• Psychiatry investigation
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.1115-1120
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• 2018

Objective The Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN) is a scale used to clinically evaluate disturbances in biological rhythm. In this study, we aimed to examine the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the BRIAN (K-BRIAN) in a Korean population. Methods A total of 181 participants, including 141 outpatients with bipolar disorder (BD; type I, 62; type II, 79) and 40 controls, were recruited. Construct validity was tested by comparing the mean K-BRIAN scores of the BD patients and control subjects. Concurrent validity was tested by evaluating the association between the K-BRIAN and the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ). Results The mean K-BRIAN scores of the control subjects and patients with BD differed significantly (p<0.001). Particularly, the mean K-BRIAN score was considerably lower among control subjects (mean${\pm}$standard deviation=$35.00{\pm}8.88$) than among patients with BD type I ($41.19{\pm}12.10$) and type II ($50.18{\pm}13.73$). The Cronbach's alpha for the K-BRIAN was 0.914. The K-BRIAN was found to correlate with the MEQ (r=-0.45, p<0.001). Conclusion The findings affirm that the K-BRIAN has good construct validity and internal consistency. This suggests that the K-BRIAN can be used to assess biological rhythms in the Korean population, especially for patients with mood disorder.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.146-154
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• 2004

Objective:Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) is the most common childhood psychiatric disorder, affecting 3-5% of school-aged children. Although the biological basis of ADHD is unknown, family studies provide strong evidence that ADHD has a genetic basis. Recent genetic studies have suggested associations between ADHD and serotonin 1B(5HT1B) receptor gene G861C polymorphism. The aim of this study is to test for the association between ADHD and 5HT1B receptor gene G861C polymorphism in Korean population. Method:We processed DNA extraction and genotyping. 106 Korean children with ADHD and their parents were analyzed using the transmission disequilibrium test(TDT) and haplotype-based haplotype relative risk (HHRR). And the ADHD children were compared with 212 age and gender matched normal controls. Results:There was no statistical difference of distributions between ADHD cases and controls. We did not observe any preferential transmission of alleles of 5HT1B receptor gene G861C polymorphism in ADHD. Conclusions:Though there is the possibility of failing to detect small genetic effects, our results show no evidence of an association between ADHD and 5HT1B receptor gene G861C polymorphism in the Korean population and indicate that it is unlikely that the 5HT1B receptor is implicated in the susceptibility to ADHD.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.104-109
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• 2004

Objectives:Abnormalities in neurotrophic factors that regulate neuronal development and synaptic plasticity are often implicated as some causes of schizophrenia. In previous studies, researchers reported that brain and serum BDNF levels underwent similar changes during maturation and aging processes in rats. They also found a positive correlation between serum and cortical BDNF levels. In this study, we investigated whether the serum levels of BDNF in Korean schizophrenic patients would be different from those of healthy controls. Methods:Using an ELISA kit, serum BDNF levels were assessed in schizophrenic group(N=49) and control group(N=50). Results:Serum BDNF levels in the schizophrenic group($36.29{\pm}19.78$ng/ml) were significantly higher than those in control group($22.4{\pm}14.4$ng/ml). The BDNF levels did not correlate with duration of treatment, age or daily dose of antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia. Conclusions:This result suggests that schizophrenia is characterized by high serum BDNF levels and supports the hypothesis of neurotrophic factor involvement in psychotic disorder. Serum BDNF level is likely to be one of the possible biological markers for schizophrenia.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.245-253
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• 2011

Objectives In the current study, we quantitatively estimated changes in appetite and eating behavior of bipolar disorder patients during the pharmacotherapy. We also investigated their contribution to the weight gain and their association with specific food-craving characteristics of the patients. Methods Subjects included forty-one bipolar disorder patients and fifty-six controls. Currently sustained natures of food craving were assessed using the General-Food Craving Questionnaire-Trait (G-FCQ-T) and changes in appetite and eating behavior were measured using the Drug-Related Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DR-EBQ). Results Compared to the control group, the patients' group showed significantly higher body mass index (t=2.028, p=0.045). The patients' group had significantly higher 'Preoccupation with food' factor score of G-FCQ-T (p=0.016) than that of the control group. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that only 'preoccupation with food' factor independently predicted psychotropic medication-induced appetite change. Conclusions Appetite change while receiving psychotropic medication seems to be related to the weight-gain and associated with craving natures of 'preoccupation with food' in bipolar disorder. Appetite and/or eating behavioral changes measured by G-FCQ-T and DR-EBQ could be regarded as an important mediating factor in future studies exploring biological mechanisms of weight gain related with pharmacotherapy for bipolar disorder.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.16-20
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• 2018

