• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.46-50
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• 1996

This study was designed to examine the basal cyclic AMP levels and the $10^{-5}mol/L$ isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP levels of lymphocytes, by which ${\beta}$-adrenoceptor function was shown, between to normal controls and 17 drug free patients(8 major depresive patients and 9 dysthymic patients), who were diagnosed by DSM-III-R. The severity of depression was assessed by Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS). Cyclic AMP levels were measured by radioimmunoassay(double antibody). The results were as follows ; 1) HDRS score was significantly higher in major depressive patients($41.8{\pm}4.6$) than in dysthymic patients($24.0{\pm}4.2$)(p<005). 2) There was no Significant difference in basal cyclic AMP levels among normal controls($3.9{\pm}1.7pmol/10^6cells/10min$), major depressive patients($2.1{\pm}0.5pmol/10^6cells/10min$), and dysthymic patients($3.9{\pm}1.8pmol/10^6cells/10min$). 3) There was significant difference in net cyclic AMP levels($10^{-5}mol/L$ isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP levels minus basal cyclic AMP levels) among normal controls($16.5{\pm}6.0pmol/10^6cells/10min$), major depressive patients($3.0{\pm}1.4pmol/10^6cells/10min$), dysthymic patients($10.9{\pm}4.4pmol/10^6cells/10min$)(p <005). 4) The net cyclic AMP levels were significantly correlated with HDRS scores in major depressive patients(${\gamma}=-0.8^6$, p<0.05), but not in dysthymic patients(${\gamma}=0.43$, p=0.25). In conclusion, we suggested that the dysthymic disorder might differ from the molar depressive disorder not only in the severity of depressive symptoms but also in ${\beta}$-adrenergic responsiveness of lymphocytes, which was regarded as a biological marker of depressive disorder.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.201-211
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• 2000

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliablity of the Korean version of the Global Assessment of Recent Stress(GARS) Scale developed for assessing the severity of current perceived stressors, and then to use the scale in clinical practice. Methods : The questionnaire was completed by 215 healthy subjects. A comparison was made regarding the perception of stressors among 242 patients(71 with anxiety disorder, 73 with depressive disorder, 47 with somatoform disorder, and 51 with psychosomatic disorder) and 215 healthy subjects. Factor analysis was done using oblique rotation after maximum-likelihood factor analysis. Results : Factor analysis yielded 1 subscale. Reliability was computed by administering the GARS Scale to 69 healthy subjects during a 2-week interval. Test-retest reliability for 8 items and the total score was significantly high, ranging between 0.85-.95. Internal consistency was significant(Cronbach's a for 7 items : .86). Convergent validity was computed by correlating the 8 items and the total score with the total score of the stress response inventory(SRI), the perceived stress questionnaire(PSQ), and the somatization, anxiety, depression, hostility subscales and general indices of the symptom checklist-90-revised(SCL-90-R). The correlations were all at significant levels. Discriminant validity was computed by comparing the 8 item scores of the patient and control groups. Significant differences were found in area relevant to sickness or illness and the overill global area. The patients with anxiety disorder were significantly higher in area relevant to sickness or illness than the healthy group, whereas the patients with depressive disorder was significantly higher in the overall global score than healthy group. The depressive disorder group was the highest in overall global score of the GARS scale among 4 patient groups, and showed a significant higher scores in interpersonal relationship and overall global area than the psychosomatic disorder group. Conclusions : These results indicate that the Korean version of the GARS scale is highly reliable and valid, and that it can be utilized as an effective measure of perceived stressors for research in stress-related fields. It is suggested that depressive disorder patients are more likely to perceive recent stressors than psychosomatic disorder patients.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.100-106
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• 2007

