• Anxiety and mood
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2013

Major depressive disorder causes significant dysfunction and disability. Many of depressed patients tend to have cormobid anxiety disorders, substance use disorders and personality disorders, and so on. In this study, we reviewed researches about the effects of comorbid anxiety disorder, substance use disorder on depressive symptoms, progress, treatment, etc. In addition, the latest knowledges related to treatment was reviewed. If the symptoms of anxiety disorder coexist, They leads to the deterioration of the course and has an adverse effect on treatment response. Comorbid substance use disorder, such as alcohol dependence, causes worsening of symptoms and progression, and a loss of therapeutic response. Therapeutic clinical guidelines and instructions to comorbid psychiatric disorders on major depressive disorder was not established clearly, but consensus-based or evidence-based studies will be necessary for treatment for comorbid psychiatric disorders on major depressive disorder.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.127-134
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• 2008

Objective : This study examined whether major depressive disorder patients with anxiety traits displayed abnormal electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha asymmetries. Methods : Resting EEG was recorded in 11 outpatients with major depressive disorder (6 of whom had a high anxiety trait while 5 exhibited a low anxiety trait) and 6 controls. Results : In contrast to the controls, within the major depressive disorder patient group, comorbid anxiety disorder showed alpha asymmetry indicative of less activation over right than over left temporal sites. Patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder but no anxiety disorder showed a reduced temporal alpha asymmetry, supporting the potential importance of evaluating anxiety in studies of regional brain activation, in depressed patients. Conclusion : These findings suggest that anxiety is associated with brain hypoactivation, especially with right temporal hypoactivation.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.62-69
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• 2023

Objective: Adherence is an important component in the treatment of various diseases, and poor adherence to antidepressants in patients with major depressive disorder is common. Non-adherence can be more prevalent in elderly patients with multiple morbidity and polypharmacy, resulting in negative treatment outcomes. The purpose of this study was to analyze adherence to antidepressants in Korean elderly patients with major depressive disorder. Method: A retrospective study was conducted using the Korean National Health Insurance claims database, and the subjects of this study were patients aged 65 or older who received at least one prescription of antidepressant monotherapy for the treatment of major depressive disorder between January 1, 2020 and June 30, 2020. Adherence was measured using the proportion of days covered at 6 months after the initial antidepressant prescription date. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with adherence. Results: A total of 416,766 patients were finally included in the study. Over half of patients were non-adherent (52.67%) to antidepressants. According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis, national health insurance or medical aid, taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and having comorbidities were significantly associated with greater rates of adherence in the study subjects. The highest adherence rate was observed in patients taking vortioxetine. Conclusion: There was a considerable rate of non-adherence in Korean elderly patients with major depressive disorder. Health care professionals should try to improve adherence in elderly patients with major depressive disorder.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 2023

Objective : This study aimed to find out whether the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) scales are useful in distinguishing social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and major depressive disorder. Methods : The study sample included 118 patients: 33 with social anxiety disorder, 53 with major depressive disorder, and 32 with panic disorder. Participants were classified according to the diagnosis indicated on their medical records. MMPI-2-RF scores were derived from MMPI-2 protocols. Results : The results of multivariate analysis of variance showed that the elevated scales were consistent with the diagnostic and clinical characteristics of each diafnostic group. Logistic regression analyses identified several scales that were useful in differentiating the diagnostic groups. The higher Cognitive Complaints (COG) scale significantly differentiated major depressive disorder from the other groups. The higher Self-Doubt (SFD) scale and Somatic Complaints (RC1) scale were useful in differentiating social anxiety disorder and panic disorder respectively. The lower Cynicism (RC3) scale was also useful in differentiating social anxiety disorder. Other scales that were useful in distinguishing between pairs of groups were also identified. Conclusion : The results of this study suggest that the MMPI-2-RF scales can be useful for discriminating anxiety disorders.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2002

Neurocognitive research focusing on cognitive deficits in Depression has resulted in several important but yet potentially contradictory findings. Much literature documents the presence of significant neurocognitive impairments in depressive patients. Studies have shown that dysthymic disorder patients demonstrate a diffuse pattern of cognitive impairment which is frequently indistinguishable from that of focal braindamaged patients. Some reports have suggested that there is a focal pattern of deficit, such as anterior cingulate dysfunction, frontal lobe impairment, or dysfunction of the temporal-limbic cortex. The aim of this study is to evaluate the neurocognitive functions in dysthymic disorder patients, and to compare the functions with those of major depressive disorder patients. The subjects are 17 dysthymic disorder patients. And their neurocognitive functions are compared with those of 23 major depressive episode patients. Patients with a history of neurologic disease, alcohol dependence, substance abuse and mental retardation are excluded. They are assessed with a part of Vienna Test System which is computerized neurocognitive function tests and can evaluate attention, eductive ability, reproductive ability, visuoperceptual analysis, vigilance, visual immediate memory, the speed of information-processing, judgement, and fine motor coordinations. There are no other specific difference between two groups, except the result of cognitrone test. This study provides information about the neurocognitive functions and some difference between major depressive disorder patients and carefully diagnosed dysthymic disorder patients.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.216-222
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• 2015

