• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.310-315
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• 2008

Objectives : The evaluation of disability after trauma in psychiatry is relatively subjective compared with other departments. A consensus among evaluators could improve reliability of evaluations. We compared disability rate of common psychiatric disorders without definite brain injury depending on their diagnosis from experienced evaluators in Korea. Methods : A written questionnaire was mailed to each evaluator and the reply was analyzed. The questions included disability rate ranges of postconcussional syndrome, PTSD and depression. Other questions related with admission for evaluation, expected duration of treatment, life expectancy and need of supporting person were also asked. Results : Range of disability rate were from $8.6{\pm}4.5%$ to $26.6{\pm}12.8%$ in postconcussional syndrome, from $10.4{\pm}6.8%$ to $36.4{\pm}13.8%$ in PTSD and from $10.0{\pm}4.6%$ to $30.6{\pm}10.3%$ in depressive disorder. There were lots of diversity in expected duration of treatment with psychiatric disability. Decline of life expectancy and need of supporting person were considered at least 50% of disability. Conclusion : There is much diversity in evaluation of psychiatric disabilities with disability rate and expected duration of treatments even among experienced evaluators. A common consensus among experts may increase reliability of psychiatric evaluations after trauma.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2015

Objective : Police officers are exposed to job-related traumatic events and have a high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examined the relationship between PTSD symptoms and dimensions of temperament and character in police officers. Method : Thirty-six police officers participating in a psychological support program were enrolled. All subjects were asked to complete a demographic questionnaire, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and other self-reported symptoms scales. Results : Among all participants (age $40.8{\pm}10.2$, men 94.4%), the rate of 'post-traumatic stress symptoms group' was 47.2%. After controlling for confounding factors, lower self-directedness scores were significantly associated with higher PTSD symptoms (${\beta}=0.6$, p=0.03) in multiple regression analysis. Conclusion : Character traits, especially self-directedness, were associated with the severity of PTSD symptoms severity. These findings may provide useful information regarding personality factors related to PTSD in police officers.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2008

Objective : Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has been established as an effective treatment for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the literature is unclear as to whether EMDR is effective in the treatment of other psychiatric disorders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential use of EMDR in the treatment of psychiatric disorders other than PTSD by using a clinician's impression of patient response and a subjective symptom evaluation. Methods : Seventeen diagnostically heterogenous patients without PTSD underwent an average of 4.3 sessions of EMDR. Symptom severity was assessed by the Clinical Global Impression-Change Scale (CGIC), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Symptom Checklist-90- Revised (SCL-90-R) before and after EMDR. Those whose CGI-C scores were 'very much improved' and 'much improved' after EMDR were classified as 'responders.' The patients' before and after treatment scores of symptom severity and group differences were compared. Results : Twelve of the 17 participants (12/17, 71%) were classified as 'responders.' The patients' scores on all of the scales, with the exception of the trait anxiety scale and obsession-compulsion scale of the SCL- 90-R, significantly decreased after treatment. There was no difference in sociodemographic and clinical variables between the responders and non-responders. Conclusion : The results of our study suggest that EMDR can be a promising candidate for the treatment of patients with psychiatric disorders other than PTSD, and thus further controlled studies are needed to determine whether EMDR can be applied to various psychiatric populations.

• 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.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.115-128
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• 1995

Present study reviewed various standardized neuropsychological assessment methods for children that are widely used in Korean child-psychiatric clinic settings to evaluate neurological problems, especially soft neurological signs that could not be identified by neurological techniques like CT, MRI. The characteristics of those neuropsychological test responses in children with psychiatric disorders that neurological factors are thought to play more important role than psychological factors in their etiology were examined. It is more important and required to establish the developmental norms for interpreting the results of neuropsychological tests and for identifying the signs of brain damage in case of children than adults. There are many difficulties in diagnosing brain dysfunction and conducting research for neurological problems in psychiatric disordered children due to lack of the standardized Korean version of neuropsyhological test for children, Therefore, several issues on developing the Korean version of neuropsyhological tests for children were discussed.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.53-62
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• 2018