Objectives : The objective of the present study was to investigate alexithymia in major depressive disorder(MDD) and subclinical depression(SCD). Methods : Three hundred eighty-six community-dwelling adults(238 females and 148 males, age 19-79; mean age $43.0{\pm}13.9$) were recruited. Structured clinical Interview for DSM-IV(SCID) was conducted for the diagnosis of MDD or other Axis I psychiatric disorders. The Center for Epidemiological Studies for Depression Scale(CES-D) and the Totonto Alexithymia Scale(TAS) were administered to assess depressive symptom and alexithymia, respectively. Among subjects without MDD, those who had minor depressive disorder on the SCID or high scores(i.e. over 16) on the CES-D were defined as subjects with SCD. TAS total score and factor I, II, III scores of TAS in MDD, SCD, and non-depressive controls were compared. Results : Among 386 subjects, 38 subjects(9.8%) were diagnosed as MDD by DSM-IV criteria, while 57 subjects(14.8%) were classified into SCD group. There were significant differences between 3 groups(MDD, SCD and non-depressive controls) in total score($F_{2,383}=14.0$, p<0.01), factor I(difficulty in identifying feeling)($F_{2,383}=23.4$, p<0.01) and factor II(difficulty in describing feeling)($F_{2,383}=7.8$, p<0.01), but not factor III(external oriented thinking)($F_{2,383}=1.8$, p=0.16) of TAS. In post-hoc analysis, both MDD subjects and SCD subjects had higher scores in TAS total, factor I and factor II, compared to non-depressive controls(all p<0.01). In contrast, there were no significant differences between MDD subjects and SCD subjects in any TAS factor. Conclusion : In this study, both MDD subjects and SCD subjects were more alexithymic than non-depressive control subjects. These findings suggest that SCD, as well as MDD, is also related to alexithymia.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.99-106
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting depression according to the causes of suicidal ideation. The data used the 2021 Community Health Survey data. The participants of the study were 5,328 adults between the ages of 20 and 60 who responded that they had suicidal thoughts in the past year. For the analysis of the data, a composite sample analysis was performed using the SPSS 25.0 program. The results of the study are as follows. 1) In the economic difficulties group, age, gender, education level, economic activity, job change due to COVID-19, life satisfaction, subjective health status, stress, sleep time, and annual unmet medical care were the main factors related to depression. 2) In the interpersonal problem group, age, gender, education level, economic activity, life satisfaction, subjective health status, smoking, drinking, stress, and sleeping time were the main factors associated with depression. 3) In the disease and disability group, age, marital status, education level, life satisfaction, smoking, stress, sleep time, and annual unmet medical care were the main influencing factors of depression. Therefore, in order to reduce the rate of suicide and prevent depression, it is necessary to establish various strategies according to the causes of suicidal ideation and the influencing factors of depression.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2001

Objectives: An Increased level of psychophysiologic arousal and diminished physiologic flexibility would be observed in patients with panic disorder compared with a normal control group. We investigated the differences of psychophysiologic response between patients with panic disorder and normal control to examine this hypothesis. Methods: Ten Korean patients with panic disorder who met the diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV were compared with 10 normal healthy subjects. In psychological assessment, levels of anxiety and depression were evaluated by State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck's Depression Inventory and Hamilton Rating Scale For Anxiety and Depression. Heart rate, respiration rate, electrodermal response, and electromyographic activity were measured by biofeedback system (J & J I-330 model) to determine psychophysiologic responses on autonomic nervous system. Stressful tasks included mental arithmetic, video game, hyperventilation, and talking about a stressful event. Psychophysiologic responses were measured according to the following procedures : baseline(3 min)-mental arithmetic (3 min)-rest (3 min)-video game (3 min)-rest (3 min)-hyperventilation (3 min)-rest (3 min)-talking about a stressful event (3 min). Results: The baseline level of anxiety and depression, electrodermal response (p=.017), electromyographic activity (p=.047) and heart rate (p=.049) of patients with panic disorder were significantly higher than those of the normal subject group. In electrodermal response, patient group had significantly higher startle response than the control group during hyperventilation (p=.001). Startle and recovery responses of heart rate in the patient group were significantly lower than responses in the control group during mental arithmetic (p=.007, p=.002). In electrodermal response of the patient group, startle response was significantly higher than recovery response during mental arithmetic (p=.000) and video game task (p=.021). Recovery response was significantly higher than startle response in respiratory response during hyperventilation. Conclusion: The results showed that patients with panic disorder had higher autonomic arousal than the control group, but the physiologic flexibility was variable. We suggest that it is helpful for treatment of panic disorder to decrease the level of autonomic arousal and to recover the physiologic flexibility in certain stressful event.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.247-257
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• 1996

