• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.80-85
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• 2013

Objectives Research suggests that content of delusion and hallucination in schizophrenia is influenced by culture and social environment. However, few studies investigated chronological change of delusions and hallucinations within a society. To investigate changes in delusions and hallucinations of schizophrenia according to time, we compared contents of symptoms between inpatients with schizophrenia at two different time frames. Methods All admissions to a psychiatric unit of Hanyang University Guri Hospital with discharge diagnoses of schizophrenia at two different five-year time frames (1996-2000 and 2006-2010) were reviewed. Using a checklist, adapted from the Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms, we investigated delusions and hallucinations of 247 patients (104 in the 1990s and 143 in the 2000s). Results Delusions and hallucinations of patients did not differ at two time frames. In women, however, auditory and somato-tactile hallucinations were significantly more frequent in the 1990s (p < 0.05). Conclusions Our findings support the literature emphasizing that content and frequency of hallucination may differ according to cultural environment. We speculate that attitude toward sex and defensiveness toward disclosure of symptoms may have contributed to interval difference.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.209-216
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• 2014

Objectives : Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is often comorbid with adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other psychiatric illnesses. When associated with other mental problems, the prognosis of the AUD can be more serious. This study shows research on the clinical and neuropsychological characteristics according to whether or not ADHD symptoms and AUD were comorbid. Methods : A total of 64 adult inpatients who completed AUD scales about adult ADHD, alcohol dependence, depression, anxiety, and impulsiveness. They also completed neuropsychological tests about attention and executive function. According to the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale score, patients were categorized into two groups (ADHD symptom positive/negative group). Results : Fourteen among the 64 subjects were part of the ADHD symptom positive group (21.9%). They had statistically significant shorter abstinence periods and a higher rate of history of 'rule violation during school' and 'physical damage in childhood' compared to the ADHD symptom negative group. Conclusion : The comorbidity rate with ADHD symptom in adult AUD is higher than the general population. The ADHD symptom positive group suffered from more severe and refractory AUD. Considering the more frequent history of rule violation during school in the ADHD symptom positive group, the association between ADHD and AUD may be mediated by conduct disorder. Therefore we suggest the necessity of careful evaluation and intervention in children and adolescents with ADHD and conduct disorder.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.80-84
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• 2000

Background : Hypersalivation can be a troublesome side effect of clozapine, limiting its usefulness in the management of some cases of schizophrenia. But the pharmacodynamic basis of clozapine-induced hypersalivation remains obscure. Object : The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the ${\alpha}_2$-adrenergic agonist clonidine on clozapine-induced hypersalivation in the patients who were receiving clozapine. Method : Twenty one schizophrenic inpatients on clozapine participated in the study. The amount of saliva was measured on the 7th day at 8pm after starting clozapine treatment. Of them, 15 patients who had experienced hypersalivation was treated with 0.1mg/day of clonidine. Result : Of 21 schizophrenic patients treated with clozapine in the psychiatric inpatient clinic, 15(71.4%) complained hypervalivation. After clonidine treatment, mean salivary flow-rate was decreased significantly in these patients. Conclusion : Clozapine-induced hypersalivation could be decreased by administration of ${\alpha}_2$-adrenergic agonist clonidine and compliance could be improved. Also our study supports the notion that increased adrenergic tone contributes to clozapine-induced hypersalivation.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.31-37
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• 2018

