• Anxiety and mood
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.122-126
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• 2019

Objective : Dynamic proteolysis, through the ubiquitin-proteasome system, is an important molecular mechanism for the constant regulation of synaptic plasticity and stress responses in humans. In this study, we examined whether genetic variants in the ubiquitin-specific peptidase (USP) genes were associated with psychological traits of resilience and susceptibility to neuropsychiatric disorders for each gender. Methods : A total of 344 Korean healthy youths (190 males, 154 females) were included in the study. A genotyping of rs2241646 of USP2 and rs346006 of USP46 was performed. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale were administered for measuring trait resilience and social anxiety, respectively. The genetic associations of the USP variants were tested using multiple analyses of covariance with psychological traits as dependent variables after controlling for age in each gender. Results : For USP2 rs2241646, women with the TT genotype showed significantly higher resilience and lower social anxiety, as compared to those carrying the C allele. There were no associations between USP46 rs346005 and the psychological traits in both genders. Conclusions : The present study showed a possible genetic association between the USP2 rs2241646 and stress resilience and trait anxiety in women. The findings suggest that ubiquitin-proteasome system may be related to the resilience and susceptibility to stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorders, possibly through the regulation of dynamic proteolysis responses to stress.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.45-51
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• 2009

Pulmonary diseases distress millions of people worldwide. Numerous studies have shown an association between pulmonary disease and psychiatric disorders. Despite this, little is known about the treatment of psychiatric disorder in patients with pulmonary disease. The three main goals of this article are 1) to discuss the major disorders such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hyperventilation, tuberculosis, lung cancer that most clinicians see in practice, 2) to provide an information about psychiatric treatment such as anxiety, depression, psychosis in pulmonary disease, and 3) to provide some clinically relevant suggestions about pharmacologic interactions between pulmonary and psychotropic drugs.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.214-217
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• 1997

Electroconvulsive therapy(ECT) is one of the most effective treatment modalities for the treatment of depression, mania, schizophrenia, or other neuropsychiatric disorders. But, reportedly ECT also can produce various forms of cardiac arrhythmia. We experienced a case of ECT-induced arrhythmia(PVC) accompanied with chest pain in a schizophrenic patient during the course of plain ECT. We conclude that there is a possible causal relationship between ECT and cardiac arrhythmia(PVC). The mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmia(PVC) due to ECT may be explained by the effects of ECT to vagal and sympathetic nervous systems. from this case report, We suggest that careful cardiac monitoring before, during, and after ECT with appropriate anesthetic preparation to a patient may enable to minimize the cardiovascular side effects of ECT in the patients with neuropsychiatric disorders.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.107-122
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to examine the general personality profiles of patients who visited an oriental neuropsychiatric clinic and to investigate the specific profiles of patients diagnosed with Hwa-byung. Methods : We analyzed the profiles of 122 patients who completed TCI-RS questionnaire for the purpose of counseling. Patients were divided by sex, age and diagnosis related groups. Scales and subscales of each group were compared by an independent t-test and ANCOVA with SPSS windows 16.0. Types of temperament and character were classified by percentile ranks of the total patients and diagnosis related groups. Results : 1. Total patients were classified as the high harm avoidance type of temperament and of low self-directedness type of character. 2. Male patients showed significantly higher scores on NS, all subscales of NS, P2 and P3 than female patients. HA4 and C5 scores were significantly higher in the female group. Younger patients showed significantly higher scores on NS, all subscales of NS, HA1 and P3. However, older patients had significantly higher scores on SD4, SD5, ST2 and ST3. 3. Between diagnosis related groups, Hwa-byung group had significantly higher scores on RD, ST, SD3 and ST2. However P3 score of non-hwa-byung patients was higher than hwa-byung patients. In typical classification, both hwa-byung and non-hwa-byung groups were classified as the same types as total patients. Conclusions : This study showed that the patients visited an oriental neuropsychiatric clinic and had similar personality with that of general psychiatric disorders. Hwa-byung patients exhibited higher RD and ST scores than other disorders, but they had no typical differences.