This is a preliminary report on the first segment of a continuing and prospective teaming disorder study project in Korea. Study subjects were 197 children, aged between 6 and 15 referred for psychiatric evaluation of scholastic problems. Demographic data, psychiatric diagnoses and intelligence and achievement test results were reviewed and analyzed. Analyses of data lead to the following conclusions : (1) About 20.8% of children referred for scholastic problems were diagnosed of teaming disorder(LD). The most prevalent diagnosis among these children with scholastic problem was emotional disorder, especially depressive disorder(33%), (2) The comorbid rate of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) of 41 children with LD was 44%, (3) Male/female ratio was 5.8:1 among all of the LD children, 17:1 among children with LD and ADHD and 3.6:l among children with LD but without ADHD, (4) 83% of children with LD scored above middle level on socioeconomic status(SES), (5) Age, SES, IQ, family psychiatric history, past history of medical and psychiatric illness, onset of age, pattern of peer relationship, number of friends, presence of adaptation problem and academic achievements of children with LD and ADHD compared to those of children with LD but without ADHD. No significant differences between two groups were found on age, SES, IQ, family psychiatric history, past history of medical and psychiatric illness, pattern of peer relationship, number of friends and presence of adaptation problem. However, there were significant differences in academic achievements of Korean language total, speaking and listening score, arithmetic score, social science score and music score of children with LD and ADHD compared to those of children with LD but without ADHD. Also there was an ealier onset of age in LD and ADHD group when compared to LD but without ADHD group.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.122-134
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• 2004

Objective : The purpose of this study was to develop the Anger Response Scale(ARS), and then to use the scale in clinical practice. Methods First, a preliminary survey was conducted for 123 healthy adults to obtain 16 response items. Second, a preliminary questionnaire was completed by 258 healthy subjects. Third, a comparison was made regarding anger responses among 189 patients(59 with anxiety disorder, 72 with depressive disorder and 58 with somatoform disorder) and 258 healthy subjects. Results : Factor analysis yielded 4 subscales : aggression, irritability, avoidance and anger suppression. Reliability was computed by administering the ARS to 53 healthy subjects during a 2-week interval. Test-retest reliability for 4 subscales and the total score was significantly high, ranging between .53-.71. Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ for 4 subscales ranged between .62-.72, and .76 for the total score. Convergent validity was computed by correlating the 4 subscales and the total score with the total score of Aggression Questionnaire, State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, anger and aggression subscale of Stress Response Inventory and hostility subscale of Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. The disorder group was significantly higher than normal group in scores of the avoidance and anger suppression subacale. The depressive disorder and somatoform disorder groups scored significantly higher on the avoidance subscale than the normal group. Conclusion : These results indicate that the ARS is highly reliable and valid. In addition, avoidance response is likely to be a characteristic anger response of the depressive disorder and somatoform disorder groups.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.34-43
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• 1996

