• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.122-128
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• 1998

Objective : This study was a open clinical trial aimed at exploring the effectiveness of combined treatment with estrogen and antipsychotics to the chronic female schizophrenics. Method : 40 female patients who met DSM-VI criteria for schizophrenia who were chronically ill were randomly assigned to estrogen group(EG) and control group(CG). EG patients were received estrogen 1.25mg for 8weeks in addition to their routine antipsychotic regimens. CG patients were received their routine antipsychotic regimens only. Both groups were evaluated by PANSS(Postive and Negative Syndrome Scale), CGI(Clinical Global Impression) at 0, 4, 8 week during the trial period and compaired with each other. Results : 40 female patients have completed the study during 8weeks. EG was significantly improved in PANSS and CGI scores than CG during the 8weeks. In EG patients, all symptom subtypes(positive symptoms, negative symptoms, general psychopathology symptoms) of PANSS were significantly improved and positive symptoms were most significantly improved at 8week. Conclusions : This results support the clinical value of combined estrogen therapy among chronic female schizophrenics.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.44-49
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• 2004

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether longitudinal changes in positive and negative symptoms affect cognitive functioning in chronic schizophrenia. Methods: Sixty-eight patients diagnosed with DSM-IV schizophrenia were examined on two occasions over 6 months for symptoms and cognitive changes. Symptoms were measured by PANSS. Cognitive functions were examined for sustained attention, executive function, concentration and attention, and verbal memory and learning using Degraded Stimulus Continuous Performance Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Digit Span, and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, respectively. Twenty control subjects were assessed to compare the cognitive scores of remitted schizophrenic patients. Results: Patients showed significant improvement in symptoms and all cognitive tests after 6 months treatments. Significant improvements in positive and negative symptoms did not predict improvements in any aspect of cognitive functioning measured. Normal controls performed significantly better than remitted schizophrenic patients on all cognitive tests. The results show no relationship between change in symptoms and change in cognition in chronic schizophrenia. Conclusion: We suggest that symptomatic and cognitive impairment may be a distinct construct. These findings highlight the importance of treating cognitive impairment in addition to the clinical symptoms of schizophrenia.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1993.04a
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• pp.165-165
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• 1993

목적:지금까지 Risperidone의 치료 효능과 안전성에 대한 연구들이 모두 만성 정신분열병 환자들만을 대상으로 이루어졌고, 효율적인 약물 요법의 중요한 지침이 되는 유효치료용량(effective therapeutic dosage)에 대한 연구가 이루어지지 않고 있는 바, 본 연구에서는 초발인 급성 정신분열병 환자들을 대상으로 첫째, Risperidone의 항정신병 효과(antipsychotic effect)와 추체외로계증상(extrapyramidal symptoms)을 평가하고 둘째, Risperidone의 항정신병 효과와 혈장 Risperidone 및 9-hydroxyrisperidone 농도와의 상관관계를 분석하여 유효혈장농도(therapeutic dose range)와 유효치료용량(effective therapeutic dosage)의 존재 여부를 검토코자 한다. 방법: DSM-III-R 진단기준(APA 1987)예 의해 정신분열병형 장애로 진단된 환자 11명(남자 5, 여자 6)을 대상으로 Risperidone을 이중맹검법(double blind design)으로 6주간 투약하였다. 정신병리의 평가는 PANSS(Kay 1988)를 이용하였고 추체외로계 부작용의 평가는 ESRS(Chouinard 1980)를 이용하였다. 혈장 Risperidone 농도와 혈장 9-hydroxyrisperidone 농도는 Jansen사의 Radioimmunoassay Kit를 이용하여 3회 측정하였다. 결과: PANSS 점수는 Risperidone 투여 후 1주째부터 통계적으로 유의하게 감소하였다. Parkinsonism과 dyskinesa에 대한 physician's examination 점수는 전체 연구 기간 동안 유의한 변화를 보이지 않았다. Dystonia에 대한 physician's examination 점수는 Risperidone 투여 후 1주째에는 평균 5.96점으로 높았으나 2주째부터 통계적으로 유의하게 감소되어 6주째에는 유지되었다. 혈장 Risperidone 농도와 혈장 9-hydroxyrisperidone 농도는 PANSS 점수와 유의한 상관관계를 보이지 않았다.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2011

