to shed light on mediating factors such as symptoms or comorbid conditions that lead to prescription of certain psychotropic class.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.338-356
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• 2013

Purpose: This study critically reviewed nursing research psychotropic drugs that has been published in Korean journals. Another aim of this study was to identify trends in nursing research on psychotropic drugs and make suggestions for further study in Korea. Methods: Data were collected from degree theses and original articles on psychotropic drugs published in Korean journals from 1992 to 2013. Thirty-four articles were analyzed of which at least one nursing author participated in the study. Search keywords were "psychotropic drug" and "mentally ill patient & medication". Results: For the research design, quasi-experimental study was 58.8%, descriptive study was 17.7%, descriptive correlational study was 8.8%, qualitative study was 8.8% and model development research was 5.9%. Variables measured were knowledge of medication & symptom management, knowledge of disease, side effects, drug attitude, medication pattern, diet & activity, quality of life, and self-care. Conclusion: Despite recent increased interest in psychiatric medication, research on psychotropic drugs remains very limited, particularly regarding findings from a nurse's perspective. More research project should be designed to develop programs for the treatment of side effects from a nursing view-point.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.49-66
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• 1999

Polypharmacotherapy, both psychotropic and nonpsychotropic, is widespread in various situations including psychiatric hospitals and general hospitals. As the clinical practice of using more than one drug at a time increase, the clinician is faced with ever-increasing number of potential drug interactions. Although many interactions have little clinical significances, some may interfere with treatment or even be life-threatening. The objective of this review is evaluation for drug-drug interactions often encountered in psychiatric consultation. Drug interactions can be grouped into two principal subdivisions : pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic. These subgroups serve to focus attention on possible sites of interaction as a drug moves from the site of administration and absorption to its site of action. Pharmacokinetic processes are those that include transport to and from the receptor site and consist of absorption, distribution on body tissue, plasma protein binding, metabolism, and excretion. Pharmacodynamic interactions occur at biologically active sites. In psychiatric consultation, these two subdivisions of drug interactions between psychotropic drugs and other drugs are likely to happen. We gathered informations of the drugs used in physically ill patients who are consulted to psychiatric department in Korea University Hospital. And we reviewed the related literatures about the drug-drug interactions between psychotropic drugs and other drugs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4261-4264
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• 2014

Objective: To examine the prescription rates in cancer patients of three common psychotropic drugs: anxiolytic/hypnotic, antidepressant and antipsychotic. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, data were extracted from the pharmacy database of University Malaya Medical Center (UMMC) responsible for dispensing records of patients stored in the pharmacy's Medication Management and Use System (Ascribe). We analyzed the use of psychotropics in patients from the oncology ward and cardiology from 2008 to 2012. Odds ratios (ORs) were adjusted for age, gender and ethnicity. Results: A total of 3,345 oncology patients and 8,980 cardiology patients were included. Oncology patients were significantly more often prescribed psychotropic drugs (adjusted OR: anxiolytic/hypnotic=5.55 (CI: 4.64-6.63); antidepressants=6.08 (CI: 4.83-7.64) and antipsychotics=5.41 (CI: 4.17-7.02). Non-Malay female cancer patients were at significantly higher risk of anxiolytic/hypnotic use. Conclusions: Psychotropic drugs prescription is common in cancer patients. Anxiolytic/hypnotic prescription rates are significantly higher in non-Malay female patients in Malaysia.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.156-161
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• 1996

Many pregnant women have to receive psychotropic medication during pregnancy and lactation period, despite the proven and assumed risks to the fetus ar neonate. A brief summary of drug metabolism and pharmacodynamics is given. Principles and quidelines of using psychotropic agents during pregancy and lactation period are presented for psychotic disorders, bipolar affective disorders. depression and anxiety disorders, with due consideration for relative benefits and risks of choosing among psychotropic drugs and alternative treatments.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.171-177
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• 1990

Using an ethopharmacological technique, we demonstrated that saponin fraction from red ginseng root possessed a potent psychotropic actions on either intermale or maternal aggression models. A series of experiments clearly indicated that one of psychoactive ingredient is ginsenoside Rbl. Although a drug-induced debilitation of motor performance remains a possible cause of the antiaggressive affect of the drug. ginsenoside Rbl did not alter the locomotor activity of the mice during agonistic confrontations. Thus. one can eliminate the possibility that the psychotropic effect of ginsenoside Rbl might be concealed by a drug-induced impairment of motor performance. More recently, we developed a nevi model for copulatory disorder and introduced into the behavioral analysis of drug action. Male mice which has been housed individually from weaning for 5 weeks failed to manifest copulatory behavior when they encountered with the sexually receptive females. Daily administration of crude ginseng saponin during isolation housing period prevented the development of copulatory disorder, whereas both ginsenoside Rbl and Rgl were ineffective. A further experiment may be needed to explore active ingredient of ginseng saponins.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 1998