Objectives Psychological resilience is the ability to cope with stress. The genetic background behind psychological resilience is not much known. The serotonin transporter and dopamine transporter are implicated in stress related psychology and emotional processing. The aim of this study is to investigate a possible genetic role of functional polymorphisms of serotonin and dopamine transporters for psychological resilience. Methods A total of 951 healthy adult subjects were included. Psychological resilience was measured using Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Genotyping was performed for serotonin transporter gene(SERT) promoter variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) and dopamine transporter gene(DAT1) 3'-untranslated region (UTR) VNTR. Genetic association analysis was conducted between genotypes and the CD-RISC score. Results No genetic association was observed for SERT promoter VNTR or DAT1 3'-UTR VNTR with CD-RISC score. No genetic interaction between SERT promoter VNTR and DAT1 3'-UTR VNTR with CD-RISC score was detected. Conclusions Either serotonin or dopamine transporter did not seem to play a significant role for psychological resilience in this sample.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.259-263
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• 1999

Nefazodone, a newer antidepressant is a phenylpiperazine derivative that inhibits the reuptake of both norepinephrine and serotonin, and antagonizes $5-HT_{2A}$ and ${\alpha}_1$ adrenergic receptors. Compared with SSRIs, nefazodone caused the fewer activating symptoms, adverse gastrointestinal effects(nausea, diarrhea, anorexia) and adverse effects of sexual function, but is associated with the more dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, visual disturbances and confusion. We report on 4 cases of visual disturbances and hallucinations in patients taking nefazodone. It is not certain what mechanisms mediated these side effects, but three mechanisms are possible. 1) Nefazodone, as a 5-HT2 antagonist, might induce visual disturbances. 2) mCPP, metabolite of nefazodone might contribute to the hallucination through action on 5-HT receptor. 3) Dopaminergic enhancing activity of nefazodone might cause hallucination. These case report raises the possibility that dose-related perceptual disturbances may exist with nefazodone. The fact emphasizes the need to pay close attention to all possible drug interactions, particularly in patients treated with multiple psychoactive agents, older patients, and patients with decreased hepatic function.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2003

Objective:The purpose of this study was to know about the mechanism of pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus by using of blood glucose, glucoregulatory factor, insulin resistance in schizophrenic patients receiving antipsychotics. Method:Modified oral glucose tolerance tests were performed in 20 schizophrenic patients receiving haloperidol, risperidone and olanzapine. Insulin, glucagon, C-peptide and cortisol were measured in 0, 15, 45, 75 minutes after glucose loading, and insulin resistance was calculated by HOMA(homeostasis model assessment) method. Result:Olanzapine-treated patients had significant glucose elevation 45 minutes after glucose challenge. Also modest increases in HOMA IR values were detected in patients treated with olanzapine. Conclusion:Olanzapine treatment of non-diabetic patients with schizophrenia can be associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus through the elevation of glucose and insulin resistance. Elevated insulin resistance may be a causative mechanism of type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients receiving olanzapine.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.113-117
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• 2015

Psychiatry has progressed with neurobiological basis, providing individually tailored treatment, preventing mental illness, and managing public mental health. Foundational knowledge that may contribute to the development of psychiatry and neuroscience has been attained through continual national and international investment in research. However, this knowledge obtained from neurobiological research is not being applied to clinical practice proactively. This may be due to a lack of support for translational research connecting neuroscience with clinical practice, and a lack of development and availability of educational programs for clinical psychiatrists. To solve these problems, it is essential to support translational research conducted by clinicians and to establish an appropriate reward system. Considering the direction of progress in psychiatry and the demand from clinicians, appropriate investment in research and education programs that provide neurobiological knowledge applicable to clinical practice is required. Researchers and educators must also communicate and collaborate to deliver neurobiological findings effectively.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.95-100
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• 2015

Treatment of schizophrenia is one of the most challenging areas in the field of psychiatry. There has been much improvement in psycho-pharmacotherapy, and at present, psycho-pharmacotherapy along with milieu therapy and social rehabilitation is the standard first-line treatment for schizophrenia. Healing environment, a concept which has arisen from the architectural field, has similarities in meaning to milieu therapy in psychiatry. In other words, healing environment may be an encountering point between psychiatry and architecture. In this encountering, each field can understand each other and expand its concept to aid the treatment of schizophrenia and to plan the build-up of the entire environment considering its social and psychological effects. In this paper, we aim to establish the basic concept of healing environment to alleviate the psychopathologies in schizophrenic patients. We worked under the premise that physical setting affects human behavior and mind, and that physical setting should play a role as a medium with therapeutic potential for patients with medical problems. The aims of this paper are as follows. First, theoretical discussion of the concept and the constructs of healing environment : second, understanding of the schizophrenic symptoms that may be affected by supporting environment : and third, discussion of supporting environment that may alleviate the symptoms of schizophrenia.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.12-17
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• 2016

Neuroinflammation is one of important allostatic loads contributory to the various psychiatric illness. It is mediated mainly by glial cells, which produce both proinflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokines, and the balance of them determines the inflammatory process in the central nervous system. S100 calcium-binding protein B, which is used as an inflammatory marker is also released by glial cells. In the molecular level, oxidative stress contributes to the neuroinflammation. Their disturbances have been revealed in the psychiatric illness and related with the dysregulation of the glutamatergic and monoaminergic systems. There is a possibility to use them as disease markers. The approach for inflammation using antiinflammatory drugs and antioxidants could be connected to the development of disease-modifying treatments. Also, a searching examination about specific subtypes who are vulnerable to inflammation in the patients is required to confirm their efficacy clearly.