• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.376-382
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• 2011

The results from eight clinical studies demonstrate that citalopram and escitalopram could be an effective option in the treatment of hot flashes with tolerable adverse effects. However, there are limitations in the above studies. The inclusion criteria of 2 studies reviewed in this paper was breast cancer patients, so it's hard to apply the results to the general population in clinical practice. Also 4 studies had less than 50 subjects included, and the duration of study was 8 weeks or less in 7 studies reviewed in this paper. Moreover, only 4 studies were randomized, placebo-controlled trials (3 for citalopram and 1 for escitalopram). Therefore, further randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies with the general population should be needed to use citalopram and escitalopram for the treatment of hot flashes in clinical practice.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.597-603
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• 1994

Background: Because of the power of HRCT to detect the minute changes in lung parenchyme and the advantage of noninvasiveness, it may be the ideal method of follow-up evaluation of the patients with diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. So the aim of the study is to find out whether the change of HRCT during the course of the disease can represent the change in symptom and pulmonary function test. Method: Thirteen patients with diagnosis of diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis who had more than two times of HRCT during the course of disease were studied. The extent of the disease in HRCT was measured at three levels using image analyzer. The ralationship between the percent change in the disease extent in HRCT, symptom score, and pulmonary function tests were analysed. Results: The change of disease extent in HRCT has good correlation with the change in dyspnea and diffusion capacity(r=0.716, p=0.0012). But there was no correlation between the change of HRCT and FVC or TLC. Also significant inverse correlation was noted between the change in dyspnea and diffusion capacity(r=-0.707, p=0.0047). Conclusion: These data suggest that HRCT may be a good method of follow-up in diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.82-93
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to explore attitude and belief about menopause and severity of menopausal symptoms according to menopausal status. This study conducted a cross-sectional assessment of the effects of depressive symptoms and the severity of trait anxiety on the severity of menopausal symptoms. Methods : Participants were all outpatients at the psychiatric outpatient clinic of Korea University Guro Hospital. All participants, aged 40 to 64, had depressive or anxiety disorders and were divided into the premenopause, perimenopause, premenopause, and postmenopause groups. Menopause Rating Scale(MRS) was used to measure the severity of menopausal symptoms. The attitude toward menopause was examined by a self-report questionnaire regarding menopause. Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) were used to assess depressive symptoms and anxiety. Results : The severity of menopausal symptoms was not different among the groups according to menopausal status. There was a significant correlation between a negative attitude toward menopause and the severity of menopausal symptoms. Patients with moderate to severe depressive symptoms and trait anxiety had more severe menopausal symptoms. Conclusion : Negative attitude toward menopause, depressive symptoms, and anxiety had a significantly negative impact on the severity of menopausal symptoms. The results of this study suggest that treatment to relieve depressive symptoms and anxiety and intervention to reduce negative attitude toward menopause are required. Further studies with larger sample size are needed to evaluate potentially effects of depressive symptoms and anxiety on severity of menopausal symptoms in middle-aged female psychiatric patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.11
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• pp.1201-1205
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• 2005

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristic changes of acute poststeptococcal glomerulonephritis(APSGN) in recent. The cases of APSGN occurred for the last ten years were divided into group I and II by the unit of 5 years and clinical manifestations and laboratory findings of each groups were analyzed. Methods : Total of 74 cases of APSGN, diagnosed at the department of Pediatrics, Chungnam National University Hospital from January 1995 to August 2004 were divided into group I(31 cases from January 1995 to December 1999) & II(43 cases from January 2000 to August 2004). In addition, the clinical records of each group were reviewed retrospectively and compared. Results : In both groups, the prevalence rate was much higher in males than females, the seasonal prevalence rate was higher in winter, the upper respiratory infection was most frequent predisposing illness, and one to two weeks of latent period was the highest. However, the average age for group II were younger than group I. The prevalence rate of gross hematuria was higher in group II, but there was no significant difference between two groups. In the course of clinical symptoms, edema and hypertension were relieved within two weeks in both groups. In group II, the prevalence rate of proteinuria was higher, and the duration of proteinuria and gross hematuria were longer than group I. Conclusion : In this comparative study, the average age became younger. Clinically the duration of gross hematuria and proteinuria became longer, and the prevalence rate of proteinuria increased in recent 5 years. However, there was no difference between two groups in clinical courses and prognosis.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.66-73
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• 2017

Objective : The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of adjunctive aripiprazole versus bupropion on specific symptoms of depression. Methods : Data were from 6-week, randomized, prospective, open-label multi-center study in 103 patients with major depressive disorders. Participants were randomized to receive aripiprazole (2.5-10 mg/day) or bupropion (150-300 mg/day) for 6 weeks. Change in four subscales of the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D17) that capture core depression symptoms was determined, and change in individual HAM-D17 items was also assessed. Changes in three composite subscales-anxiety, insomnia, and drive were also examined. Results : Within-group change in the four core subscales was large [effect size (ES)=1.30-1.47] and it was similar to that in the HAM-D17 total score. Differences between aripiprazole and bupropion were significant for each of the four core subscales and the HAM-D17 total score favored aripiprazole (p<0.001). On three composite scales, both treatments caused substantial changes in anxiety (within-group ES=1.10 (aripiprazole) vs. 1.00 (bupropion)], insomnia (ES=0.75 vs 0.50), and drive (ES=1.17 vs 1.15). Conclusion : This results suggested that both aripiprazole and bupropion adjunctive therapies with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors resulted in significant and clinically meaningful changes in core symptom subscales for depression.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.199-207
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• 2001