Any compound which disrupts the integrity of psychological aspects of performance, in particular, cognitive ability and psychomotor function analogous to the psychological behaviors of routine life, is known to be behaviorally toxic. A significant level of behavioral toxicity will interfere with patient safety and quality of life, and also may be counter-therapeutic by exacerbating the condition that the drug was prescribed for. Now, behavioral toxicity of psychotropic drugs has become one of the main growth areas of psychopharmacological research. Evaluation of the potential of drug-induced behavioral toxicity is important not only to the experimental researcher involved in human psychopharmacology, but also to the clinical practitioner treating psychiatric patients. This article attempts to describe behavioral toxicity of the three classes of psychotropic drugs - benzodiazepines, antidepressants and neuroleptics. After a brief discussion of some methodological issues arising in the investigation of behavioral toxicity, each of these drug classes is reviewed in the context of practical importance rather than purely scientific concern. The last session summarizes some suggestions for future studies on drug-induced behavioral toxicity.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.56-65
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• 1998

Clinicians can use therapeutic drug monitoring(TDM) to optimise dosage decisions with psychotropic drugs, in order to maximize efficacy and prevent toxicity, especially when individuals are nonresponsive to treatment or vulnerable to adverse reactions with standard doses because age, disease states or drug interactions. Currently, therapeutic drug concentrations have been established for the TCA and lithium. There is also evidence for the usefulness of TDM with carbamazepine, valproic acid and some antipsychotic drugs. However for most psychotropic drugs this approach remains experimental. TDM-assisted psychiatric treatment is potentially useful and cost effective, particularly when applied by psychiatrists who are knowledgeable of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.195-204
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• 2015

Objectives This study investigated the patterns of psychotropic medications prescribed to patients admitted to an open psychiatric ward. Methods We reviewed 4282 medical records of patients who were discharged from an open psychiatric ward from May 2003 through April 2014. Data were collected on each patient's age, sex, length of hospital stay, number of past admissions, discharge diagnosis, and kinds and dosages of psychotropic medications at discharge. Results Among the 1384 male and 2898 female patients, 3.56 psychotropic medications were prescribed on average, with the number increasing across years, from 3.30 in 2003-2008 to 3.76 in 2009-2014. Prescription rates of antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and hypnotics significantly increased in patients with depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, delirium, dementia, and amnestic and other cognitive disorders. Only lithium prescription rates decreased significantly. Prescriptions for two or more anxiolytics and antipsychotics increased during the survey years, while antidepressant polypharmacy rates decreased. Conclusions Recently, there has been a significant increase in the number of psychotropic medications prescribed, including antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and hypnotics. Caution should be exercised when prescribing medications to avoid cost increases and the risk of side effects, with uncertain gains in the quality of care.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1990.06a
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• pp.29-35
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• 1990

Using an ethopharmacological technique, we demonstrated that saponin fraction from red ginseng root possessed a potent psychotropic actions on either intermale or maternal aggression models. A series of experiments clearly indicated that one of psychoactive ingredient is ginsenoside Rbl. Although a drug-induced debilitation of motor performance remains a possible cause of the antiaggressive effect of the drug, ginsenoside Rb 1 did not alter the locomotor activity of the mice during agonistic confrontations. Thus, one can eliminate the possibility that the psychoactive effect of ginsenoside Rbl might be concealed by a drugindulced impairment of motor performance. More recently, we developed a new model for copulatory disorder and introduced into the behavioral analysis of drug action. Male mice which has been housed individually from weaning for 5 weeks failed to manifest copulatory behavior when they encountered with the sexually-receptive females. Daily administration of crude ginseng saponin during isolation housing period prevented the development of copulatory disorder, whereas both ginsenoside Rbl and Rgl were ineffective. A further experiment may be needed to explore active ingredient of ginseng saponins. Keywords Panax ginseng, Korean red ginseng, psychotropic action, saponin, ginsenoside Rb1