• Anxiety and mood
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 2008

Objective : Brief screening for anxiety symptoms in clinical practice can further facilitate the diagnosis and evaluation of anxiety disorders. This study examined the factorial validity of the Korean version of the State-Trait Inventory (STAI)-Form X, one of the most frequently used self-report questionnaires for anxiety. Methods : Data from the STAI and Beck Depression Inventory were obtained from a consecutive sample of 200 outpatients diagnosed with DSM-IV anxiety disorders at a psychiatric unit of a university hospital. The factor structures of the State and Trait Scales were assessed using exploratory factor analysis. Results : Three-factor components, including 'State anxiety present', 'State anxiety absent' and 'Selfconfidence', were extracted from the State Scale, explaining 59% of the total variance. A four-factor solution involving 'Trait anxiety and depression present', 'Trait anxiety and depression absent', 'Anxiety proneness' and 'Stability' (59% of total variance) was extracted from the Trait Scale. The internal consistency of the STAI and factors were satisfactory. There were significant correlations between depressive symptoms and factors of the STAI. Conclusion : The STAI-form X showed factorial validity for Korean patients with anxiety disorders. However, our finding that this anxiety scale also measures depressive symptoms should be interpreted with caution.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.sup1
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• pp.133-138
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• 2016

Anti-N-methyl D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis, recently recognized as a form of paraneoplastic encephalitis, is characterized by a prodromal phase of unspecific illness with fever that resembles a viral disease. The prodromal phase is followed by seizures, disturbed consciousness, psychiatric features, prominent abnormal movements, and autonomic imbalance. Here, we report a case of anti-NMDAR encephalitis with initial symptoms of epilepsia partialis continua in the absence of tumor. Briefly, a 3-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital due to right-sided, complex partial seizures without preceding febrile illness. The seizures evolved into epilepsia partialis continua and were accompanied by epileptiform discharges from the left frontal area. Three weeks after admission, the patient's seizures were reduced with antiepileptic drugs; however, she developed sleep disturbances, cognitive decline, noticeable oro-lingual-facial dyskinesia, and choreoathetoid movements. Anti-NMDAR encephalitis was confirmed by positive detection of NMDAR antibodies in the patient's serum and cerebrospinal fluid, and her condition slowly improved with immunoglobulin, methylprednisolone, and rituximab. At present, the patient is no longer taking multiple antiepileptic or antihypertensive drugs. Moreover, the patient showed gradual improvement of motor and cognitive function. This case serves as an example that a diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis should be considered when children with uncontrolled seizures develop dyskinesias without evidence of malignant tumor. In these cases, aggressive immunotherapies are needed to improve the outcome of anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.109-118
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• 2016

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop the computerized Comprehensive Learning Test-Reading (CLT-R) to evaluate the cognitive processes and achievements related to their basic reading ability and identify dyslexia in children and adolescents in South Korea. We also obtained the normative data and evaluated the reliability and validity of the test. Methods: We developed the CLT-R, including the word attack/nonword decoding, paragraph reading, sound blending, nonword repetition, rapid automatized naming, letter-sound matching, visual attention, orthography awareness, and digit span tests, for the purpose of diagnosing dyslexia. We investigated the reliability and validity of the tests and gathered the normative data from 399 subjects (male 48.9%), aged 5-14 years, from the last grade in kindergarten to middle school, dwelling in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Results: No statistical differences were observed between the means of the tests and retests of the CAT. The mean of the correlation coefficient of the test-retest scores was 0.85. According to the construct validity test calculated by principal constant analysis using the oblique rotation method, 4 factors explained 70.0% of the cumulative variances. In addition, the normative data were obtained for all of the CLT-R subtests. Conclusion: The computerized CLT-R can be used as a reliable and valid tool to evaluate the reading achievement and reading related cognitive process in Korean children and adolescents in schools, clinics, and research institutes.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.11-41
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• 2011

The discovery of microRNA (miRNA) is one of the major scientific breakthroughs in recent years and has revolutionized current cell biology and medical science. miRNAs are small (19~25nt) noncoding RNA molecules that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression by targeting the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of specific messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for degradation of translation repression. Genetic ablation of the miRNA machinery, as well as loss or degradation of certain individual miRNAs, severely compromises immune development and response, and can lead to immune disorders. Several sophisticated regulatory mechanisms are used to maintain immune homeostasis. Regulatory T (Treg) cells are essential for maintaining peripheral tolerance, preventing autoimmune diseases and limiting chronic inflammatory diseases. Recent publications have provided compelling evidence that miRNAs are highly expressed in Treg cells, that the expression of Foxp3 is controlled by miRNAs and that a range of miRNAs are involved in the regulation of immunity. A large number of studies have reported links between alterations of miRNA homeostasis and pathological conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, as well as psychiatric and neurological diseases. Although it is still unclear how miRNA controls Treg cell development and function, recent studies certainly indicate that this topic will be the subject of further research. The specific circulating miRNA species may also be useful for the diagnosis, classification, prognosis of diseases and prediction of the therapeutic response. An explosive literature has focussed on the role of miRNA. In this review, I briefly summarize the current studies about the role of miRNAs in Treg cells and in the regulation of the innate and adaptive immune response. I also review the explosive current studies about clinical application of miRNA.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.69 no.3
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• pp.165-191
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to identify the major predictive factors of intention of drug users to use treatment services. The theoretical framework was used extended Behavioral Model of Health Services Use which integrates the Andersen model and the Theory of Planned Behavior. Thus, this study examined the effects of individual characteristics(predisposing, enabling, need factor) and attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavior control on drug users' intention to use treatment services. Factors with a statistically significant effect were as follows: from the individual characteristics - gender and past treatment experiences of the predisposing factors along with psychiatric diagnosis, anxiety and depression, and severity of drug abuse of need factors. From the Theory of Planned Behavior - subjective norm and perceived behavior control turned out to have impacts on their intention to use treatment services. The study emphasizes that a concern of women, increasing positive experiences of treatment, efforts to change the subjective norms and perceived behavior control of drug users to promote their determination to get treatment.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.381-388
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• 2013