In adolescence, the symptoms of depression are more various and different from those of adult. Conduct behaviours are frequently represented in adolescent's depression. The patients who have the depression and conduct disorder are defined as depressive condor disorder in ICD-10. We hypothesized that there might be different parental rearing patterns between the patients with depression alone and the depressive conduct disorder. We applied children's depression inventory (CDI), parental rating form for conduct disorder based on DSM-III-R, and parental bonding instrument (PBI) to patients and normal control adolescent group. The results were as follows : 1) There were no significant differences in severity of depressive symptoms, maternal care, maternal overprotection, and paternal care. 2) Paternal overprotection showed significant higher scores in depressive conduct disorder group than depression group and normal control group. 3) There were positive correlations in the severity of depressive symptoms and behavior problems in all subjects. 4) There were no correlations in maternal care and overprotecion with conduct problems, but with depressive symptoms in all subject. 4) There were no correlations in paternal care with conduct problems and depressive symptoms in all subjects. 5) There were significant correlations in patienral overprotective, intrusive attitudes with conduct problems, not with depressive symptoms in all subjects.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2020

Objectives : This study aimed to compare autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysregulation and differential relationships with clinical severities between anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and trauma·stressor related disorder using heart rate variability (HRV) parameters. Methods : We conducted a retrospective chart review of outpatients from 2017 to 2018 in Stress Clinic of National Center for Mental Health. Total 473 patients were included; 166 anxiety disorder; 184 depressive disorder ; 123 trauma·stressor related disorder. Parameters of 5-min analysis of HRV were compared in three groups. Additionally, we investigated the differential association of each parameters with Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI-S) across each group. Results : No significant differences were found in all HRV parameters between the three groups. However, significant group interactions by CGI-S were found in standard deviation of all RR intervals (SDNN) and the square root of the mean squared differences of successive normal-to-normal intervals (RMSSD) (SDNN, p=0.017 ; RMSSD, p=0.034). A negative relationship between CGI-S and SDNN, RMSSD has been found in anxiety disorder and depressive disorder. However, a positive relationship between CGI-S and SDNN, RMSSD has been found in trauma·stressor related disorder. Conclusions : Despite of no significant differences of each HRV parameter, our findings suggested the differential associations of HRV parameters with clinical severity among anxiety disorder, depressive disorder and trauma·stressor related disorder. In trauma·stressor related disorder, the clinical severity and degree of ANS dysregulation may differ, so more aggressive treatment is suggested.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.154-165
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• 2002

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics of depression in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. Methods : Subjects were 37 cancer inpatients of oncology in Yeungnam university hospital. BDI and ZDS were done and HDS was performed through semistructured interview. Results: 1) There were no significant differences of depression scale score according to sex, education, religion, marital status. 2) The mean scores of BDI, ZDS and HDS in 37 cancer patients were 18.27${\pm}$7.73, 36.51${\pm}$10.82, 15.14${\pm}$6.60, respectively. 3) HDS, ZDS scores were significantly higher in other cancer group receiving high dose chemotherapy. 4) Item score for depressed mood, diurnal variation(p<0.001), dissatisfaction(p<0.01), physical anxiety, decreased libido, sleep disturbance(p<0.05) were significantly higher in other cancer group than others. 5) Eight patients were diagnosed as having major depressive disorder, 11 as adjustment disorder, and 18 patients had no axis I diagnosis. 6) In major depressive disorder group, the score of the depressed mood item in ZDS was high (p<0.05). HDS item score for depressed mood, work difficulty, anxiey(p<0.001), psychomotor retardation(p<0.01) were significantly higher in major depressive disorder group. 7) In patients with adjustment disorder, ZDS item score of constipation(p<0.001), fatigue, anorexia (p<0.01), emptiness, sleep disturbance, dissatisfaction, weight loss(p<0.01) were high. HDS item score of hypochondriasis(p<0.01), agitation(p<0.01), fatigue, decreased libido(p<0.05) were significantly higher in adjustment disorder group. Conclusion : Some psychiatric disorders, such as adjustment disorder and major depressive disorder were common in the cancer patients in chemotherapy. Psychiatric intervention will increase compliance of cancer treatment and improve the quality of life. This study suggests that it would be important to consider the nature of somatic symptoms in diagnosing depression in cancer patients.