• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.118-124
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• 2023

Objectives : Depressive disorder and anxiety disorder frequently co-occur, even at sub-threshold level. This study aims to identify network structure of co-morbid depression and anxiety at symptom level in nonclinical population and to reveal the central symptoms and bridge symptoms of the co-morbidity. Methods : This study was based on 2022 Asan Youth Mental Health Screening. Patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7) were used to assess depressive and anxiety symptoms of 810 young adult participants from community sample. Network structure of co-morbid depressive and anxiety symptoms was estimated by Isingfit model. Results : Depressed mood, Restlessness and Nervousness were the most central symptoms in the network. Bridge symptoms between anxiety and depression were Restlessness and Irritability. Conclusions : This study revealed key central symptoms and bridge symptoms of co-morbid depression and anxiety in nonclinical population and provided potential insight for treatment targets to reduce co-morbidity.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.137-148
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• 2003

Introduction: This research was performed to contract the attitude of dietary restriction and the psychological problems such as depressive mood and perceived stress and to investigate the relationship of these and obesity in women who visited the obesity clinic. Methods: During May 2001, sociodemographic variables, physical characteristics, Three Factor Eating Questionnaire(TFEQ), Symptom Check List-90-R(SCL-90-R) and Perceived Stress Scale were assessed from 150 female who visited the obesity clinics which were located at downtown, Seoul and the Hospital of Ajou University, Medical College. Hamilton depression rating scale(HDRS) was estimated by author. And then 116 female cases who filled up the questionnaire faithfully were included. Results: Obese group more than Body Mass Index(BMI) $25.0kg/m^2$ was 50% of the total subjects. BMI was increased as the age goes up(p<0.001). The frequency of unmarried cases in the under normal weight group was high rate of 48.8% while it in the obese group was 13.8%(p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the rate of smoking and alcohol drinking among subjects by BMI. There was no significant difference of TFEQ among subjects by BMI and the percent of body fat. Factor 2(r=0.27, p<0.01) and Factor 3(r=0.24, p<0.01) were significantly correlated with Global Severity Index(GSI). Only the paranoia scale among each estimated mean value of T scores of SCL-90-R by BMI was the significant difference between the overweight group and the obese group(p<0.05). T scores of scales of SCL-90-R were less than 50, but T scores of the under normal weight group and the obese group were higher than overweight group. GSI was significantly correlated with HDRS(r=0.75, p<0.01) and Perceived Stress Scale(r=0.32, p<0.01). Depressive mood in the obese group was significantly higher than non-obese group that HDRS was compared to two groups by the percent of body fat(p<0.05). Perceived Stress Scale was no significant correlation with BMI and the percent of body fat. All of the subject were in trouble of high stress. Stress affected dietary restriction owing that perceived stress had a relation with Factor 2(r=0.29, p<0.01) and Factor 3(r=0.37, p<0.01). Also, it affected psychological characteristics owing that perceived stress had a relation with the depression scale, GSI and HDRS(r=0.33, r=0.32, r=0.34, p<0.01). Conclusion: Obese women have more psychological difficulties including depression and high perceived stress, which closely related with the attitude of dietary restriction. Psychiatric intervention and aggressive assessment of psychological problems will be needed to the people who visit the obesity clinic in the future.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.3-19
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• 1995

Numerous investigators have conducted extensive investigation in the search for biological markers in psychiatric illness. There are, as a test of q biological approach to the diagnosis of the psychiatric illness, tests for the neurotransmitters, their metabolites, and related enzymes, the neurotransmitter receptors, the neuroendocrine output and response, the membrane transport, peptides and eletrolytes. They are called the biological markers, and they are helpful for the diagnosis or differential diagnosis, choice of treatment or drugs, symptom improvement, predictor of recurrence and anticipation of suicidal attempt. These studies are among the main purposes that are pursued in the neuroscience and based on the potential utility of the biological markers mentioned above. Since 1970's, lots 01 biological markers' studies for the diagnosis, differential diagnosis or subtypes differentiation have been done but varieties of different opinions have been drawn since then through they could explain the charaters of main psychiatric illness(especially schizophrenia and mood disorder). But, the search for biological markers, including displines of neuroendoclinology and neurochemistry(neurotransmitter and thair metabolite), has yielded a number of putative trait merkers and state markers for psychayric illness. This paper aims to anticipate or evaluate the good response to the therapy(Therpeutic response) with lots of markers. Acoording to the diagnosis of lots of diseases or subtypes, we are going to review the papers, mainly concern with 'Is there any Marker' or 'Is any test possible to detect the improvement clinically?' 'Is it possible to predict the recurrence or good prognsis?' or 'Is it possible to select any drug or therapy to bring the good response?' The biological tests to review are mainly the metabolites of catecholamine neurotransmitter, and especially neuroendocrine test based on the knowledge that hormons of the adenohypophysis are influenced by activity of the cerebral or limbic neurons as well as the hypothalamus ones. Among them, author introduced some clinically available tests that are DST, TRH stimulation test(TRHST), GH stimulation test, and the urine MHPG test that can give us the evaluation of the treatment response, the predictor for recurrence or choice of drug that can bring a good response. So author discussed thair potential utility in clarifying, therapeutic, and prognostic issues in psychatric illness. We hope they'll be used and look forward to more active study on the different opinion.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 2021

