• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was conducted in order to describe prescribing practices in treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder in a Korean inpatient sample. Methods : We performed a retrospective chart review of 66 youths who had been hospitalized and diagnosed with bipolar disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition criteria. Demographics, clinical characteristics, medications used, doses, and related adverse events were examined. Results : Mood stabilizers and/or atypical antipsychotic medications were the primary treatment. Risperidone, valproate, and lithium were the most commonly used. Thirty seven patients (58.1%) were treated with combination therapy of an atypical antipsychotic and mood stabilizer for improvement of manic/mixed symptoms. Conclusion : Combination pharmacotherapy was necessary for most patients in this admission sample group. Conduct of further studies will be needed for evaluation of treatment response according to the clinical characteristics, and the safety and efficacy of treatment for child and adolescent bipolar disorder.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.247-256
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• 2024

Objectives: To examine effect of Korean medical treatment on child and adolescent patients with depressive disorder and correlations among changes in anxiety and anger psychological scales before and after treatment. Methods: Medical records of 28 adolescent and 9 child patients diagnosed with depressive disorder based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V (DSM-V) who received Korean medical treatment (herbal-medication, acupuncture, Korean psychotherapy, and so on) for at least 8 weeks were retrospectively reviewed. Psychological scales including Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI), Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), State Anxiety Inventory for Children (SAIC), Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (TAIC), and Children's Inventory of Anger (ChIA) were measured every four weeks and analyzed. Results: After eight weeks of treatment, STAI-X-1 (State Anxiety), STAI-X-2 (Trait Anxiety), BDI-2, BAI, STAXI-S (State Anger), AXI-K-I (Anger Expression-In) and AXI-K-O (Anger Expression-Out) showed statistically significant decreases in adolescent patients. In child patients, ChIA was significantly improved after eight weeks. For psychological scale pairs in adolescent patients, BDI-2 and STAI-X-1·STAI-X-2·BAI·STAXI-S·AXI-K-I, STAIX-T and STAXI-S·AXI-K-I showed significant positive correlations whereas AXI-K-O and AXI-K-C showed a negative correlation. In child paitents, there was a significant positive correlation for all psychological scales except for the relationship between SAIC and ChIA. In adolescent patients, low pretreatment BDI-2 predicted BAI, STAXI-S, and AXI-K-I score reduction after 8 weeks. Lower BAI scores significantly decreased STAI-X-2 and BDI-2 scores after 8 weeks but increased AXI-K-C. In child paitents, low pretreatment ChIA scores predicted a decrease in CDI score after treatment. Conclusions: Korean medical treatments including herbal medicine, acupuncture, and Korean psychotherapy were effective in improving depressive disorder and accompanying symptoms such as anxiety and anger of child and adolescent patients.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.101-105
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the association between first episode polarity of pediatric bipolar disorder and prognosis. Methods : We analyzed the clinical records of 66 inpatient subjects with DSM-IV defined pediatric bipolar disorder. The patients were split into 2 groups according to the polarity of the illness onset [depressive onset (DO) vs. manic/hypomanic/mixed onset (MO)]. Clinical feature and prognosis were compared between the two groups of patients. Results : In our sample, 68% of patients experienced a depressive onset. In DO patients, rates of suicidal attempt, episodic illness course and comorbid disruptive behavior disorder were higher than rates in MO patients. Conclusion : Findings from this study suggest that polarity of illness onset may be useful in predicting the prognosis of pediatric bipolar disorder.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.93-98
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• 2021