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychopathological features such as depression and anxiety in schizophrenics with obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) as well as the severity of OCS according to duration of schizophrenia. Methods We randomly selected sixty four inpatients with schizophrenia. We classified the patients into two groups (OCS group, non-OCS group) according to the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). Clinical and demographic features were evaluated. To assess OCS, Y-BOCS were performed. The Korean version of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(K-PANSS), the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Korean version of the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (K-CDSS), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) were conducted. Independent t-test and chi-square test were conducted to compare the two groups. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationship between the duration of schizophrenia and the Y-BOCS score. Results The Y-BOCS, K-CDSS, and BAI scores were higher in the OCS group. There was a significant correlation between the duration of schizophrenia and the Y-BOCS score. Conclusions Anxiety and depression symptoms were severe in the OCS group. In addition, the results of this study indicate that the longer duration of schizophrenia, the more severe the OCS. Therefore, the evaluation of OCS in schizophrenics should be accompanied by treatment intervention.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.23-42
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to identify the inpatient service quality at mental hospitals and to examine the effect of service quality on patient's overall satisfaction and customer loyalty. Data collection was done through conducting a survey of inpatients in three mental hospitals located in Chungnam, Korea using self administered questionnaire. The questionnaire included the modified version of 'service satisfaction scale for psychiatric patients' invented by Chul Kwon Kim and other members, which consists of five dimension of service quality: staff attitude, treatment quality, ward environment, access/cost and ward rule. Total 236 questionnaires were gathered and 219 were used for analysis. The data was analyzed by using version SAS9.2 and path analysis model was applied to test our hypothesis. As a result, the four factors of service (staff attitude, treatment quality, ward environment and ward rule) were extracted, which counted for 62.89% of the common variance. Moreover, Cronbach Alpha showed relatively high internal consistency of answer, all exceeding 0.6. According to the study, ward environment and treatment quality turned out to have direct influence on the patient's satisfaction. In addition, staff attitude and overall satisfaction directly influenced the customer loyalty while ward environment and ward rule indirectly had influence using overall satisfaction as a medium. In conclusion, in order to enhance the satisfaction and customer loyalty in mental hospitals, efforts in improving environmental service quality in particular is highly demanded.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 1998

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the etiological factors of the PTSD(post traumatic stress disorder) by examining the relationship between severity of physical trauma and subsequent the severity of PTSD symptom in traffic accident related PTSD patients. Method: Subjects were 21 psychiatric inpatients with history of traffic accident related PTSD(DSM-IV criteria), the purpose of evaluation of mental disability and no evidence of organic brain leisons. The severity of physical trauma was assessed by McBride number of nonpsychiatric department and the presence / absence of loss of conciousness. The severity of PTSD symptom was assessed by Hovens' self rating inventory for PTSD. And then we evaluated the correlation between these two factors. And we also evaluated relationship between severity of PTSD symtom and clinical variables. Results : There were no significant relationship between McBride number of nonpsychiatric department severity and symptomatic severity(r= 0.17, p<0.05), the presence / absence of loss of conciousness and symptomatic severity(p>0.05). And significant relationship between symptomatic severity and clinical varibles such as sex, education level, marital status(p<0.05). Conclusions : These data did not support data of previous studies that traumatic severity was correlated with symptom severity but, suggested that other variables affecting the severity of PTSD symptom is more important indirectly. And that the 'trauma' in PTSD is psychological meaning rather than physical meaning is also suggested.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2011

Objective : This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in schizophrenia, and the relationship among OCD, severity of psychopathology, and social function in stable patients with chronic schizophrenia. Methods : We interviewed 138 symptom-stable inpatients who had been on a constant dose of antipsychotics for at least 1 month prior and diagnosed as chronic schizophrenia. Subsequently, patients were classified according to the existence of OCD as investigated using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders (SCID-I) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Further, all clinical and demographic data was investigated. To investigate potential interrelationships, the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Korea-Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (K-PANSS), and the Korean Personal and Social Performance (K-PSP) were used. An independent ttest and Chi-square test were used to compare groups and a Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between the Y-BOCS and other clinical rating scales. Results : The prevalence of OCD in schizophrenia patients was 18.1%. Patients with schizophrenia and OCD exhibited significantly earlier onset of schizophrenia, more severe psychiatric symptoms, and lower personal and social performance ability as compared to those without OCD. There was no significant relationship among Y-BOCS, K-PANSS, and K-PSP. Conclusion : We found that comorbid OCD was relatively more frequent in patients with schizophrenia. An investigation involving larger samples of schizophrenia patients with OCD with respect to social function and thus, the effect on quality of life is required.

• Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.37-43
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• 2017

Objectives : This study was aimed to investigate the associations of childhood trauma with psychopathology and clinical characteristics in patients with schizophrenia. Methods : This study enrolled 66 inpatients with schizophrenia. Korean Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (K-CTQ) and Life Event Questionnaire (LEQ) were administered to assess childhood trauma. Psychopatholgy and clinical characteristics were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Korean Version of Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (K-ISMI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and visual analogue scale of EuroQoL-5 Dimension Index (EQ-5D). Results : Total scores on K-CTQ were positively associated with scores on the BDI, K-ISMI, PSS, and PANSS and negatively associated with the score on the EQ-5D. Among subscales of K-CTQ, emotional abuse was significantly associated with all measures for psychopathology and clinical characteristics. Patients with physical abuse (36.5%), emotional abuse (30.2%), or bullying (30.6%) according to the LEQ showed sighificanlty higher the ISMI score and lower EQ-5D score. Emotional abuse and bullying were also significantly associated with higher scores on BDI and/or PSS. Conclusion : Our results suggest that childhood trauma negatively influences on internalized stigma, depression, perceived stress and quality of life in patients with schizophrenia. Clinicians should carefully evalute and manage childhood traumatic experience of patients with schizophrenia.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.331-393
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• 2010