• Psychiatry investigation
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.1011-1018
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• 2018

The analysis of extracellular vesicles has been accelerated because of the technological advancements in omics methods in recent decades. Extracellular vesicles provide multifaceted information regarding the functional status of the cells. This information would be critical in case of central nervous system cells, which are confined in a relatively sealed biological compartment. This obstacle is more dramatic in psychiatric disorders since their diagnosis primarily depend on the symptoms and signs of the patients. In this paper, we reviewed this rapidly advancing field by discussing definition of extracellular vesicles, their biogenesis and potential use as clinical biomarkers. Then we focused on their potential use in psychiatric disorders in the context of diagnosis and treatment of these disorders. Finally, we tried to combine the RDoC (Research Domain Criteria) with the use of extracellular vesicles in psychiatry research and practice. This review may offer new insights in both basic and translational research focusing on psychiatric disorders.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.175-187
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• 2017

Transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) is a clinically safe and effective method of delivering weak electric current to modulate cortical activities. And based on the cumulating scientific evidences, the method is recommended to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. In this paper, we review the development of TDCS in the rising field of neuromodulation. Then with suggested biochemical and physical mechanism of TDCS, we summarize the reported cases of using TDCS to alleviate major neuropsychiatric disorders. And, in particular, the treatment of MDD is highlighted as an illustrative example of using TDCS. We discuss here the therapeutic potentials of this method in psychiatry. And in closing remarks, we evaluate the current technical limitations and suggest the future directions of this method in both the clinical and research aspects.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.3-11
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• 1997

Disturbances in memory are the most common problem in patients with an organic mental syndrome. Other patients with significant psychiatric disorders also often have difficulty with memory. So it is very important in the clinical practice of psychiatry to understand the biological and neurocognitive mechanisms of memory proessing, and to develop the assessment tools with which memory function can be evaluated reliably and validly. Moreover, memory researches provide an important viewpoint from which we can understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of major neuropsychiatric illnesses. This article focuses on our understanding of memory functions in clinical and neurobiological aspects. The relevant material will be presented in four parts : 1) terminologies needed in defining major stages of various types of memory processing : 2) neurochemical and neuroanatomical basis of memory processing : 3) brief bed-side screening tests and more comprehensive neuropsychological tests for the evaluation of memory function : 4) the characteristics of memory dysfunction in several major psychiatric illnesses.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2007

Objectives : To investigate the validity of an abbreviated self-rated Korean version of MINI (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview) patient health survey which screening social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder. Methods : 115 subjects completed MINI and MINI patient health survey. The validity of MINI patient health survey was assessed by whether the results from MINI patient health survey were compatible with the results from MINI or not. The Cohen's kappa value, specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value was calculated for this purpose. Results : The Kappa values of social anxiety disorder (0.60), panic disorder (0.49), generalized anxiety disorder (0.60) and major depressive disorder without other co-morbid disorder (0.59) were at least moderate in strength of agreement. Conclusion : The abbreviated self-rated Korean version of MINI patient health survey has the moderate to good validity in social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder without other co-morbid disorders. Our result suggests that this instrument might be useful for screening above 4 disorders if it is used under careful supervision of experienced clinicians.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.302-308
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• 1996

A case of rapid cycling mania secondary to gamma-knife radiosurgery for the treatment of refractory epilepsy was reported. A 21-year old woman who had a gamma-knife radiosurgical operation for the treatment of refractory seizure two years ago was admitted because of manic episodes. Although seizure was relieved, manic symptoms like decreased need for sleep, elated mood, unprovoked laughing, grandiose delusion and bizarre behaviors were developed 11 months after the operation. These symptoms recurred lour rimes for eight months. There were no past personal and family history of mood disorders. Laboratory examinations including electroencephalogram ana endocrinological study did not show any abnormal findings. The rapid cycling secondary manic was relieved by lithium. She was then discharged after 5 months. Mood change was not significant during follow-up while hypomania emerged by dose reduction. The secondary mania seemed to be caused or triggered by the right temporal lobe damage induced by gamma-knife radiosurgery.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.48-56
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• 2016

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder in which neuronal loss causes cognitive decline and other neuropsychiatric problems. It can be diagnosed based on history, examination, and appropriate objective assessments, using standard criteria such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA). Brain imaging and biomarkers are making progress in the differential diagnoses among the different disorders. The cholinesterase inhibitors, donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors antagonist memantine are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for AD. Recently some acetylcholinesterase inhibitors gained approval for the treatment of severe AD and became available in a higher dose formulation or a patch formulation. Optimal care in AD is multifactorial and it should include early diagnosis and multidisciplinary care with pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions including exercise interventions, cognitive interventions and maintenance of social networks.