• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.157-163
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• 2013

Objectives : Previous studies reported that attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) resulted from a deficit of selective attention and sustained attention. In this study, we assessed the result of methylphenidate-induced changes of the cerebral frontal executive functions in patients with ADHD. Methods : The subjects in this study consisted of 16 ADHD patients whose age ranged from 7 to 12. We used ADHD Diagnostic System (ADS) for the attention improvement, and the Stroop Test for the executive function response to pharmacotherapy with MPH. Results : After pharmacotherapy with methylphenidate for 12 weeks, the study group showed improvement in the clinical aspects through Clinical Global Impression-Severity, ADHD-rating scale and Inattention/Overactivity With Aggression Conner's Parents Rating Scale. In the ADS test, only in auditory task there was a decrease of both the response time and the standard deviation of the response time significantly. In the Stroop Test, there was a decrease in the word task, color task and color-word task significantly. Conclusion : Our results show that psychostimulant medication improves neuropsychological function, including the cerebral frontal executive function. This study implies that we have to consider the improvement of executive function, as well as attention when evaluating the efficacy of treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 2020

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess serum, hair, and urinary magnesium (Mg) levels in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and both ASD and ADHD to reveal potential interactive effects. Methods: A total of 148 boys aged 4-9 years old were enrolled in this study, including 44 children with ADHD, 40 pediatric patients with ASD, 32 patients with both ADHD and ASD, as well as 32 healthy neurotypical children. Hair, serum, and urinary Mg levels were assessed using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Laboratory quality control was performed using certified reference materials of human hair, plasma, and urine. Results: No significant group difference in serum Mg levels was observed. Mg content in hair was found to be reduced in children with ADHD and ADHD+ASD compared to that in healthy controls by 11% and 15%, respectively. Urinary Mg levels in children with ADHD+ASD exceeded the control, ADHD, and ASD values by 51, 76, and 65%, respectively. Factorial analysis revealed significant contribution of ADHD to hair and urinary Mg levels. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that hair and urinary Mg levels were considered as significant predictors of neurodevelopmental disorder complexity. Conclusion: We propose that impaired Mg status may provide a link between ADHD and ASD.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.270-278
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• 2005

Objectives : This study is to understand the clinical characteristics and course of inpatient severe ADHD. Methods : This study retrospectively investigated the chief complaints, history, demographics, neuropsychologic test, psychosocial status of 63 (male 58, female 5) inpatients from a single center with severe attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) during January 1, 1996 to October 31, 2002. Results : The patients with inpatient severe ADHD revealed a male to female ratio of 11.6 : 1 and the average age of onset was 5.3 years(63.6 months, SD 24.3 months) . Comorbidities were noted in 56/63 $(88.9\%)$ patients with the following frequencies : comorbid conduct disorder, 35$(55.6\%)$, mental retardation (MR), 24$(38.1\%)$, mood disorder, 5$(7.9\%)$, tic and Tourette's disorder, 4$(6.4\%)$, oppositional defiant disorder, 4$(5.0\%)$. Chief complaints for admission related to ADHD in 23$(36.5\%)$ patients while 37$(58.7\%)$ patients admitted due to symptoms associated to conduct disorder (CD). The mean onset age of comorbid delinquency was 9.0 years (108.2 months, SD28.8 months), and the average interval between onsets of ADHD and delinquency was 3.6 years (42.9 months, SD32.0 months). Patients who showed early delinquency tended to have an earlier onset of ADHD (p<0.05). Conclusion : The demographics, natural course, and psychosocial factors of hospitalized ADHD patients were similar to prior studies of ADHD in the general population. The onset of age was 5.3 years, and the onset of comorbid delinquency was 9.0 years. The earlier symptoms of ADHD manifested, the earlier delinquency appeared. Most patients were admitted due to chief complaints related to CD. Comorbidities, most of which were CD, were seen in $88.9\%$ of the patients.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.199-210
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• 2005

