Objectives : The purpose of this study was to develop the Korean version of the Social Functioning Scale (KSFS) in the patients with schizophrenia. METHODS : KSFS was administered to 90 schizophrenic patients and 80 their parents and 90 normal controls for examining the reliability and validity. RESULTS : Data analysis showed statistically significant reliabilities and validities of KSFS. The test-retest reliability, rater vs. self-report reliability, and internal consistency for total scores of KSFS were 0.93, 0.44 and 0.94 respectively. Evidence for discriminant validity of KSFS comes from the results that the mean scores of schizophrenic patients were significantly higher than those of normal controls. Construct validity was assessed by calculating the 7 inter-areas correlations of the KSFS, and all areas were statistically significant. Significant correlations between the total scores of KSFS and those of SOFAS lend support for the concurrent validity of this instrument. Factor analyses were performed and two factors were extracted accounting for 63.7% of the variance. Sensitivity was assessed indirectly via the distribution and range of scores on the SFS. The normal control group showed a distribution around a higher mean with a moderate positive skew. CONCLUSION : KSFS was found to be a valid, reliable, and sensitive instrument which can be used to evaluate the degree of social functioning in the patients with schizophrenia.
Accounting ; Humans ; Parents ; Reproducibility of Results ; Schizophrenia ; Statistics as Topic

OBJECTIVES : The detrended fluctuation analysis is one of the nonlinear methods for the investigation of biological time series. It quantifies the fractal scaling properties and is known to be useful in the evaluation of long-range correlations in time series. The heart rate variability(HRV) of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients during nighttime was analyzed by detrended fluctuation analysis to assess its relationship with the severity of the symptoms. METHODS : Fifty nine untreated male OSAS patients with moderate to severe symptoms(mean age=45.4+/-11.7 years, apnea-hypopnea index, AHI> or = 15) underwent nocturnal polysomnography. Moderate(AHI=15-30, N=22) and severe(AHI>30, N=37) OSAS patients were compared for the indices derived from detrended fluctuation analysis and frequency domain analysis of HRV. RESULTS : In the detrended fluctuation analysis, the alpha values were 0.75+/-0.11 and 0.82+/-0.07 for the severe and the moderate OSAS groups respectively. The difference was significant(p<.01). The alpha value had negative correlation with AHI(r=-.425, p=.001). Negative correlation coefficients were also found in the relationships between the alpha values and very low frequency(VLF)(r=-.425, p=.001), low frequency(LF)(r=-.633, p= <.001) and the LF/HF ratio(r=-.305, p=.019) respectively. LF/HF ratio(p=.005) was higher in the severe OSAS group compared to that of the moderate OSAS group. CONCLUSION : In this study, the detrended fluctuation analysis showed the significant difference between the two OSAS groups classified according to their severity of symptoms. The scaling exponent showed the negative correlation with AHI and indicies of frequency domain analysis. This result suggests that detrended fluctuation analysis can be helpful to estimate the severity of OSAS.
