• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.44-54
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• 1995

It is very difficult to evaluate sleep disorders by simple history taking, because which covers very comprehensive areas such as psychobiosocial fields. Although polysomnography is used for the method of final diagnosis, systemic history taking and sleep question-aires are still critically important especially in evaluation of insomnia. Proper informations through sleep questionnaires can provide very precise data for effective treatment as well as exact diagnosis. Sleep questionnaires consist of largely four kinds of questionnaires, which are screening questionnaire of sleep disorders, sleep diary and questionnaire of sleep hygine, diagnostic questionnaire for specific sleep disorder and questionnaire of special symptoms of sleep disorders including insomnia, daytime sleepiness, cognitive function, mental symptom and personality, parasomnia, physical illness and sexual function. However, for more conclusive diagnosis especially in excessive daytime sleepiness nocturnal polysomnography and multiple sleep latency test should be performed.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.59-62
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• 2012

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by identity and interpersonal problem, affective dysregulation and pervasive severe impulsivity. Although sleep disturbances are not primary symptoms of BPD, they are important aspects of this disorder. However, clinicians and researchers did not give much attention to the sleep symptoms of BPD yet. Measured by nocturnal polysomnography, increased sleep latency as well as reduced total sleep time and sleep efficiency, and 'depression-like' REM abnormalities (i.e., reduced REM latency and increased REM density) are found in BPD patients. Co-morbid sleep disorders such as chronic insomnia, nightmare disorder or circadian rhythm sleep disorder associated with BPD have been reported. Clinicians should focus on the sleep complaints of BPD patients, and carefully manage such symptoms with sleep hygiene education, cognitive psychotherapy or light therapy.

• 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.8 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2012

Objective : The aim of this study is to evaluate the five-factor model of personality in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) related to obsessive-compulsive symptom severity and the distinct symptom subgroups. Methods : We recruited 95 patients with OCD and 116 normal controls in the study. We used the short version of Revised NEO Personality Inventory and the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) for the assessment. Results : Patients with OCD showed significantly higher scores in neuroticism than normal controls. On multiple linear regression analysis, we found that agreeableness and conscientiousness were associated with the total Y-BOCS scores. On subscale analysis, agreeableness and neuroticism were associated with the obsession subscale scores and only conscientiousness was associated with the compulsion subscale scores. Furthermore, we found that patients who have contamination/cleaning or symmetry/ordering/counting/arranging as a main symptom presentation had significantly higher mean scores in conscientiousness than patients who have harm due to injury/violence/aggression as a main symptom presentation. Conclusion : In this study, we found that specific personality factors are associated with the obsessive-compulsive symptom severity. In addition, this is the first study to investigate the relationship between the personality factors in the five-factor model and the distinct symptom subgroups in OCD.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.179-187
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• 1997

The clinical efficacy of serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as clomipramine in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder(OCD) has fueled interest in the neurobiological basis of this illness. OCD is responsive exclucively to potent serotonin reuptake inhibitors clomipramine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, and paroxetine and this point forms the important evidence supporting a cental role for serotonin in the pathogenesis of the disorder. Other serotonergic medications such as lithium, buspirone, trazodone, or fenfluramine may be useful as adjuvant treatments in treatmentrefractory OCD and adjuvant antipsychotics are useful in tic disorders, personality disorders, and psychotic disorders. This paper reviews results of treatment studies, investigations of biological markers, and neuroendocrine challenges and implications for the role of serotonin in pathophysiology and treatment of OCD.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.243-262
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• 1999

Today, obesity is not recognized as a disease itself but is known to be the indirect cause of much chronic illness. Obesity has an impact on psychological disorders including severe inferiority, damage of body self-image, low self-esteem, personality disorders. The results in an increase of the mortality rate. Therefore, this study attempts to discover and evaluate stressful experience in obese teenagers. For this study, 21 girl students and 19 boy students in Pusan middle or high school located were selected. The data were collected from March to May at 1999. A tape-recorder was used under the permission of the subjects to prevent the loss of spoken information and communication. This study consisted of 563 reponses from girls and 461 responses from boys which were then classified with descriptive expressions and priority classifications. The results generated 72 common elements in girls and 54 common elements in boys. From these elements 24 syntheses of hypothetical definitions and 8 identifications of the structural definitions in both girls and boys were developed. The structural and hypothetical definitions were as follows: The analysis of the data was made through a phenomenological analytic method suggested by Van kamm, which is as follows: 1. Maladjustment to school life; lack of understanding of the teacher, insufficient exercise ability, and a feeling of burden in attending the school obesity program. 2. Conflict in family relationships; lack of understanding from the family, a feeling of alienation. 3. Conflict in friend relationships; lack of understanding among friends, constant comparisons in appearance and body with friends (in girls) and estrangement from friends (in boys). 4. Conflict in acquaintance of the opposite sex; hoping to meet the opposite sex, lack of understanding of boy friends (in girls), feelings of pain, feelings of anxiety (in girls) feelings of burden (in girls) feelings of envy (in boys). 5. Negative body image: shape of body; feelings of pain; feelings of powerlessness; feelings of discomfort, and reception; emotional disorders (in boys), and change of personality (in boys). 6. Health disorder: Physical and psychological discomfort. 7. Feelings of burden in weight control; negative experiences in weight control, interference with family and friends, the difficulty in diet therapy, feelings of burden in exercise (in girls), to be teased by the public through mass media (in boys).

