• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.28-36
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• 2014

Objectives : The goal of this study was to examine the association between zinc and lead level and symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among Korean children. Methods : A total of 89 clinic-referred children participated in the study (ADHD group=45, control group=44). The participants were 5-15 years old, and were mainly from urban areas of Seoul, Korea. ADHD was diagnosed using the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version. We excluded children with a comorbid psychiatric disorder, medical illness requiring medication, or a prior history of taking ADHD medication. In order to evaluate the severity of ADHD symptoms, parents' Korean ADHD Rating Scale (K-ARS) was used. The ADHD diagnostic system (ADS) was used for evaluation of the severity of inattention and impulsivity. All participants completed the intelligence test and hair mineral analysis. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the effect of hair zinc and lead levels on the K-ARS and ADS. We measured the predictive ability of the zinc and lead levels using logistic regression analysis. Results : The lead level explained the score for omission errors, commission errors, and response time SD in visual ADS in the ADHD group (adjusted $R^2$=.243, p<.01, adjusted $R^2$=.362, p<.01, and adjusted $R^2$=.275, p<.01), the score for omission errors of auditory ADS in ADHD group (adjusted $R^2$=.407, p<.01) and the entire group (adjusted $R^2$=.292, p<.01). Zinc was significantly explanatory for the K-ARS scores for the entire group (adjusted $R^2$=.248, p<.001) and the ADHD group (adjusted $R^2$=.247, p<.05). Conclusion : These findings suggest a possible role of zinc and lead in ADHD. Lead concentration in hair samples affected the ADS scores, and this was more prominent in children with ADHD. Children with ADHD had a lower zinc concentration in their hair, and the zinc concentration in hair showed negative correlation with the K-ARS score.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.11-22
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• 1975

Suicides have been considered to be one of the grave problems of modern societies. According to recent police statistics of Republic of Korea, 28.6 suicides in every 100, 000 were reported. Psychiatric Patients are believed to be predisposed to suicidal tendencies. This study was performed to investigate the characteristics of suicidal attempts and to analyse the environmental factors involved in the suicidal accidents of patients admitted to psychiatric hospitals. Records of 66 suicidal accidents from three psychiatric hospitals during the period of January 1971 through June 1971 were sampled. Data were analysed by percentile score. Results are as follows; 1. The age group of 21~30yrs. was revealed to be the highest in frequency of suicidal attempts (50.0%) Among the unsuccessful suicides; the age group of 31~40yrs. in men and the age group of 21~30 yrs. in women revealed to be the highest in frequency-Among the unsuccessful suicides; the age group of 21-30 yrs. in both sex revealed to be the highest in frequency. 2. Suicidal accidents occurred more frequently to the unmarried(63.6%)- Among the successful suicides; higher frequency was shown to unmarried in men and the frequency is contrasted in women. Among the unsuccessful; the unmarried in both sex were revealed to be highest in frequency. 3. Schizophrenia was revealed the highest of suicidal attempts in frequency (81.8%). 4, Suicides were most frequently attempted in the spring(46, 9%). Among the successful suicides; highest frequencies were shown in men in tile winter and in women in the summer season. Among the unsuccessful suicides :highest frequencies were shown in men in the winter and in women in the spring. 5. Suicidal attempts were most frequently occurred in hospital wards (40.9%), In women, unsuccessful attempts were found to be the highest on authorized leave at their homes. 6. The hanging was revealed to be the most frequently adopted methods for suicidal attempts (31.8%). Among the successful suicides; hanging was the most frequent method adopted in men white in women the drug over-dose, Among the unsuccessful suicides ; stabbing by sharp devices while in women drug-overdosage was adopted as well 7. The most frequently adopted instrument of different suicidal attempts were: house-hold wrapper (26.3%) in cases of hanging, knives (31.8%) in cases of stabbing, and drugs. 8. The suicidal attempts have occurred most frequently at dawn through early morning (2-6A. M.) (34.8%). Among the successful suicides i most frequent time of occurrence on week-days were revealed to be dawn, while on holidays the occurrence were in the evening as well Among the unsuccessful; the most frequent time of occurrence was the day hours while on holidays at dawn. 9. Suicidal attempts within the hospital ward were first noticed by nurses most frequently (42.2%). 10. Manifestations such as restlessness, depression, self-depreciation were revealed to be the most frequent pre-suicidal attempt behavior characteristics. 11. Among the successful suicides ; manifestations of physical damage were found on the neck while among unsuccessful attempts, the damages were found on exterminates.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.205-216
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• 2009