Background: Septoplasty with turbinate surgery is common surgical treatment in patients with septal deviation and chronic hypertrophic rhinitis. The aim of this study was to evaluation objective outcomes of septoplasty with turbinate surgery by analysis of subjective symptom score with objective acoustic rhinometric test before and after surgery, prospectively. Materials and Methods: We reviewed 45 adult patients which were done septoplasty with bilateral turbinectomy or turbinoplasty and followed up at least 3 months by one rhinologist from November 1999 to April 2000, prospectively. We analyzed subjective symptom score, minimal cross-sectional area (MCA), C-notch cross-sectional area, and total volume of both nasal cavity before and after surgery. Correlation test was studied between symptom improvement and acoustic rhinometric results. Results: Twenty nine cases were male and sixteen cases female. The average age was 26.9 year-old (range: 17 to 57 years). There was significantly improvement of symptom score in postoperative 3 months (p<0.05). There was significantly increased C-notch cross-sectional area and total volume in postoperative 3 months. Symptoms improvement were associated with acoustic rhinometric profiles, but, there was not significantly correlation. Conclusion: Septoplasty with turbinate surgery is considered to be effective for nasal obstruction in patients with septal deviation and turbinate hypertrophy. Acoustic rhinometric test is favorable objective test for evaluation of symptom improvement after septal surgery.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Patients with neurocognitive disorder show behavioral psychological symptoms such as agitation, aggression, depression, and wandering, as well as cognitive decline, which puts a considerable burden on patients and their families. For the treatment of behavioral psychological symptoms, patient-centered, non-pharmacological treatment should be used as a first line approach. This paper describes non-pharmacological interventions to manage and treat behavioral psychological symptoms in patients with neurocognitive disorder. In order to control behavioral psychological symptoms such as agitation, depression, apathy, insomnia, and wandering, it is important to identify and evaluate factors such as environmental changes and drugs, and then solve such problems. Non-pharmacological interventions include reassurance, encourage, distraction, and environmental change. It is necessary to understand behavior from a patient's point of view and to approach the patient's needs and abilities appropriately. Reminiscence therapy, music therapy, aroma therapy, multisensory stimulation therapy, exercise therapy, light therapy, massage therapy, cognitive intervention therapy, and pet therapy are used as non-pharmacological interventions, and these approaches are known to improve symptoms such as depression, apathy, agitation, aggression, anxiety, wandering, and insomnia. However, the quality of the evidence base for non-pharmacological approaches is generally lower than for pharmacological treatments. Therefore, more extensive and accurate effectiveness verification studies are needed in the future.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 1995

Forty patients meeting DSM-III-H criteria for panic disorder and 51 normal controls were assessed with the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-Revised(PDQ-R), a self-rating scale designed to assess Axis II personality disorders and traits. Results replicated previous findings of a preponderance of dependent, avoidant, and histrionic features. But our result showed other features such as paranoid, schizotypal, borderline, and antisocial traits also. Patients were divided into two groups according to the severity of their personality traits(high or low). These groups were compared in various panic symptomatology and SCL-90-R. None of the specific symptom dimensions in panic disorder, i.e. panic, anxiety, agoraphobia, social impairment, or chronicity was different between groups. Rather, high personality trait groups were found to have significantly more symptomatology in SCR-90-R than low personality groups. Result indicated that patients exhibiting a greater number of personality traits were also significantly more symptomatic. The results suggested a possible link beteween panic disorder and personality disorder. And, general factors such as depression, social or interpersonal sensitivity might provide a much better explanation of personality disorders in panic patients.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.43-53
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• 2016

Objectives : Somatic symptoms after the exposure of psychological trauma frequently developed. However, the somatic symptoms are not covered under the diagnostic criteria of posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD) in detail, although they are often associated with social and occupational functioning and patient-doctor relationships. The aim of this article is to highlight the potential mechanisms, the common manifestations, and the treatment of the somatic symptoms. Methods : This article studied the somatic symptoms searched using academic search engines like PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, KoreaMed and KISS from the earliest available date of indexing to March 31, 2016. Results : The mechanism of somatic symptoms after the exposure was described as psychological and physiological aspects. Psychological mechanism consisted of psychodynamic theory, cognitive behavioral theory, and others. Physiological mechanism involved changes in neuroendocrine and immune system, autonomic nervous system and central nervous system. Somatization associated with psychological trauma manifested various health conditions on head and neck, chest, abdominal, musculoskeletal, and dermatological and immune system. Few studies described the standardization of treatment for the somatic symptoms. Conclusions : Clinicians and disaster behavioral health providers should think of the accompanying somatic symptoms during intervention of psychological trauma and PTSD. Further studies are needed on the somatic symptoms seen in psychological trauma and PTSD.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.207-212
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• 2021

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (Anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is a neuroinflammatory disease mediated by autoantibodies to NMDAR. In the initial clinical stages of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, psychiatric symptoms like delusions, perceptual disturbances, and disorganized speech or behaviors are pronounced even without obvious neurological symptoms. Early treatments like immunotherapy and/or tumor removal are central to good clinical outcomes. Hence, it is important to diagnose early anti-NMDAR encephalitis, distinguishing it from mental disorder. In the present case study, the authors described psychiatric symptoms assessed with Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) of Ms. A, a 26-year-old woman, in the early phase of anti-NMDAR encephalitis. We will discuss the characteristic psychopathology of anti-NMDAR encephalitis toward prompt diagnosis and treatment. Ms. A showed a higher negative subscale score than positive one on the PANSS. Compared with mental disorder, negative symptoms and cognitive impairment would be more prominent in the early stage of anti-NMDAR encephalitis. Rituximab and teratoma removal were effective, and quetiapine showed good tolerability. It is recommended to evaluate anti-NMDAR encephalitis when negative symptoms, cognitive impairment, catatonia, changes in consciousness level, and neurological symptoms are observed, especially in young women.