Electroencephalography (EEG) measures neural activation due to various cognitive processes. EEG and event-related potentials (ERPs) are widely used in studies investigating psychopathology and neural substrates of psychiatric diseases in children and adolescents. The present study aimed to review recent ERP studies in child and adolescent psychiatry. ERPs are non-invasive methods for studying synaptic functions in the brain. ERP might be a candidate biomarker in child-adolescent psychiatry, considering its ability to reflect cognitive and behavioral functions in humans. For the EEG study of psychiatric diseases in children and adolescents, several ERP components have been used, such as mismatch negativity, P300, error-related negativity (ERN), and reward positivity (RewP). Regarding executive functions and inhibition in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), P300 latency, and ERN were significantly different in patients with ADHD compared to those in the healthy population. ERN showed meaningful changes in patients with anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Patients with depression showed significantly attenuated RewP compared to the healthy population, which was related to the symptoms of anhedonia.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.235-243
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• 2017

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the mental health status of the children of psychiatric patients in order to plan for the resources that may be necessary to help these children achieve their full potential. Methods: Forty-eight children (age 9-18) whose parents were registered in 5 community mental health centers located in Seoul were recruited. Tests assessing 3 psychological domains were conducted: 1) cognition: Korean version of Learning Disability Evaluation Scale, Comprehensive Attention Test, 2) parent reported emotion and behavior: Korean Child Behavior Checklist, Korean attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder Rating Scale, and 3) self-reported emotion and behavior: Korean Beck's Depression Inventory-II/Children's Depression Inventory-II, Korean Youth Self Report). We defined the children as having a high risk of developing mental health problems if their test scores were over the cut-off levels in 2 or more of the 3 domains assessed. Results: Twelve (25%) children were classified as having a high risk of developing mental health issues. 20 (41.6%) children scored above the cut-off in only one of the domains. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the children of psychiatric patients might be vulnerable to mental illness and need early prevention or interven-tions for the sake of their mental health.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.154-160
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical characteristics of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) using methylphenidate (MPH). Methods : Retrospective review of the charts of 79 children and adolescents with ASDs, who visited the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of Seoul National Hospital, from July 2010 to July 2011, was conducted. Changes in illness severity and improvement were measured using the Clinical Global Impression-Severity of illness (CGI-S) and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) Scales. Results : We found that MPH was prescribed in 23 (29.1%) children and adolescents. Of the 23 patients on MPH, 4 patients (17.4%) were on MPH monotherapy and 18 patients (78.3%) were using risperidone concomitantly. MPH was prescribed primarily for symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity in ASDs patients. The mean dosage of MPH was $26.2{\pm}11.1$mg/day and mean duration of treatment was $31.9{\pm}28.7$ months. Mean CGI-S score improved significantly from baseline to endpoint (from $5.4{\pm}0.6$ to $4.1{\pm}0.9$ ; p<.01). MPH was reported to be effective in 17 patients (17/23, 73.9%), and 10 patients (10/23, 43.5%) reported side effects. Side effects included decreased appetite (4/23, 17.4%), tic (2/23, 8.6%), sleep disturbances (2/23, 8.6%), headache (1/23, 4.3%) and irritability (1/23, 4.3%). Conclusion : The results of this study demonstrate that MPH may be used effectively and safely in children and adolescents with ASDs with hyperactivity and impulsivity. Future controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.26-35
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• 2003

Conventional antipsychotics are commonly used to treat children and adolescents suffered from schizophrenia to other neuropsychiatric conditions. Regrettably, studies for typical antipsychotics report high rates of sedation, orthostatic hypotension, and extrapyramidal side effects. Over the past few years, atypical antipsychotics have been prescribed for use in adults with psychotic symptoms. Child psychiatrists have begun using these drugs to children and adolescents hoping safe and better alternatives to the conventional antipsychotics. However, there is not enough short-term and almost no long-term data about atypical antipsychotics for pediatric patients. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to review what is known about the use of the atypical antipsychotics in young patients. To do so, an appropriate approach to the use of these drugs in child and adolescent patients my be offered.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.214-217
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• 2018