Objectives : To establish the fundaments for EBM of Traditional Korean Medicine, the papers on Guibi-tang(Guipitang) which were frequently used in medical institutions of Traditional Korean Medicine were analyzed through researching domestic and international literatures. Methods : The papers were classified by the year of publishment, by experimental methods, by laboratory animals used in biological experiment and by the kinds of studies on biological efficacy. Results : Of total 39 papers were registered in domestic journals. Since 1980, publishments of papers have continuously increased. The papers on biological studies were 34 volumes, clinical studies were 5 volumes. Biological studies mainly showed the effects of anti-stress, anti-oxidant, hemostasis, anti-osteoporosis, gastroprotection, reproductive ability, brain cell activity, radioprotection. And clinical studies showed improvements of fearful throbbing, memory and orientation, insomnia, vericose vein, schizophrenia. Conclusions : Guibi-tang(Guipitang) could be used to fortify the spleen, nourish the heart and then control the blood. However biological studies need to be conducted in accordance with clinical study and further clinical studies on randomized controlled trials should be proceeded.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.227-234
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• 1999

An association of low total cholesterol in blood with psychiatric diseases and suicidal behavior has been suggested. As part of an attempt to further explore this relationship, we examine first, whether serum cholesterol levels in psychiatric patients with suicidal attempt would be lower than in non-suicidal psychiatric inpatients or normal controls, second, whether such significant difference of cholesterol levels would be present when the diagnostic groups are analyzed separately, third, whether low cholesterol level would be associated with a history of serious suicidal attempts, and finally, whether low cholesterol level in suicide attempters is a state or a trait marker. We determined the serum cholesterol levels in 231 patients admitted to an emergency room following an suicidal attempt, in the same numbers of age-, sex- and diagnosis- matched non-suicidal psychiatric controls, and in the same numbers of age-, sex matched normal controls. The seriousness of an attempt was divided into 5 grades according to the degree of the resulting medical injury. Total cholesterol levels in suicide attempters were significantly lower compared with both psychiatric and normal controls, when sex, age, and nutritional status (i.e., body mass index) were controlled for. This significant relationship was observed in major depressive disorders and personality disorders, but not in schizophrenia and bipolar type I disorders. The severity of suicide by a lowering of blood cholesterol was related to the magnitude of the cholesterol reduction. After treatment of their psychiatric ailments, the cholesterol levels in suicide attempters were significantly increased. This result suggests that low cholesterol level in psychiatric patients might be a potential biological marker of suicide risk. It is hypothesized that low cholesterol levels is associated with the suicide by modifying the serotonin metabolism, the production of interleukin-2 and melatonin metabolism in psychiatric patients.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 2003

Objective:Some candidate gene polymorphisms were reported to be associated with tardive dyskinesia (TD). The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the 5-$HT_{2A}$ receptor gene polymorphisms with TD in Korean schizophrenic subjects. Method:Subjects were of 59 schizophrenic patients with TD and 60 schizophrenic patients without TD for studying of 5-$HT_{2A}$ receptor gene polymorphisms. TD was evaluated using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale(AIMS). Genomic DNA was amplified by PCR and digestion with MspI and BsmI. Result:There were no statistically significant differences in the demographic variables, such as age, male to female percentage, duration of illnesses and duration of antipsychotic drug exposure between the TD group and control group. 1) T102C polymorphisms and TD Comparing the TD group and control group, the 102T/C allele was associated with a significantly increased risk for TD (${\chi}^2$=5.560, df=1, p=0.018). 2) Three AIMS categories of TD and T102C genotype. There were statistically significant differences in the three AIMS categories(${\chi}^2$=6.835, df=2, p=0.033). Conclusion:These result suggest 102T/C genotypes of the 5-$HT_{2A}$ receptor gene are related to the development of TD. The 102T/C genotypes were associated with significantly higher AIMS orofacial dyskinesia scores. These findings suggest that the 5-$HT_{2A}$ receptor gene is significantly associated with susceptibility to TD in patients with chronic schizophrenia.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.295-301
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• 1996