Objective : Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) affects $5-10\%$ of children in Korea, with more boys and girls being diagnosed. Despite seriousness of ADHD, little is known about its causes. From the current genetic epidemiologic studies, ADHD is known as a heritable disorder. Till now, however, there have been very few genetic studies about ADHD in Korea. The aim of the this study is to examine the association between dopamine transporter gone type 1 and ADHD using case-control design in Korean ADHD probands and normal controls. Materials and Method : Child Psychiatric Genetic research team in Seoul National University Hospital, Clinical Research Institute recruited the ADHD probands using clinical interview/observation, diverse rating scales, and neuropsychological tests. For eliminating phenocopy or ADHD, diagnosis of ADHD was based upon clinical data, psychometric data, and parent/teacher reports. Total 85 ADHD-probands were recruited as final study subjects and independent 100 normal adults participated in this study as control group. For all the ADHD probands, and controls, the 3'-UTR-VNTR polymorphism of DAT1 was analyzed. Based on the DAT1 allele and genotype informations, Chi-square test based on case-control design was performed. Results : As for genetic study, total of 85 probands and 100 controls were included for the genetic analysis. Four different alleles, 350bp (7repeat), 440bp (9repeat), 480bp (10repeat) and 520bp (11repeat) were found in DAT1 gene of study subjects. In case-control analysis, ADHD probands and parents have significantly more 9 repeat allele and 9/10 genotype. Also, The probands with 9repeat allele have more commission errors in ADS. Conclusion : The positive association between ADHD and DAT1 gene was replicated in this report like other previous results for caucasian children and Korean children with ADHD. There are ongoing studies on other candidate genes such as DRD4 and DRD5 and it would be required to explore the association of these candidate genes in Korean children with ADHD. These ongoing genetic research will contribute to the understanding of heterogenous genetic and environmental etiologies of ADHD phenotype, which will lead to the development of more comprehensive treatment and preventive interventions for ADHD.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.123-136
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of a Korean form of Childhood Attention Problem(CAP) scale. CAP were administered to 98 normal elementary school students as control group and 98 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patients. Male students showed high scores than female students in both subscale and total scores, but not statistically significant. There were no significant difference in CAP scale between male students and female students in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patients. In the reliability test, the test-retest reliability coefficient was highly satisfactory and that of inattention subscale was 0.83, impulsivity subscale was 0.70 and total score was 0.82. In the reliability test by internal consistency, the Cronbach $\alpha$ coefficient was highly satisfactory and that of inattention subscale was 0.91, overactivity subscale was 0.89(p<0.05). The concurrent validity between CAP scale and ADDES-BV scale was 0.85 in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patient group and 0.73 in normal control group(p<0.05). In discriminant validity test between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patient group and normal control group, the patient group showed higher score(p<0.05). The total discriminant capacity of the patient group in CAP was 93.4%. In this point of view, CAP scale showed high reliability and validity in applying to Korean subjects and was proved to be the good and simple screening test tool for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder research and can help many young patient to treat early.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.28-36
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• 2014

Objectives : The goal of this study was to examine the association between zinc and lead level and symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among Korean children. Methods : A total of 89 clinic-referred children participated in the study (ADHD group=45, control group=44). The participants were 5-15 years old, and were mainly from urban areas of Seoul, Korea. ADHD was diagnosed using the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version. We excluded children with a comorbid psychiatric disorder, medical illness requiring medication, or a prior history of taking ADHD medication. In order to evaluate the severity of ADHD symptoms, parents' Korean ADHD Rating Scale (K-ARS) was used. The ADHD diagnostic system (ADS) was used for evaluation of the severity of inattention and impulsivity. All participants completed the intelligence test and hair mineral analysis. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the effect of hair zinc and lead levels on the K-ARS and ADS. We measured the predictive ability of the zinc and lead levels using logistic regression analysis. Results : The lead level explained the score for omission errors, commission errors, and response time SD in visual ADS in the ADHD group (adjusted $R^2$=.243, p<.01, adjusted $R^2$=.362, p<.01, and adjusted $R^2$=.275, p<.01), the score for omission errors of auditory ADS in ADHD group (adjusted $R^2$=.407, p<.01) and the entire group (adjusted $R^2$=.292, p<.01). Zinc was significantly explanatory for the K-ARS scores for the entire group (adjusted $R^2$=.248, p<.001) and the ADHD group (adjusted $R^2$=.247, p<.05). Conclusion : These findings suggest a possible role of zinc and lead in ADHD. Lead concentration in hair samples affected the ADS scores, and this was more prominent in children with ADHD. Children with ADHD had a lower zinc concentration in their hair, and the zinc concentration in hair showed negative correlation with the K-ARS score.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.571-578
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of psychomotor by the emotional behavior disorder children(ADHD) on the improvement of Self-esteem, Depression or Hyperactivity. From the results, there was no significant difference of the main effect between groups about the improvement of Self-esteem, Depression but that of Hyperactivity. About Self-esteem, Depression, Hyperactivity, there was significant difference of the main effect between prior and post and significant difference of the interaction effects between groups and periods. In conclusion, we can know psychomotor program have a positive effect on the improvement of Self-esteem, Depression or Hyperactivity for emotional behavior disorder children(ADHD). Considering that psychomotor, regarding convergence, may have a positive effect on the ADHD children's emotional development, not only motion development, we suggest the emotional behavior disorder children(ADHD) may have to continue to participate in the Psychomotor Activities.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2011