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2010

Objectives : In this study, we aimed to elucidate the demographic and psychological characteristics of maladaptive soldiers in the Republic of Korean Army. Methods : Study participants included 110 male conscripts who had participated in the Green camp, which was a form of group psychosocial treatment program for maladaptive soldiers. All participants were interviewed and diagnosed by a psychiatrist, and classified into two groups according to whether they left or rejoined the army. We analyzed the differences between these two groups in terms of demographic features, psychiatric diagnosis and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) subscores. Results : Compared with soldiers who rejoined their units, those who left military service exhibited significantly lower educational level (p=0.041) and a higher rate in psychiatric treatment prior to enlistment (p=0.011). Among the 106 subjects, 63 (59.4%) and 23 (21.7%) were diagnosed with personality disorder and adjustment disorder, respectively. Further, those who left military service were diagnosed more frequently with mood disorder (p=0.001) and schizophrenia (p=0.014) than those who rejoined their units. Additionally, the MMPI scores of soldiers who left military service were significantly higher on the psychasthenia (p=0.028) and schizophrenia (p=0.039) scales than those of soldiers who rejoined their units. Conclusion : Most of the maladaptive soldiers were diagnosed with mental disorders. The results of this study suggest that systematic, consistent psychiatric evaluation and intervention for maladaptive male conscripts is crucial in the Republic of Korean army.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.91-97
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• 1993

The objective of this paper was to determine the degree of diagnostic overlap. In a pilot study of 56 inpatients(mean age 12) with DSM-III-R axis I and/or II disorders, the degree of psychiatric comorbidity was examined. 64.3% had two or more diagnoses. The samples were divided into the following 9 groups 1) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder 2) conduct disorder 3) oppositional defiant disorder 4) schizophrenia 5) mood disorders 6) tie disorders 7) elimination disorders 8) mental retardation 9) personality disorders Substantial overlap(especially tic disorders, elimination disorders, disruptive behavior disorders) occured among inpatients Patients had about 2 DSM-III-R axis I & II diagnoses. Additional research with increased sample size is necessary to clarify its relationship with other psychiatric diagnoses.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.216-220
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• 2005

Background:Brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) genes are thought to be important factors in some personality traits. The goal of this study was to determine the role of these genes in personality traits. Method:The participants included 170 healthy adults with no history of psychiatric disorders and other physical illnesses for the last 6 months. All participants were tested by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). BDNF Val64Met gene polymorphisms were analyzed with PCR(Polymerase Chain Reaction). Differences on TCI dimensions and sub-scales among groups were examined with ANOVA. Result:There was a significant correlation between BDNF Val64Met and Persistence(PS)(p=0.036) in female subjects, but none with the other TCI dimensions. A post-hoc comparison revealed significant a difference between Val/Val and Met/Met (p=0.031). Conclusion:Our study suggests that the BDNF Val64Met gene polymorphism is associated with persistence in Korean female subjects, but the small number of subjects limits generalization of our results. Further studies with a larger number of homogenous subjects are needed to confirm whether the BDNF gene is related to personality traits.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.88-93
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• 2004

Background:Serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphism region(5-HTTLPR) and catechol-O-methyltransferase( COMT) genes are thought to be important factors in some personality traits and the etiology of anxiety disorder. The goal of this study was to determine the role of these genes in personality traits. Method:The participants included 116 healthy adults with no history of psychiatric disorders and other physical illness for the last 6 months. All participants were tested by Temperament and Character Inventory(TCI). The 5-HTTLPR, COMT val158met gene polymorphisms were analyzed with PCR(Polymerase Chain Reaction). Differences on TCI dimensions and sub-scales among groups were examined with t-test and ANOVA. Result:There were possible relationships of the 5-HTTLPR with self-transcendence(P=0.050) and COMT val158met polymorphism with cooperativeness(P=0.053). Conclusion:We found associations between 5-HTTLPR, COMT polymorphisms and the some TCI character dimensions. Further studies of polymorphisms of other genes and their interactions may clarify the complex relationship between personality and genes.