Purpose: This study investigated changes in neurocognitive function over a 2-month period of board game therapy in patients with schizophrenia. Method: Twenty-one schizophrenic patients treated with board game therapy and nineteen control schizophrenic patients were evaluated with neuropsychological and clinical tests, such as the Wisconsin Card Shorting Test (WCST). The same tests were re-administered after 2 months of board game therapy. Results: At the first series of neuropsychological tests, no difference was seen in performance, demographical aspects, or clinical severity among both patient groups. After 2 months, the group receiving board game therapy showed significant improvement of WCST performances compared to the controls. However, no difference was observed in clinical symptoms between the groups. Conclusion: The results of cognitive enhancement in patients playing board games indicates that board game play, easily used in an inpatient setting, is a promising tool for executive function improvement in chronic schizophrenic patients.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.279-288
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• 2006

Objectives : We investigated the association of SNP A and P1763 polymorphisms on dystrobrevin binding protein 1(DTNBP1) gene with smooth pursuit eye movement(SPEM) abnormality in Korean schizophrenic patients. Methods : We measured SPEM function in 217 Korean schizophrenics(male 116, female 101) and divided them into two groups, one is a good SPEM function group and the other is a poor SPEM function group. We then analyzed SNP A polymorphism and P1763 polymorphism on DTNBP1 gene from their DNAs extracted from their blood. We compared the differences of genotype and allele distributions of the two polymorphisms on DTNBP1 gene between the two groups. Results : The Ln S/N ratio(mean${\pm}$SD) of the good SPEM function group was $4.39{\pm}0.33$ and the ratio of poor SPEM function group was $3.17{\pm}0.71$. There were no statistically significant differences of age and male/female ratio between the two groups. There were no significant differences of genotype or allele distributions of the SNP A polymorphism and P1763 polymorphism on DTNBP1 gene between the two schizophrenic groups divided by SPEM function. Conclusion : The results suggest that SNP A polymorphism and P1763 polymorphism on DTNBP1 gene might not be related to SPEM function abnormality in schizophrenia.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.56-65
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• 2004

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the quality of life of caretaking family members who have a patient with psychiatric disorders. The results will be served as a basic data of ameliorating the quality of life of caregivers. Methods: 78 caretaking family members who have a patient with schizophrenia and 54 caretaking family members who have a patient with alcohol dependence, a total of 132 persons completed the questionnaire, and analyzed. The Korean version of the SmithKline Beecham Quality of Life Scale and the Family Burden Scale were applied. Results: There was no statistically significant correlation between burden and sex, age, income, and duration of living with patients before onset. The male caregiver showed higher quality of life than that of female. It showed statistically significant correlation between age and factor physical well-being and factor activity. 41% of variance of quality of life of caregivers were explained by the stress response, burden, and overall merits of the field of psychiatry, and the tension had the most explanatory power. Conclusion: The chronic illness may give a burden on caregivers, and that decrease the quality of life of caregivers. The longer duration of illness of patients, the lower quality of life of caregivers on competence factor. Therefore, the authors recommend the therapeutic modality must be offered to the caregivers who may experience the stress and burden.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.246-252
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• 1999