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a well-recognized risk factor for thrombotic events in adults but data on children are scarce. In the great majority of adult patients, thrombotic events are usually deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Other sites such as jugular veins are extremely rare. We present a case of Lemierre syndrome in an adolescent girl with active ulcerative colitis and discuss possible risk factors. This is the first reported case of severe Lemierre syndrome with thrombus extension to cranial veins in a patient with ulcerative colitis. Early recognition of Lemierre syndrome in patients who present with rapidly worsening symptoms of neck pain, fever and signs of pharyngitis is imperative because it increases a chance of favorable prognosis. It is important for pediatricians treating IBD patients not to underestimate possible thrombotic events in children with IBD. Recognition of additional risk factors is crucial for prompt diagnosis and adequate treatment.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.295-305
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• 2021

Purpose: Hepcidin levels have previously been reported to be correlated with liver damage. However, the association between hepcidin levels and liver fibrosis in children with fatty liver disease remains unclear. This study therefore aimed to investigate the pathophysiology of fibrosis in children with fatty liver disease and its association with hepcidin levels. Methods: This retrospective case series included 12 boys aged 6-17 years who were diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) at the Tokyo Medical University Hospital. Sixteen liver biopsy samples from 12 subjects were analyzed. Serum hepcidin levels were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunostaining for hepcidin was performed, and the samples were stratified by staining intensity. Results: Serum hepcidin levels were higher in pediatric NAFLD/NASH patients than in controls. Conversely, a significant inverse correlation was observed between hepcidin immunostaining and Brunt grade scores and between hepcidin scores and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, hyaluronic acid, and leukocyte levels. We observed inverse correlations with a high correlation coefficient of >0.4 between hepcidin immunostaining and aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bile acid, and platelet count. Conclusion: There was a significant inverse correlation between hepcidin immunoreactivity and fibrosis in pediatric NAFLD patients; however, serum hepcidin levels were significantly higher, suggesting that these patients experienced a reduction in the hepcidin-producing ability of the liver in response to iron levels, leading to subsequent fibrosis. Therefore, hepcidin levels can be used as markers to identify the progression of fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.273-278
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• 2015

Objectives : We retrospectively investigated the efficacy and tolerability of risperidone monotherapy in subjects with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In addition, we did mixed effect model analysis of the effects of risperidone in patients with ASDs naturalistically treated in a routine clinical setting to determine whether the clinical effects were maintained and the side effects were tolerable. Methods : This retrospective study assessed children and adolescents with ASD, who were on risperidone monotherapy from July 2010 to July 2011 at the Child and Adolescent ASD Clinic at Seoul National Hospital. Outcome measures included the Clinical Global Impression-Severity of Illness (CGI-S) and the CGI-Improvement (CGI-I) scales along with other clinical indices: dosage, target symptoms, and side effects. Results : The mean dose of risperidone in 47 children and adolescents with ASD (40 males, 7 females; age range 5-19 years) who were on risperidone monotherapy was $1.6{\pm}0.8mg/day$, and the mean duration of the treatment period was $20.2{\pm}17.3months$. Aggressive behavior, stereotypic behavior, irritability, and self-injurious behavior were the most frequent target symptoms of risperidone. The most common side effects were weight gain followed by somnolence and extrapyramidal symptoms. In a mixed effects model analysis of CGI-I scores, the mean CGI-I score at the 1 month follow-up was significantly different from the mean CGI-I score of the 3-month follow-up (p=.046), and the CGI-I scores were equally maintained over 3 to 48 months [F(6, 28.9)=4.393, p=.003]. Of the 47 patients, 33 patients (70.2%) were identified as the response group, showing an end point CGI-I rating of 3 or under and having continued risperidone treatment for at least 6 months. The baseline CGI-S score showed significant association with clinical response to risperidone (p=.005), the mean baseline CGI-S was higher in the response group compared to the non-response group. Conclusion : In this study, clinical improvement of risperidone stabilized around 3 months and was equally maintained up to 48 months with tolerable side effects, supporting maintenance of risperidone treatment in children and adolescents with ASDs.