• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2012

Objectives : This study aims to identify temperament and characteristics of cannabis and methamphetamine abusers for elucidating psycho-biological variables related to certain substance abuse. Methods : A total of 320 patients who registered in the 'Hepatitis C cohorts study of intravenous drug users' between March 2006 and March 2010 participated in this study. Data on demographic variables were obtained and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and measures for nicotine dependence, alcohol dependence, depression and anxiety were assessed. After comparing TCI between cannabis, methamphetamine, and co-abusers, correlations between TCI and other clinical variables were examined. Results : The methamphetamine abuser group showed significantly higher scores in Novelty Seeking (NS2) and Harm Avoidance (HA3) in temperament than the cannabis abuser and co-abuser groups, whereas the cannabis abuser group had higher scores in purposefulness (SD2), congruent second nature (SD5), and self-directedness (SD) in character than the methamphetamine abuser group. In addition, temperaments and characters correlated with various psychiatric symptoms. Conclusions : We found the differences in temperament and characters among cannabis abusers, methamphetamine abusers. These findings might contribute to further understanding of mechanisms of cannabis and methamphetamine abuse.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.164-171
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• 2012

The placebo effect, a response observed during the placebo arm of a clinical trial, is produced by the psychobiological action of the placebo as well as by other potential contributors to symptom amelioration such as spontaneous improvement, regression to the mean, biases, concurrent treatments, and study design. From a psychological viewpoint, there are many mechanisms that contribute to placebo effects, including expectations, conditioning, learning, and anxiety reduction. Placebo responses are also mediated by opioid and non-opioid mechanisms including dopamine, serotonin, cholecystokinin, and immune mediators. During recent years, a trend towards increased placebo effects in clinical trials of neuropsychiatric drugs has been noted. Indeed, the placebo effects observed in clinical trials constitute an increasing problem and interfere with signal-detection analyses of potential treatments. Several potential factors including protocol/study design and conduct related factors may account for the placebo effect observed in clinical trials. This paper reviews key issues related to this problem and aims to identify potential solutions.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.211-218
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• 2012

Objectives Body image distortion is found in eating disorder and obesity and there are some evidence that schizophrenia is associated with body image distortion. This study sought to find whether schizophrenic patients report more body image distortion than healthy individuals and whether it is related with symptomatology. Methods A total of 88 inpatients with schizophrenia and 88 healthy controls were recruited. Weight, height, and body image accuracy were assessed in all participants, and assessment of mood, psychotic symptom severity and self-esteem, and personal and social performance scale were conducted. Results The patients with schizophrenia had higher Body Mass Index (p < 0. 001) and underestimated their body size more than controls (26.14% vs. 5.13%, p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that lower depressive symptoms and higher scores of general psychopathology predicted underestimation of body size. Conclusion Weight gain and metabolic syndrome are common adverse events of pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia. Thus, underestimation of body size among patients with schizophrenia may interfere with effort to lose weight or seek weight reduction programs. Clinicians need to consider possible unterestimation of underestimation of body size in patients whose general symptomatology is severe.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.140-146
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• 2001

In clinical setting, treatment-refractoriness, medication induced tardive dyskinesia and amenorrhea in chronic schizophrenia are frequently problematic. However, there are few guideline solving these problem available to clinicians. The goal of this study was collecting clinical data on clinical effectiveness and predictors of response of switching to olanzapine. We attempted to switch to olanzapine from risperidone and clozapine in chronic 31(risperidone 17, clozapine 14) schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder patients suffering from sustained symptoms, weekly blood monitoring, medication induced tardive dyskinesia and amenorrhea. Previous antipsychotics dosage was gradually decreased for 2 or 3weeks, at the same time olanzapine dosage was gradually increased. At baseline, after 1 week, after 2 weeks and after 4 weeks we checked Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Clinical Global Impression Scale, Sympson-Angus Rating Scale, Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale and followed up after 12 months. Successful switch after 4 weeks was achieved in 25 patients(clozapine 9(64.2%), risperidone 16(94.1%)). Overall, mean BPRS and CGI scores increased significantly. Successful maintenance after 12 months was achieved in 17 patients(clozapine 5(35.7%), risperidone 12(70.5%)). Overall, mean BPRS and CGI scores increased significantly too. Switching to olanzapine from other atypical antipsychotics is recommendable in chronic schizophrenia with treatment refractoriness and drug induced side effect.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.116-120
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• 2003