Objective : The Korean Association of Anxiety Disorders developed Korean guidelines for treatment of panic disorder (PD) 2018. In this paper, we discussed the consensus among psychiatrists, regarding initial and maintenance treatment strategies for pharmacological treatment of PD in Korea. Methods : Based on current treatment guidelines published by the American Psychiatric Association, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, and the Canadian Psychiatric Association, we developed questionnaires pertinent to initial and maintenance treatment strategies for pharmacological treatment of PD. Seventy-two experts in PD answered questionnaires. We classified expert opinions into three categories, first, second, and third-line treatment strategies, by analyzing the 95% confidence interval. Results : Antidepressants, benzodiazepine anxiolytics, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) were recommended as treatments of choice (ToC), and first-line strategies for initial treatment of PD. Escitalopram, paroxetine, sertraline, and venlafaxine were preferred from among many anti-panic drugs. Mean starting dose of anti-panic drugs for initial treatment of PD was relatively lower, than that for other psychiatric illnesses such as major depressive disorder. In the case of maintenance treatment of PD, antidepressants and CBT were selected as ToC and first-line strategies. Patients were typically examined every four weeks during treatment, to review effectiveness and side effects of the drug. Pharmacotherapy was generally continued for one year or more. Conclusion : This study provides information about consensus among Korean experts regarding pharmacological treatment strategies for patients with panic disorder.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.77-90
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• 2007

In this special article, we presented the organization of the work group, basic principles of the algorithm, future plan and methods for developing a treatment algorithm for panic disorder in Korea. The psychiatrist work group from the Korean Association of Anxiety Disorders began to develop a treatment algorithm designed to improve the management of Korean patients with panic disorder by incorporating better evaluation techniques and treatment procedures. We have reviewed the treatment guidelines and algorithms for panic disorder published thus far, including the Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Panic Disorder established by the American Psychiatric Association, the Management of Anxiety (Panic Disorder, with or without Agoraphobia, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder) in Adults in Primary, Secondary and Community Care established by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, and the Clinical Practice Guidelines established by the Canadian Psychiatric Association. We developed the basic materials to be used in the treatment algorithm for the management of panic disorder in Korea. Therefore, in this special article, we intro-duce the goal of the algorithm and the details of the algorithm development.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2008

Objective : A working group of psychiatrists from the Korean Academy of Anxiety Disorders was established to determine the appropriate medication algorithm for treating patients with panic disorder. In this article, we discussed the consensus among psychiatrists regarding the use of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in the development of a treatment algorithm for panic disorder in Korea. Methods : Based on the guidelines or algorithms published by the American Psychiatric Association, National Institute for Clinical Excellence, and Canadian Psychiatric Association, we constructed questionnaires regarding the core components and contents of CBT for patients with panic disorder. Fifty-four experts in panic disorder completed the questionnaires. Results : There was statistically significant consensus among the experts in the belief that cognitive reconstruction and psychological education are the core components of CBT for the treatment of patients with panic disorder. However, there was some inconsistency between the opinions of some experts regarding the content and frequency of CBT and the results of studies published outside of Korea. Conclusions : CBT, especially the psychological education and cognitive reconstruction components, should be considered when treating patients with panic disorder. However, further consideration needs to be put into the design of a more detailed treatment guideline for the use of CBT in the treatment of patients with panic disorder.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2011

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the pattern of psychiatric consultation-liaison in a new general hospital over a 5-year period. Method: Retrospective chart review was conducted for psychiatric consultations performed from May 2004 to December 2008 in a new general hospital in Hwasun, Korea. Results: A total of 1,852 patients who were referred to the Department of Psychiatry for consultation were included in the analysis. The main reasons for psychiatric consultation were changes in mental status(20.5%), depression(16.8%), insomnia(12.8%), and anxiety(7.9%). Psychiatric consultations were conducted with diagnoses of delirium(39.7%), depressive disorder(28.2%), adjustment disorder(7.9%), and anxiety disorder(4.1%). Patients with delirium were significantly older than were those with other psychiatric diagnoses(p<0.001). Delirium was more common in male patients than in female patients(47.1% vs. 29.9%, respectively), and depression was more common in female patients than in male patients(48.3% vs. 33.9%, respectively)(p<0.001). Delirium was more common in patients who underwent surgical operation than those who did not(p=0.010). Conclusion: Delirium was the most common diagnosis for psychiatric consultation followed by depression in a university hospital. Delirium was more prevalent in men than in women, while depression was more common in women.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.46-57
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• 2017

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common psychiatric disorder that can affect individuals across their lifespan. It is characterized by the core symptoms of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. ADHD develops as a result of the complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. Children and adults with ADHD usually suffer concomitantly from other psychiatric comorbidities, including both externalizing and internalizing disorders. It is associated with functional impairment and poor long-term outcomes. This review aims to summarize the key findings from recent research into ADHD and its prevalence, core symptoms, cause and comorbidities from childhood to adulthood.