Objectives The principal aim of the present study was to investigate the characteristic depressive symptoms in patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD) and panic disorder in comparison to patients with depressive disorder. Methods This study included 132 patients with SAD, 128 panic disorder and 64 depressive disorder (major depressive disorder, dysthymia etc.) patients without comorbid psychiatric disorders. The Beck Depressive Inventory (BDI) is used to measure depressive symptoms. We divided BDI into three categories originally described by Shafer AB, including negative attitude toward self, performance impairment, and somatic symptoms. We compared the depressive symptoms of SAD, panic disorder and depressive disorder by using ANOVA. Results Negative attitude toward self was noticeable in SAD (SAD $0.54{\pm}0.23$, panic disorder $0.41{\pm}0.17$, depressive disorder $0.46{\pm}0.11$, p < 0.001). Performance impairment and somatic symptoms were remarkable in panic disorder than in SAD and depressive disorder (performance impairment : SAD $0.39{\pm}0.21$, panic disorder $0.44{\pm}0.14$, depressive disorder $0.40{\pm}0.09$, p = 0.009 ; somatic symptoms : SAD $0.07{\pm}0.10$, panic disorder $0.15{\pm}0.12$, depressive disorder $0.14{\pm}0.08$, p < 0.001). Conclusions The results facilitate an approach to optimal treatment for patients with comorbidity of anxiety disorder and depression.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.453-461
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• 2023

Objectives: Major depressive disorder is a severe disease that is associated with suicidal ideation and behavior. In this case, Korean medicine psychotherapy and Korean medicine treatment were used to treat an adolescent patient with major depressive disorder. Methods: The Beck Depression Inventory, Reynolds Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire, and Crisis Triage Rating Scale were used as psychological evaluation scales. Korean medicine psychotherapy focuses on Giungoroen-therapy and IiGyeungByunQi-therapy and Korean medicine treatment combined with acupuncture, moxa, and herbal medicine. Results: Comparison before and after treatment showed improvement in clinical symptoms, Beck Depression Inventory, Reynolds Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire, and Crisis Triage Rating Scale. Conclusions: As a result of applying Korean medicine, psychotherapy and Korean medicine treatment reduces to an adolescent patient with major depressive disorder, depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicidal behavior.

• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.39-42
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• 2022

Obesity is a chronic disease associated with severe complications. A major complication of obesity is depression, which can worsen obesity and vice versa. In addition, most antidepressants or antipsychotics cause weight gain, and the relationship between obesity and depression is clinically critical. However, treatment of obese patients with major depressive disorder is complicated. Bariatric physicians should provide appropriate behavioral interventions alongside pharmacological treatment, considering psychiatric symptoms, drug side effects, and drug interactions. Two successful cases of moderate-to-severe obese patients with major depressive disorder who had been treated for obesity using behavioral intervention therapy along with liraglutide will be discussed. This report highlights the safety and efficacy of liraglutide treatment of obesity in patients with depression who take antidepressants and antipsychotics.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.110-118
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• 2021

Objectives: A growing number of people depend on flexible employment, characterized by outsider employment status and perceived job insecurity. This study investigated whether there was a synergistic effect of employment status (full-time vs. part-time) and perceived job insecurity on major depressive disorder. Methods: Data were derived from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health of 12 640 of Canada's labor force population, aged 20 to 74. By combining employment status with perceived job insecurity, we formed four employment categories: full-time secure, full-time insecure, part-time secure, and part-time insecure. Results: Results showed no synergistic health effect between employment status and perceived job insecurity. Regardless of employment status (full-time vs. part-time), insecure employment was significantly associated with a high risk of major depressive disorder. Analysis of the interaction between gender and four flexible employment status showed a gender-contingent effect on this link in only full-time insecure category. Men workers with full-time insecure jobs were more likely to experience major depressive disorders than their women counterparts. Conclusions: This study's findings imply that perceived job insecurity may be a critical factor for developing major depressive disorder, in both men and women workers.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2016

Objective : This study was performed to confirm the hypothesis that the more one applies positive thinking, the less severe the symptoms of stress and the better the therapeutic responsein panic disorder and major depressive disorders. Methods : The study included 50 subjects with confirmed diagnoses of panic disorder or major depressive disorders. Positive thinking was assessed using Positive thinking scale. Beck Depression Inventory was used as a subjective measure for depression, and to ensure an objective measure for depression and anxiety, the Hamilton Depression and Hamilton Anxiety rating scales were implemented. Results : The positive thinking scale measured at the initial visit had shown a strong negative correlation with objective depression. Although patients with a high level of positive thinking had shown a tendency to respond better to the treatment, as compared with those with a lower level, the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion : Positive thinking is likely to ameliorate major depressive disorder, panic disorder-induced depression, and anxiety. Nevertheless, it was not possible to confirm the effects of positive thinking on the patients' treatment responses.