Objectives : Daytime drowsiness or sedation and changes in night sleep are commonly seen in patients treated with clozapine. There is, however, very limited information on their degree and nature during the course of treatment. The purpose of this study was to understand the sleep patterns in chronic schizophrenic patients with clozapine treatment over a period of 24 weeks. Method : The sleep pattern was evaluated using a set of 5-point scale questionnaire, to record subjective impressions of the night sleep induction, maintenance and quality, and daytime drowsiness and fatigue. In addition, unusual experiences associated with night sleep were recorded. The sleep questionnaire was repeatedly administered at baseline and at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks of drug treatment. At present, data on 12 patients has been collected. Results : All the components of night sleep were significantly improved in the 1st through the 12th week after treatment with clozapine. Daytime drowsiness was significantly higher in the 1st to the 2nd week after the treatment and fatigue was also significantly higher in the 1st to the 4th week after the treatment. Eight patients experienced noticeable increases in salivation during night sleep, and of these, one also reported frequent nocturnal urination and even enuresis. However, all these adverse factors did not affect the major sleep patterns. Conclusions : These findings suggest that the beneficial effects of clozapine on night sleep might last much longer than the undesirable effect of daytime drowsiness and fatigue. In other words, tolerance of the hypnotic action of clozapine might develop late and tolerance of the daytime drowsiness and fatigue might be evident earlier.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.26-34
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was aimed at understanding the nature of the suffering of families with patients in mental health nursing homes and hoped to contribute to the rehabilitation process of those with a chronic mental disorder. Method: Research methodology was based upon Parse's human becoming research methodology. Results: a) Despite the despair the family feels by the violence caused by their now-institutionalized relative, they also realize anew the importance of their role as protectors b) Although they fear social stigmatization they also try to be supportive, out of guilt feelings; c) They regret their severe rearing style and wish to be more sympathetic, d) They find courage and hope through family therapy, which leads to a better understanding of the illness, e) With hopes of rehabilitation, the family members feel happy and go through an emotional release, by sharing the pain with each other. Conclusion: Families of nursing home residents share a focus on the process of human-health-universe. This is a positive,'human-becoming' process with which, based on past feelings of despair, fear, resignation, and pain, one can render meaning into his or her experiences in the present in the pursuit of love, conquest, hope, liberty and success.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.88-95
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• 1996

In an open labeled study, two fixed doses of nimodipine(45mg and 90mg daily) were added to the usual antipsychotic drug treatment (Haloperidol : mean dose=25mg/day) in 20 male chronic schizophrenics for 5 weeks. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the therapeutic effects and the effect an the changes of plasma homovanillic acid(HVA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA) levels. The results were as follows : 1) Total BPRS score and thought cluster, paranoid cluster subscores showed linear decreasing trend over the course of the study(P<0.05). Especially the thought cluster and paranoid cluster subscores were significant difference between 45mg and 90mg dose of nimodipine(P<0.05). The improvement rates were 45,45% of 90mg and 11.11% of 45mg, but there was no significant difference between the 45mg and 90mg dose of nimodipine. 2) The scores of extrapyramidal symptoms and adverse events-somatic symptoms showed a linear decreasing trends over the course of study. 3) The changes in the mean plasma HVA and 5-H1AA concentrations by the dosages and durations of combining of nimodipine were not statistically significant. 4) There was no statistical significance in plasma HVA and 5-HIAA of the improved, non-improved goroup. Nimodipine has a possibility os on adjunctive agent for treatment resistant schizophrenics, elderly patients and liable patients for the Side effects to usual antipsychotic drugs. So we suggest that the dosage of nimodipine must be above 90mg/day in the treatment of schizophrenia.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.116-122
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• 2001

Objectives : Schizophrenia manifests a variety of interindividual differences in therapeutic response to antipsychotics. This might be attributable to dopamine and serotonin receptors that a important target for various antipsychotics, and the $D_3$ receptor(DRD3) alleles they carry. The purpose of our study was to investigate whether the plasma levels of homovanillic acid(HVA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(HIAA), and the polymorphism of DRD3 can be held as a predictor of treatment response in chronic schizophrenic patients. Methods : Therapeutic response for 116 korean schizophrenia patient treated during 48 weeks were assessed by PANSS used as the clinical symptom rating scales. The levels of concentration of HVA and 5-HIAA were examined by HPLC at baseline and at 48 weeks. We classified the polymorphism of DRD3 receptor using amplifying by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). Results : Neither concentrations of HVA and 5-HIAA nor genotype of dopamine 3 receptor were not significantly associated with the therapeutic response. But, the patients who has A1 alleles of DRD3 gene showed poor therapeutic responses. Conclusion : A1 allele of DRD3 gene is associated with poor prognosis of chronic schizophrenia.