Objectives : The characteristics of depressive symptoms in patients with cancer is different from those in control group. However, few research has focused on the association between depressive symptoms in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to compare the network structure of depressive symptoms between patients with cancer and normal control. Methods : This study was based on cohort data from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2016-2018. The Patient health Quetionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess depressive symptoms in 599 patients with cancer and 599 age-sex matched controls. We estimated network structure of depressive symptom using Isingfit model. Results : There was no significant difference of each PHQ-9 item score. There were strong associations between symptoms were concentration problem-psychomotor activity, anhedonia-depressed mood, and depressed mood-suicidal ideation in both groups. Strength centrality of worthlessness was significantly higher in patients with cancer. Conclusions : These results suggest that worthless is associated with other depressive symptoms more tightly in patients with cancer. Worthless can serve as important treatment targets for intervention of depression in patients with cancer.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2020

Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by the core symptom of chronic widespread pain, along with fatigue, sleep disturbances, mood changes, and cognitive difficulties. The etiology of fibromyalgia involves a combination of biological factors, such as genetic vulnerability, alterations in pain processing and stress response system ; psychological factors, such as anxiety, depression, anger, and perceived stress ; environmental factors, such as infections, febrile diseases, and trauma. Central sensitization, which is amplified in the process of sensory stimulation, has been emphasized as a key etiological factor, as supported by enhanced wind-up, delayed aftersensation, decreased nociceptive flexion reflex threshold and functional imaging studies. Several guidelines recommend that a multimodal approach be used to treat fibromyalgia, including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, tailored to each individual, and that clinicians should provide an intellectual framework through sufficient education and emphasis on the importance of self-management. The prevalence of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and other psychiatric problems is 7-9 times higher in patients with fibromyalgia than in the general population ; moreover, the association between fibromyalgia and certain psychopathologies or sleep problems has also been suggested. Since psychiatric problems, with shared vulnerabilities and risk factors, interact with fibromyalgia bidirectionally and also affect the disease course, an integrated management approach is needed to determine the risk of comorbidities.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.205-210
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• 2012

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical profile, efficacy, and safety of long-term treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in Korean autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) patients. Methods Effectiveness was assessed through a retrospective review of self-reported target symptom improvement at the last follow-up visit. Changes in illness severity and improvement were measured using the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) of illness and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) Scales. Tolerability was assessed through a review of the reason for discontinuation of SSRI and documented adverse events. Results A total of 21 ASDs patients (aged 9 to 19 years) treated with SSRI during July 2010 to July 2011 in department of child and adolescent psychiatry of Seoul National Hospital were identified. The mean duration of SSRI treatment was 47.9 (standard deviation = 36.9) months (range 0.7-114.5), and the mean fluoxetine equivalent dosage of SSRIs was $27.1{\pm}10.8$ mg. Nineteen (90.5%) patients were using concomitant medication. We found that SSRIs were prescribed for symptoms of agitation, stereotyped behavior, aggression, depression, impulsivity and self-injury in ASDs. Ten patients (47.6%) reported improvement in their target symptom after SSRI treatment based on CGI-I scores (CGI-I ${\leq}$ 2). The side effects were reported in 5 patients (23.8%) ; vomiting (n = 2, 9.5%), excessive mood elevation (n = 1, 4.8%), insomnia (n = 1, 4.8%), somnolence (n = 1, 4.8%) and decreased appetite (n = 1, 4.8%). Self-injurious behavior was reported in one patient (4.8%). Conclusions The results of this study suggest that SSRIs may be used effectively in children and adolescents diagnosed with ASDs. However, safety issues need to be considered carefully when choosing SSRIs for treatment. Future controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2016