Fractals ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics of panic disorder respiratory subtype(PD-R) and non-respiratory subtype(PD-NR). METHODS: 84 patients with panic disorder were enrolled and divided into 2 groups, 29 PD-R and 55 PD-NR. Diagnosis of panic disorder was evaluated using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. They were also measured with Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety(HAM-A), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression(HAM-D), and Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS). RESULTS: PD-R group showed significantly higher scores in PDSS than those of PD-NR group(p=.027). After controlling for the severity of panic disorder and gender, PD-R group showed higher HAM-D and somatic anxiety subscale of HAM-A than those of PD-NR group. Furthermore, results of logistic regression analysis suggested that the somatic anxiety was a possible risk factor of PD-R(OR=1.404,p=0.009). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that somatic anxiety and depressive symptom would be important clinical characteristics of PD-R.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Panic ; Panic Disorder ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: It is reported that panic disorder is frequently comorbid with other psychiatric illnesses. The aim of this study was to investigate differences of psychiatric comorbidity according to age of onset of panic disorder. METHODS: Three hundred-two patients participated in the study. All the patients were evaluated by clinical instruments for the assessment the presence of other comorbid psychiatric disorders and various clinical features; Korean version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, Self-report questionnaires(Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Anxiety Sensitivity Index and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) and clinical rating scale (Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Hamilton Depression Scale and Global Assessment of Functional score). Chi-square test was used to determine the difference between early onset and late onset panic disorder. RESULTS: Forty percent of panic patients were found to have at least one comorbid psychiatric diagnosis. There were no differences among the groups divided by number of comorbidity in sex, agoraphobia comorbidity, duration of panic disorder, except onset age of panic disorder. Early onset group had more comorbidy with social phobia, agoraphobia, PTSD. We also found that Early onset panic disorder patients were more likely to experience derealization, nausea, parethesia than late onset panic disorder patients. CONCLUSION: The results of our study are in keeping with previous data from other parts of the world. Our finding suggest that earier onset of panic disorder related to more psychiatric comorbidity.
Age of Onset ; Agoraphobia ; Anxiety ; Comorbidity ; Depersonalization ; Depression ; Humans ; Mental Disorders ; Nausea ; Panic ; Panic Disorder ; Phobic Disorders ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between Korean ADHD patients and the l/s polymorphism of serotonin transporter(5-HTTLPR). METHODS: The study sample consisted of 189 Korean ADHD children diagnosed by Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version-Korean Version(K-SADS-PL), both parents of ADHD children, and 150 normal children. DNA were extracted from the blood of all samples, and genotyping was done. Based on the allele and genotype information, not only the case-control analysis between ADHD and normal children but also the family-based association test among ADHD children and their parents. Transmission disequilibrium test(TDT) were performed for family-based associated test(number of trio=113). The results of the clinical rating and neuropsychological tests were compared according to the l/s genotype of ADHD children. RESULTS: In case-control analysis, there were no statistically significant difference of l/s gene polymorphism between ADHD and normal children in various kinds of analysis condition. In family-based association study, TDT failed to detect linkage disequilibrium between l/s gene polymorphism and ADHD in whole ADHD families. However, in the families of ADHD inattentive type only(number of trio=23), l allele was transmitted more preferentially in the proband with ADHD even if the number of families was small(chi-square=4.57, p=.032). In the analysis of the results from the clinical scales and neuropsychological tests in ADHD children, the score of the Novelty- Seeking of ADHD children with l/l genotype was significantly lower than with the other genotypes(F=3.15, p=.047), and that of Self Transcendence was significantly higher(F=4.25, p=.017). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest there were no significant genetic association between the 5- HTTLPR gene polymorphism and Korean ADHD.
Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; DNA ; Genotype ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Mood Disorders ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Parents ; Serotonin ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy and side effects of quetiapine and haloperidol for the treatment of symptoms of delirium. METHODS: One hundred and seven patients with delirium were recruited and randomly assigned to receive a flexible-dose regimen of quetiapine or haloperidol over 7days and seventy-seven patients completed the study(quetiapine group N=40, haloperidol group N=37). The severity of delirium was assessed by using Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale(MDAS) scores, the psychiatric and behavioral symptoms were assessed by Neurobehavioral Rating Scale(NRS) scores, and the cognitive status was measured by Mini-mental state examination Korean version(MMSE-K) scores. The side effects were measured by Drug Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale(DIEPSS) scores. RESULTS: MDAS scores significantly improved in both treatment groups. NRS scores also significantly improved in both treatment group, but the group-by-time effect approached significance, likely caused by the greater decrease in scores of the quetiapine group. MMSE-K scores significantly improved only in the quetiapine group. Side effects associated with treatment were not significant in either treatment groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that quetiapine is as efficacious as haloperidol in the treatment of delirium. In particular, quetiapine seems to improve psychiatric and behavioral problems of delirium and was more effective than haloperidol in cognitive improvement.
