• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.32-32
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• 2022

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.37-41
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• 2020

Modified electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) which started in 1950s is a safe and efficacious treatment for several mental disorders including mood disorders and psychotic disorders. However, its usage in present days is still limited by misconceptions and stigmata of ECT. This paper overviews the background from which the stigmata of ECT stemmed and the current status of stigmata surrounding ECT among the public and medical professionals. In addition, a few potential strategies for reducing stigmata of ECT are provided in this review.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.194-197
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• 1997

Neural network models, also known as connectionist models or PDP models, simulate some functions of the brain and may promise to give insight in understanding the cognitive brain functions. The models composed of neuron-like elements that are linked into circuits can learn and adapt to its environment in a trial and error fashion. In this article, the history and principles of the neural network modeling are briefly reviewed, and its applications to psychiatry are discussed.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2001

The authors, in this paper, addressed a variety of problems and difficulties which Korean psychiatrists should cope with. The surprising development of neurosciences, splitting of neuropsychiatry into neurology and psychiatry, easygoing attitude of psychiatrists, changes in the delivery system of health care and ill-balanced education of psychiatry were listed as causes of or contributors to them. Social bias to psychiatry and regulations from outside are also considered as contributors. Psychiatric education, including medical school, residency training, continuing medical education and psychiatric textbooks, need to be changed in order to enlarge the boundary of psychiatry. Reestablishment of identity of psychiatry and psychiatrist is unavoidable, considering far-reaching new knowledge of neuroscience and gradually invisible borderzone between neurology and psychiatry. The other ways worth while to consider are : the expansion of psychiatrists' activities, development of medical behavioral science to a clinical specialty, creation of new psychiatric subspecialties, and additional training of psychiatric residencies in the primary medical care.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2021

Pharmacogenetics is opening a new era of precision medicine in psychiatry. Drug-metabolizing enzymes are characterized by genetic polymorphisms, which render a large portion of variability in individual drug metabolism. Dose adjustment based on pharmacogenetics knowledge is a first step to translate pharmacogenetics into clinical practice. However, diverse factors including cost-effectiveness should be addressed to provide clinical recommendation. To address current challenges in pharmacogenetics testing in psychiatry, this review provides an update regarding genotyping (SNP analysis, array, and next-generation sequencing), genotype-phenotype correlations, and cost-effectiveness. The current updates on pharmacogenetics in psychiatry will provide guidance for both clinician and researchers to have a consensus in harmonizing efforts to advance the pharmacogenetics field in a part of precision medicine in psychiatry.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2012

Psychosomatic medicine is a part of medicine which is to find the effect of psychological, behavioral, and medical factors on the human body and disease. In the early $20^{th}$ century, the idea of psychogenesis had been developed and resulted in the concept of psychosomatic disease which was believed to be caused by psychological factors. However a multifactorial model of illness developed and it allowed illness to be viewed as a result of biopsychosocial interactions. The following have been highlighted by consultation-liaison psychiatry. Psychosomatic medicine has addressed stress and psychiatric factors which affect the etiology, course, and treatment of medical disorders. Moreover it contributes the growth of other related disciplines such as psychoneuroendocrinology, psychoimmunology, behavioral medicine, health psychology and quality of life research. Nowadays, psychosomatic field becomes enlarged because medical and surgical departments have been developed rapidly, and research methods and tools have brought forth rapid progress and advance in medical science. Therefore the author reviews the past and present psychosomatic researches and suggests the future of psychosomatic research in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.33-38
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• 2019

Psychiatric disorder as dysfunctional behavioural syndrome is a paradoxical phenomenon that is difficult to explain evolutionarily because moderate prevalence rate, high heritability and relatively low fitness are shown. Several evolutionary genetic models have been proposed to address this paradox. In this paper, I explain each model by dividing it into selective neutrality, mutation-selection balance, and balancing selection hypothesis, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of them. In addition, the feasibility of niche specialization and frequency dependent selection as the plausible explanation about the central paradox is briefly discussed.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2023

Objectives This study aims to develop valid experimental models for depression through chronic reserpine exposure to zebrafish (Danio rerio). Methods The effect of chronic reserpine on zebrafish behavior in the novel tank was examined. Changes of gene expression on telencephalon were also investigated. Results Chronic reserpine (40 mg/L, 7 days) induced overt behavioral effects, but markedly reduced activity, resembling motor retardation in depression. In telencephalon of zebrafish, gene expression associated with monoamine oxidase and norepinephrine transporter was decreased. Expression of serotonin transporter gene was increased. Conclusions Our results show that the pharmacological model of depression in zebrafish can induce not only behavioral changes, but also monoamine changes in the homology of human mood regulation centers.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.42-57
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• 2020

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is indicated for various mental disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder) and the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in elderly patients. Furthermore, ECT is a useful first-line treatment in emergency and crisis situations such as suicide risk, violent behavior, catatonia, and food refusal, which are more frequent in elderly patients. ECT is also effective in the treatment of the motor symptoms of neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. Due to the high risk of various physical diseases, the comorbid physical conditions of elderly patients should be individually controlled to optimize ECT treatment. Compared to young adults, in elderly patients the seizure threshold is higher, the seizure duration is shorter, and the anesthetic dose is lower. On the contrary, the response rate in the elderly is both faster and higher. Considering potential cognitive decline and the prevention of further deterioration of cognitive function in elderly patients, in the absence of significant comorbidities, twice weekly sessions and right unilateral electrode placement with a lower seizure threshold and less cognitive effect are preferred to bilateral electrode placement, which has a high risk of adverse cognitive effects. After an acute course of ECT, continuation and maintenance of ECT, combined with prescription of therapeutic drugs, may prevent possible relapse or recurrence of mental disorders. In conclusion, ECT can be used to treat mental disorders in elderly adults, with safety and effectiveness comparable to that in young adults.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.44-48
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• 1995