Objective : Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is known to reduce the quality of sleep and is associated with various psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of PMS with depression, sleep qulity and sleep pattern in Korean female adolescents. Methods : Out of 867 high school female students, 400 female subjects were included in this study. All participants completed self-report questionnaires that included demographic variables, shortened premenstrual assessment form (SPAF), patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), insomnia severity index (ISI) and Korean translation of composite scale (CS). A total of 394 individuals who completed the questionnaires were analyzed. Results : As score of SPAF, 143 subjects was defined PMDD group. They had more prevalence of eveningness, more depressive symptom, poorer sleep quality, and more excessive sleepiness than non-PMDD groups. Although the PMDD groups showed more menstrual dysmenorrhea, no difference was found in bleeding duration and cycle. PMS symptom had correlations with depression, poorer sleep quality and excessive sleepiness during the daytime. There was no difference in sleep duration between two groups, but PMS might have a relationship with eveningness of chronotype. Conclusions : Among Korean female high school students, the PMS might have an association with depression and poor sleep quality, and it might lead to daytime impairment due to excessive sleepiness. An appropriate evaluation of PMS could be helpful in determining the mental health condition of adolescents.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.92-100
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• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)-related symptom severity, level of functional impairment and personality profiles between full-blown PTSD, partial PTSD and non-PTSD groups among 59 adolescent survivals from the Incheon fire disaster. Method : Using Short Screening Scale for DSM-IV PTSD, victims of the disaster were assigned to a full-blown PTSD group (n=18), a partial PTSD (n=22), or a non-PTSD group (n=19). Assessments included the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Impact of Event Scales (IES), the McBride's Degree of General Labor Loss, and the Korean Version of Temperament and Character Inventory (K-TCI). Results : Significantly severe PTSD symptoms (F=4.832, df=2, p<.05) and functional impairment (F=12.144, df=2, p<.01) were demonstrated by PTSD groups as compared to the non-PTSD group. Interestingly, full and partial PTSD did not differ in these comparisons. Similarly, the subtypes of PTSD did not differ with respect to personality profiles using the K-TCI ; however, personality profiles were sharply differentiated between the PTSD and non-PTSD group. Conclusion : Although high subject homogeneity and small sample size may limit the results of this study, the present results highlight the possibility of the underestimation as well as the insufficient, treatment and compensation of partial vs full PTSD.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.66-73
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• 2017

Objective : The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of adjunctive aripiprazole versus bupropion on specific symptoms of depression. Methods : Data were from 6-week, randomized, prospective, open-label multi-center study in 103 patients with major depressive disorders. Participants were randomized to receive aripiprazole (2.5-10 mg/day) or bupropion (150-300 mg/day) for 6 weeks. Change in four subscales of the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D17) that capture core depression symptoms was determined, and change in individual HAM-D17 items was also assessed. Changes in three composite subscales-anxiety, insomnia, and drive were also examined. Results : Within-group change in the four core subscales was large [effect size (ES)=1.30-1.47] and it was similar to that in the HAM-D17 total score. Differences between aripiprazole and bupropion were significant for each of the four core subscales and the HAM-D17 total score favored aripiprazole (p<0.001). On three composite scales, both treatments caused substantial changes in anxiety (within-group ES=1.10 (aripiprazole) vs. 1.00 (bupropion)], insomnia (ES=0.75 vs 0.50), and drive (ES=1.17 vs 1.15). Conclusion : This results suggested that both aripiprazole and bupropion adjunctive therapies with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors resulted in significant and clinically meaningful changes in core symptom subscales for depression.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2014

Objectives : Delirium of hospitalized patients is common and it is significantly associated with increased mortality rate. Misdiagnosis rates of delirium are reported in a range of 36.7 to 63% in clinical setting. We aimed to identify the clinical features and symptomatic characteristics associated with misdiagnosis of delirium. Methods : Subjects were 256 inpatients who were referred for psychiatric consultation and diagnosed with delirium by a psychiatrist at a university hospital between January 1 and June 30, 2012. Clinical data were obtained with retrospective chart review. Patients were divided into misdiagnosed group and correct diagnosed group, after reviewing the reason which were described in the consultation request form. Results : Sixty nine(27%) subjects of the 256 patients were referred for other reasons(mood, substance, anxiety, dementia etc.) than "delirium/confusion" by clinician(misdiagnosed group). In misdiagnosed group, use of antipsychotics was more common. There were no differences between the two groups in age, gender, and department of referring clinician. Fluctuation score of DRS-R-98 was higher in the correct diagnosed group. Conclusions : In this study, the risk of misdiagnosis was higher when the patients have taken antipsychotics or less symptom fluctuation. Careful clinical attention is needed for diagnosis for delirium in these patients.