Psychiatrists who treat violent or potentially violent patients may be sue for failure to control aggressive outpatients and for the discharge of violent inpatients. Psychiatrists may be sued for failing to protect society from the violent acts of their patients if it was reasonable for the psychiatrists to have known or should have known about the patient's violent tendencies and if the psychiatrists could have done something that could have safeguarded in public. The courts of a number of jurisdictions have imposed a duty to protect the potential victims of a third party on persons or institutions with a special relationship to that party. In the landmark case of Tarasoff v Regents of University of California, the California Supreme Court held that the special relationship between a psychotherapist and a patient imposes on the therapist a duty to act reasonably to protect the foreseeable victims of the patient. Under Tarasoff, when a therapist has determined, or under applicable professional standards should determine, that a patient poses a serious threat of violence to another, he incurs an obligation to use reasonable care to protect the intended victim against such danger. In addition to a Tarasoff type of action based on a duty to warn or protect foreseeable victims of psychiatric outpatients, courts have also imposed liability on mental health care providers based on their custody of patients known to have violent propensities. The legal duty in such a case has been stated to be that where the course of treatment of a mental patient involves an exercise of "control" over him by a physician who knows or should know that the patient is likely to cause bodily harm to others, an independent duty arises from that relationship and falls on the physician to exercise that control with such reasonable care as to prevent harm to others at the hands of the patient. After going through a period of transition, from McIntosh, Thompson and Brady case, finally, the narrow rule of requiring a specific or foreseeable threat of violence against a specific or identifiable victim is the standard threshold or trigger element in the majority of states. Judgements on these kinds of cases are not enough yet in Korea, so that it may be too early to try find principles in these cases, however it is hardly wrong to read the same reasons of Tarasoff in the judgements of Korea district courts. To specific, whether a psychiatric institute was liable for violent behavior toward others depends upon the patients conditions, circumstances and the extent of the danger the patients poses to others; in short, the foreseeability of a specific or identifiable victim. In this context if a patient exhibit strong violent behavior toward others, constant observation should be required. Negligence has been found not exist, however, when a patient abruptly and unexpectedly attack others or unidentifiable victim. And the standard of conduct that is required to meet the obligation of "due care" is based on what the "reasonable practitioner" would do in like circumstances. The standard is not one of excellence or superior practice; it only requires that the physician exercise that degree of skill and care that would be expected of the average qualified practitioner practicing under like circumstances. All these principles have been established in cases of the U.S.A and Japan. In this article you can find the reasons which you can use for psychotherapist's liability for failure to protect third person in Korea as practitioner.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2023

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of patients referred for delirium and depressive disorder and to find direction of improvement of consultation-liason psychiatry in general hospital. Methods : We performed a retrospective computed chart review of the 4,966 inpatients hospitalized at Konkuk University Hospital who were referred to the Department of Psychiatry from August 1, 2005 to December 31, 2011. Results : Depressive disorder shows the order of frequency of consultation type Parallel-Complementary-Mending. Delirium shows the order of frequency of consultation type Mending-Parallel-Complementary. When comparing 'follow up consultation' and 'without follow up consultation' group within the depressive disorder, the proportion of men in the 'follow up consultation' group was higher. In the analysis of the consultation type, the 'follow up consultation' group showed the order of consultation type Parallel-Mending- Complementary, and type Parallel-Complementary-Mending in the 'without follow up consultation' group. When comparing 'follow up consultation' and 'without follow up consultation' group within the delirium, the proportion of the surgical field in the 'follow up consultation' group was higher. In the analysis of the consultation type, both group showed the order of consultation type Mending-Parallel- Complementary. Conclusions : Doctors in each department and psychiatrists should pay attention to delirium symptoms that may occur in surgical inpatients and preventive measures should be taken. Screening tests should be conducted in medical patients to properly evaluate coexisting psychiatric diseases. Risk factors of Delirium and Depressive disorder should be identified from the time of hospitalization, and actively discussing treatment plans and early interventions could improve the quality of medical services.