We investigated the characteristics of cognitive-behavioral response to auditory hallucinations in 27 schizophrenic patients. The results were as follows : 1) The most frequent cognitive and behavioral response was healthy cognitive one such as suppression or ignoring and increasing physiological arousal, respectively. 2) The characteristics of auditory hallucinations in good/fair copers was that if was more likely to be mild in severity and insight-oriented And increasing physiological arousal was used more frequently in good/fair copers and unhealthy cognitive-behavioral response was used more frequently in poor copers. 3) Out of 3 variables(duration, insight and severity of auditory hallucinations), the insight of auditory hallucinations was the only factor which made difference in unhealthy cognitive response. In conclusion, there were quite a diverse and unique cognitive-behavioral response to auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.240-244
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• 1996

The effects of chronic treatment with haloperidol on the binding capacities of dopamine(DA) $D_2$-like receptor were investigated in rat striatum and olfactory tubercle. The authors tried to confirm the dose-response effects with usual dose and low dose haloperidol. Rats were treated with haloperidol(0.05, 0.15, 0.5, 1.5mg/kg/day in drinking water) for four weeks. Saturation analysis of the binding of [$^3H$]spiperone to striatal membranes showed that the haloperidol treatment(0.05, 0.5, 1.5mg/kg) induced significant proliferation. The changes of dissociation constant(Kd) were not significant in striatum. The maximal binding density(Bmax) and Kd increased remarkably following the treatment with usual dose haloperidol (1.5mg/kg) in olfactory tubercle. Although there was increasing trend other the treatment with low dose haloperidol, the change of Bmax was not significant statistically. The present findings indicate that low dose haloperidol induces the proliferation of DA $D_2$-like receptor in striatum and interact with the dopaminergic transmission which might underlie the antipsychotic effect. This finding may support the recent clinical suggestion on the low dose strategy in the treatment of schizophrenia.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.3-18
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• 1991

Serotonin was chemically identified as 5-hydrowytryptamin which occurs in plants, animals, and human beings. The end product of metabolism was excreted as 5-HIAA in urine. Many scientists, specially biochemist and psychiatrist reported that the change of serotonin concentration caused mental disorder and pathological condiions such as schizophrenia and carcinoid. This study was carried out to observe the urinary 5-HIAA excretion rates changed by three recipes treatment (Kamisoyosan, Ondamtang, kalgunhaegitang) according to the classification of endogenous, exogenous and non-exo-endogenous, causes of disease. The urinary 5-HIAA excretion rates before and after three recipes treatment on normal groups divided into three groups on the basis of physical constitutional differences and on patients groups, divided into three groups according to the causal factor were measured. The results were as follows; 1. The urinary 5-HIAA volume of patients groups appeared non-exoendogenous, endogenous, exogenous causes of disease in order of three causative classification. 2. The urinary 5-HIAA volume of Normal groups was $2.50{\pm}088mg/24hrs$(range $0.30{\sim}6.90mg/24hrs$) 3. Thr urinary 5-HIAA volume was $3.70{\pm}0.89mg/24hrs$(range $0.90{\sim}6.50mg/24hrs$) before kamisoyosan treatment and $3.20{\pm}0.72mg/24hrs$ (range $0.80{\sim}6.20mg/24hrs$) after the treatment. 4. The value was $2.60{\pm}0.10mg/24hrs$ (range $0.60{\sim}6.50mg/24hrs$) before Ondamtange treatment and $2.00{\pm}0.12mg/24hrs$(range $0.20{\sim}6.10mg/24hrs$) after the treatment. 5. The value was $4.30{\pm}0.75mg/24hrs$(range $0.92{\sim}6.50mg/24hrs$) before kalgunhaegitang treatment and $3.10{\pm}0.10mg/24hrs$(range $0.80{\sim}5.80mg/24hrs$) after the treatment. Considering the above-mentioned the study on the changes of urinary 5-HIAA volume will make a significant contribution to the diagnosis and the evaluation of therapeutic effect successive research and modified application will be in need.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.25-45
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• 1992