Objectives:We conduct this study to investigate the common features between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) and epileptic patients compared to normal control. Methods:Epileptic patients were recruited from the department of pediatic in Jesus Hospital. ADHD patients were recruited from the department of neuropsychiatry in Jesus Hospital. We excluded mental retardation or brain organic pathology. We use ADHD Diagnostic System and Korean-Child Behavior Checklist(K-CBCL) to assess features of ADHD. Electroencephalogram(EEG) of ADHD, epileptic patients and normal control were analyzed and compared. Results:Compared to normal control group, inattention, reaction time deviation were increased in both ADHD and epilepsy group. EEG abnormalities(control 13.8%, epilepsy 97.1%, ADHD 40%) in three groups were reported. Conclusion:There are common features of ADHD and epileptic patients.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.5-25
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• 2020

Objectives: Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an important mental health problem that needs resolution, especially considering the high rates of ADHD continuation from childhood to adolescence/adulthood and the high prevalence of ADHD in adults. Adults with ADHD have lifelong negative impacts and require close monitoring with long-term follow-up. Hence, the establishment of a Korean practice parameter for adult ADHD is necessary to minimize discontinuation of treatment and enable information sharing among Korean mental health professionals. Methods: The Korean practice parameter was developed using an evidence-based approach consisting of expert consensus survey coupled with literature review. Results: According to the expert consensus survey, the most commonly used diagnostic methods were clinical psychiatric interview (20.66%) and self-report scales (19.25%) followed by attention (14.71%) and psychological tests (14.24%). Key evaluation instruments currently available in Korea are the World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Rating Scale, Korean Adult ADHD Rating Scale, Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults, Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale for adults, Comprehensive Attention Test, Conners' Continuous Performance Test, and the subtests of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Digit Span and Letter-Number Sequencing. Although pharmacotherapy is recommended as the first-line of treatment for adult ADHD, we recommend that it be followed by a multimodal and multidisciplinary approach including psychoeducation, pharmacotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy and coaching. Conclusion: The Korean practice parameter introduces not only general information for the diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD on a global scale, but also the process of diagnosis and treatment options tailored to the Korean population.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.253-266
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• 2001

Background: The causes of ADHD(attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) are various, so it is impossible to understand the whole characteristics of ADHD, only with simple intelligence testing scales. We compared cognitive characteristics of ADHD group with normal controls with Korean Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children(K-ABC). It is well known to evaluate neuropsychological and cognitive aspects of the children. Materials and Methods: Age and sex matched 40 ADHD patients and 40 normal controls tested with the K-ABC. Each subscales compared between pre-treatment patients and controls, pre-treatment and post-treatment in patient group, post-treatment patients and controls. Results: Significant differences are observed in sequential processing, simultaneous processing, cognitive processing and achievement between pre-treatment patients and controls, and in gestalt closure between pre-treatment and post-treatment patients group. But there are no significant differences between pre-treatment patients and controls in gestalt closure and reading/decoding. Conclusions: Methylphenidate improved the scores of simultaneous scale, which means improvement of executive functions such as divided attention, analysis and organization. Methylphenidate also reduced distractibility.