Behavioral Symptoms ; Delirium ; Dibenzothiazepines ; Haloperidol ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Quetiapine Fumarate

OBJECTIVES: Most of the mechanisms reported for antidepressant drugs are the enhancement of neurite outgrowth and neuronal survival in the rat hippocampus. Neural cell adhesion molecule 140(NCAM140) has been implicated as having a role in cell-cell adhesion, neurite outgrowth, and synaptic plasticity. In this report, we have performed to elucidate a correlation among chronic antidepressant treatments, NCAM140 expression, and activation of phosphorylated cyclicAMP responsive element binding protein(pCREB) which is a downstream molecule of NCAM140-mediated intracellular signaling pathway in the rat hippocampus. METHODS: Fluoxetine(10mg/kg) was injected acutely(daily injection for 5days) or chronically(daily injection for 14days) in adult rats. RNA and protein were extracted from the rat hippocampus, respectively. Real-time RTPCR was performed to analyze the expression pattern of NCAM140 gene and western blot analyses for the activation of the phosphorylation ratio of CREB. RESULTS: Chronic fluoxetine treatments increased NCAM140 expression 1.3 times higher than control in rat hippocampus. pCREB immunoreactivity in the rat hippocampus with chronic fluoxetine treatment was increased 4.0 times higher than that of control. CONCLUSION: Chronic fluoxetine treatment increased NCAM140 expression and pCREB activity in the rat hippo-campus. Our data suggest that NCAM140 and pCREB may play a role in the clinical efficacy of antidepressants promoting the neurite outgrowth and neuronal survival.
Adult ; Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; Blotting, Western ; Fluoxetine ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules ; Neurites ; Neurons ; Phosphorylation ; Plastics ; Rats ; RNA

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+/-4.5% to 26.6+/-12.8% in postconcussional syndrome, from 10.4+/-6.8% to 36.4+/-13.8% in PTSD and from 10.0+/-4.6% to 30.6+/-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.
Brain Injuries ; Consensus ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Expectancy ; Postal Service ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: Some reports have suggested that 5-HT5A polymorphism allelic association was associated with depression, however, there has been no report about relationship between the 5-HT5A gene and antidepressant response. We conducted the association study of the 5-HT5A receptor gene polymorphisms (-19G/C,12A/T) and response to citalopram in Korean patients with major depressive disorder(MDD). METHODS: A total of 106 patients with major depressive disorder were included in this study. The patient's symptoms were measured by 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HAMD) at baseline, week 1, week 2, week 4 and week 8 during citalopram treatment. A Responder to citalopram was defined by 50% reduction of total HAMD scores. To analyze genetic polymorphisms, a polymerase chain reaction based method was used. RESULTS: At week 8, responders were 62, non-responders were 44. No significant differences of genotypes or allelic association in 19G/C and 12A/T polymorphisms were observed between responsive and non-responsive patients. CONCLUSION: These results do not support the hypothesis that this polymorphism of the HT5A receptor gene is involved in the therapeutic response to citalopram.
Citalopram ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Genotype ; Humans ; Pharmacogenetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Serotonin

significant advances have been made in understanding the biological underpinnings of post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), particularly in the field of genetics and neuroimaging. Association studies in candidate genes related with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, monoamines including serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline, and proteins including FK506-binding protein 5 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor have provided important insights with regard to the vulnerability factors in PTSD. Genome-wide association studies and epigenetic studies may provide further information for the role of genes in the pathophysiology of PTSD. Hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulated cortex and amygdala have been considered as key structures that underlie PTSD pathophysiology. Future research that combines genetic and neuroimaging information may provide an opportunity for a more comprehensive understanding of PTSD.
Amygdala ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Dopamine ; Epigenomics ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Hippocampus ; Neuroimaging ; Norepinephrine ; Prefrontal Cortex ; Proteins ; Serotonin ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; Tacrolimus Binding Proteins