Objectives:Although polymorphisms of apolipoprotein E have been investigated in many neuropsychiatric disorders, results were controversial and even contradictory. The purpose of this study was to investigate the genotypes of apolipoprotein E in schizophrenia and healthy controls, and to compare them in two groups in terms of distribution of apolipoprotein E genotype and allele. Method:Using polymerase chain reaction and amplified refractory mutation system, apolipoprotein E genotypes were identified in 77 schizophrenics and 115 healthy control persons. Results:The results were as follows 1) When genotypes of apolipoprotein E were classified into ${\varepsilon}2/2$, ${\varepsilon}2/3$, ${\varepsilon}2/4$, ${\varepsilon}3/3$, ${\varepsilon}3/4$, ${\varepsilon}4/4$ according to phenotypes, there were no statistical differences in genotypes between two groups 2) In terms of allele frequency, there were also no statistical differences between two groups Conclusion:These results suggest that genotypes and alleles of apolipoprotein E seem to be unrelated to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.62-67
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• 2005

Objective:There has been increasing evidence that neurodevelopmental dysfunction is involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Cadherin is known to be one of the important molecules in neurodevelopment. This study was performed to examine the relationship between T816C polymorphism of CDH2 gene and schizophrenia. Methods:Genoytypes of T816C polymorphism of CDH2 gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 156 Korea patents with schizophrenia and 170 controls. Results:No difference was found between the patients with schizophrenia and the controls in genotype and allele frequencies of T816C polymorphism of CDH2 gene. Conclusion:The results of this study do not support an association between T816C polymorphism of CDH2 gene and schizophrenia. However, it is necessary to investigate other polymorphic regions of CDH2 in schizophrenia.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.61-63
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• 2004

We describe the case of a 73 year-old female patient, YSG, who initially presented with a manic episode without any previous psychiatric history and was later diagnosed as having a meningioma in the left frontal lobe. YSG's symptoms were characterized by hyperactivity, insomnia, aggressive behavior with an auditory hallucination. She showed no abnormal signs on a complete neurologic examination. A gadolinium-enhanced MRI study showed a huge, extra-axial mass with homogenous enhancement in the left high convexity of the frontal lobe. Her manic symptoms subsided after administration of risperidone 1mg and valproic acid 500mg daily, for three weeks without surgical resection of the tumor. These findings suggest that YSG's mania might have resulted from the left-sided frontal tumor, and that her symptoms were treated rapidly by small doses of risperidone combined with valproic acid. Medical staff who care for manic patients should be aware of this possibility of a organic lesion without evidence of neurologic disease.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.59-69
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• 2006

Bidirectional relationships exist between cancer and depression; the prevalence of depression in cancer patients is higher than in the general population, and depression predicts cancer progression and mortality. The mechanisms through which depression contributes to the progression of cancer are related with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and impairment of immune function. However, depression in cancer patients tends to be underdiagnosed and not appropriately treated. The methods of diagnosis and assessment of depression in cancer patents have been debated because physical symptoms of depression mimic both cancer symptoms per se and the side effects of cancer treatment. Many studies have shown that various psychosocial and/or pharmacological interventions are effective at improving de-pressive symptoms and quality of life in cancer patients. Furthermore, antidepressant treatments are effective for various physical symptoms related to cancer, such as fatigue, anorexia, pain, hot flashes, and itching. This article reviews and discusses current knowledge about depression in cancer patients.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2009

Objectives : The goal of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics of panic disorder respiratory subtype(PD-R) and non-respiratory subtype(PD-NR). Methods : 84 patients with panic disorder were enrolled and divided into 2 groups, 29 PD-R and 55 PD-NR. Diagnosis of panic disorder was evaluated using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders $4^{th}$ edition and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. They were also measured with Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety(HAM-A), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression(HAM-D), and Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS). Results : PD-R group showed significantly higher scores in PDSS than those of PD-NR group(p=.027). After controlling for the severity of panic disorder and gender, PD-R group showed higher HAM-D and somatic anxiety subscale of HAM-A than those of PD-NR group. Furthermore, results of logistic regression analysis suggested that the somatic anxiety was a possible risk factor of PD-R(OR=1.404,p=0.009). Conclusion : These results suggest that somatic anxiety and depressive symptom would be important clinical characteristics of PD-R.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.179-184
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• 2016

Objectives This study was conducted to investigate the possibility of neurological soft signs as an endophenotype for schizophrenia by examining neurological soft signs in patients, their unaffected siblings and normal comparison subjects. Methods The study sample consisted of 32 patients, 25 of their unaffected siblings and 30 normal comparison subjects. Neurological soft signs were evaluated using the Cambridge Neurological Inventory Part 2. soft sign assessment. Results The patients were significantly more impaired than normal comparison subjects (p = 0.047) on primitive reflex. The patients were significantly more impaired than siblings (p = 0.004) and normal comparison subjects (p = 0.021) on motor coordination. The siblings performed better on sensory integration than the patients (p = 0.020) and normal comparison subjects (p = 0.036). Conclusions This study suggests that neurological soft signs might be a potential biomarker for schizophrenia, but might not be an endophenotype for schizophrenia.