The study was done to identify factors influencing the health risk behavior of the chronic mental illness in the community. A cross-sectional study design was used in this study. The sample was 255 chronic mentally ill persons from D city and C province and who agreed to participate in the study. Data were collected on August-september, 2011 and analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 20. Stress event, insight and depression had significant correlations with health risk behavior. Hierarchial regression analysis showed gender (men), diagnosis (schizophrenia), stress event, insight and depression together explained 24% of variance in health risk behavior. Findings of this study allow a comprehensive understanding of health risk behavior of the chronic mentally ill persons in community. It is necessary to integrated health promotion programs designed for this population should focus on these factors for effective behavioral modification.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.36-52
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• 2003

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is one of the most comminly treated conditions in the child psychiatric units and results in substantial impairment in peer, family and academoc functioning. For 70% to 80% of children with a diagnosis of ADHD, stimulant tratment results in successful improvement of the core ADHD symptoms. However, children with ADHD have high level of comorbidity and may respond differently from children with ADHD without comorbidity. Therefore they may need specific treatment plan. We reviewed efficacy and safety of prescribed medication for treating children with ADHD, the relationship between ADHD and the comorbid conditions and treatment algorithm projects of ADHD with/without comorbid conditions performed Korean and American child psychiatrists. Our main objective is to increase the uniformity of treatment and improve the clinical outcomes of children with comorbid ADHD.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.226-234
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• 2011

We investigated the clinical effects of Korean red ginseng on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. Eighteen subjects aged between 6 and 14 diagnosed with ADHD based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition diagnosis criteria were enrolled. Korean red ginseng (Panax ginseng) at 1,000 mg b.i.d. was administered to the subjects for 8 weeks. Eighteen children completed the questionnaire and clinical assessment by visiting the hospital at baseline, then in the first, fourth and eighth weeks. Clinical assessments were performed by using the ADHD Diagnostic System (ADS, a computerized attention assessment program), the abbreviated Conners' rating scale in addition to psychiatric interviews. After 8 weeks, significant differences were found in the omisssion errors of ADS ($78.56{\pm}43.33$ at baseline, $55.17{\pm}21.44$ at 8 weeks, p<0.023), Conners ADHD Rating Scale ($13.78{\pm}6.32$ at baseline, $9.50{\pm}4.80$ at 8 weeks, p<0.042) and Spielberger State Anxiety Scale ($30.94{\pm}6.25$ at baseline, $28.83{\pm}6.23$ at 8 weeks, p<0.024). In the Korean Personality Inventory for Children, a significant reduction of score was found in the physical development scale ($56.44{\pm}9.63$ at baseline, $50.94{\pm}8.91$ at 8 weeks, p<0.017) and social dysfunction scale ($56.33{\pm}6.82$ at baseline, $51.94{\pm}7.13$ at 8 weeks, p<0.025). These results suggest that Korean red ginseng may be effective in improving inattentiveness in ADHD children, but it remains uncertain if it improves the general severity of ADHD, depression, anxiety personality and behavioral changes.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.97-106
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the incidence and associated factors with post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) in patients with intensive care units (ICU) admission experience. Methods: This study is a retrospective observational study using self-reporting questionnaire. Patients who were admitted to ICU more than 72 hours and agreed to participate were enrolled in this study. PTSD were assessed by Korean version of post-traumatic diagnosis scale, and PTSD was defined as 20 points or more. Medical records of participants were reviewed to identify influencing factors of PTSD. To analyzed the data, descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test and gamma regression were utilized using SPSS/WIN 23.0 program. Results: A total of 128 patients participated in the study. Mean age of participants was 58.3±11.7 years and 50 patients (39.1%) were female. Mean duration of ICU stay was 8.43±8.09 days and PTSD was diagnosed in 12 patients (9.4%). In the results of a Gamma regression analysis, Psychiatric history (B=1.09, p=.002), APACHEII score (B=.04, p=.005), CPR experience (B=1.65, p=.017) and physical restraint (B=.68, p=.049) were independently associated with PTSD occurrence. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that a various factors influencing PTSD should be identified to prevent PTSD in patients who requires ICU care. In addition, post-ICU care programs are required to assess and reduce PTSD.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.63-70
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• 2018

It has been suggested that aberrant self-referential processing (SRP) is one of the important components of the explanatory models of social anxiety disorder (SAD). The default mode network (DMN), which reflects intrinsic brain functions, is known to play a critical role in SRP. Recently, resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) research on the functional connectivity in the brain network has gained greater attention as a tool to elucidate the neurobiological basis of various psychiatric disorders. We reviewed resting state fMRI studies that investigated the resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) of the DMN in SAD. Despite of the heterogeneity of the analytic methods and occasional negative findings, most studies consistently reported abnormalities of RSFC within the DMN, suggesting that the DMN may be significant neural correlates of aberrant SRP in SAD. Also, changes in RSFC of the DMN are associated with clinical improvements of therapeutic interventions. Moreover, emerging findings provide the basis for potential use of RSFC as a complementary method in diagnosis of SAD. Ongoing and future research to investigate RSFC of the DMN could broaden our understanding regarding the neurobiological basis of SAD, and contribute to the development of novel treatments for SAD.