Many phychiatrists have reported that the change of serotonin concentration would cause mental disorder and affect the pathological conditions such as schizophrenia, depression and eating behabior. The end product of serotonin metabolism was excreted as 5-HIAA in urine. Serum lipids, according to the report, were concerned with obesity, said it was. This study aims to observe the changes of plasma serotonin, urinary 5-HIAA and serum lipids, making use of Fat Cell Mass rate of 27 normal persons and 42 psychosomatic patients. For this, I also observed the change of serotonin, 5-HIAA and lipids of the psychosomatic patients by the use of 3 kinds of herbs as treatment medication on the basis of physical symptoms and the results were obtained as follows; 1. Urinary 5-HIAA is correlated with the body water rate(r=0.381), while reversely correlated with the Fat Cell Mass rate(r=-0.330). 2. Compared the control group with the patients group for the serum lipids value, they showed the significant results ; $146.4{\pm}5.71$ mg/dl and $166.9{\pm}6.56$ mg/dl in the total cholestrol value over- weights, $471.2{\pm}42.99$ mg/dl in the total lipid value, and $158.1{\pm}6.50$ mg/dl and $181.1{\pm}6.30$ mg/dl in the phospholipid of the obesity, respectively. 3. With comparison of each group to other group to the others for Fat Cell Mass rate, the total cholesterol showed the significant differences when the Fat Cell Mass rate was 20% or more, HDL-cholesterol value when 30% or more, and triglyceride when 30% or more, respectively. 4. there was significant variations in the relations between Fat Cell Mass rate and body water, which body mass index was increased as the body water was decreased. 5. Fat Cell Mass rate was correlated with Cholesterol(r = 0.420), triglyceride (r = 0.443), and $\beta$-lipoprotein(r = 0.450) of serum lipids, while reversely correlated with HDL -Cholesterol(r = -0.354) and urinary 5- HIAA had the correlation coefficient of -0.330. 6. What related with body water rate urinary 5-HIAA (r = 0.381) and $\beta$-lipoprotein(r = -0.405). 7. there were significant changes in the total cholesterol value and HDL-Cholesterol Value of serum lipids after dose of Ondamtang, significant increase in the 5-HIAA value after dose of Samulansintang, and significant devrease in the Trigylceride value of serum lipids after dose of Shihosogansan. As a result, it was seen that there was direct correlations among the Fat Cell Mass, urinary 5-HIAA, and serum lipids and stress from the mental conditions was not correlated directly to Serotonin, 5-HIAA, and serum lipids. I would like to conclude, therefore, that the detailed study should be performed on the function of serotonin of hypothalamus.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2003

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference of cognitve function among patients with posttraumatic stress disorder according to severity of symptoms. Methods: The subjects were 90 psychiatric inpatients and outpatients with posttraumatic stress disorer(by DSM-IV criteria) after traffic accident. The severity of symptoms was assessed by MMPI subscales; depression, psychasthenia, schizophrenia. The impairment of cognitive function was assessed by Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale(K-WAIS). Based on scores of the MMPI subscales, the patients were divided into high group(above 70 percentile) and low group(below 30 percentile). We estimated the difference of the K-WAIS score and subtest score in the low group and high group of the MMPI subscales by indedpendent t-test. Results: The scores of high group is significantly higher in the subtests of information, vocabulary, similarity, picture completion, and picture arrangement than the low group for psychasthenia subscale of MMPI. And the score of high group is significantly higher in full scale I.Q., verbal I.Q., performance I.Q., verbal subscales except digit span and simiarity, and performance subscales than low group for schiozphrenia subscale of MMPI. Conclusion: It was found cognitive function was more impaired in the group of PTSD with severe symptom compared to the group of PTSD with mild symptoms. We suggest that psychiatrist should consider various cognitive approaches as well as pharmacotherapy in the management of PTSD.