OBJECTIVES: Psychiatry in North Korea is believed to seem very different from psychiatry in South Korea. However, there is nearly no information regarding psychiatry in North Korea until now. Our study aimed to get information about North Korean psychiatry. METHODS: Three North Korean defectors in South Korea, whose clinical experience as medical doctors in North Korea was over 10 years, were recruited. They underwent the semi-structured interview, content of which included the clinical experience with psychiatric patients, the details of psychiatry, the treatment of psychiatric patients, the stigma of mental illness, and the suicide, in North Korea. RESULTS: In North Korea, psychiatric department was called as 49th(pronounced as Sahsip-gu-ho in Korean). Only patients with vivid psychotic symptoms came to psychiatric department. Non-psychotic depression or anxiety disorders usually were not dealt in psychiatry. The etiology of mental illness seemed to be confined to biological factors including genetic predisposition. Psychosocial or psychodynamic factors as etiology of mental illness appeared to be ignored. Psychiatry was apparently separated from political or ideological issues. The mainstay of psychiatric treatment is the inpatient admission and out-of-date therapy such as insulin coma therapy. Stigma over mental illness was common in North Korea. Suicide is considered as a betrayal to his/her nation, and has been reported to be very rare. CONCLUSION: The situation of psychiatry in North Korea is largely different from that of South Korea. Although some aspects of North Korean psychiatry are similar to psychiatry in former socialist countries, North Korean psychiatry is considered to have also its unique characteristics.
Anxiety Disorders ; Biological Factors ; Convulsive Therapy ; Democratic People's Republic of Korea ; Depression ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Porphyrins ; Republic of Korea ; Suicide

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to describe clinical characteristics of patients with left ventriculars (LV) dysfunction and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), and to evaluate the effect of ICD therapy on survival in Yeongnam province of Korea. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From a community-based device registry (9 centers, Yeongnam province, from November 1999 to September 2012), 146 patients with LV dysfunction and an ICD implanted for primary or secondary prophylaxis, were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups, based on the etiology (73 with ischemic cardiomyopathy and 73 with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy), and indication for the device implantation (36 for primary prevention and 110 for secondary prevention). The cumulative first shock rate, all cause death, and type and mode of death, were determined according to the etiology and indication. RESULTS: Over a mean follow-up of 3.5 years, the overall ICD shock rate was about 39.0%. ICD shock therapy was significantly more frequent in the secondary prevention group (46.4% vs. 16.7%, p=0.002). The cumulative probability of a first appropriate shock was higher in the secondary prevention group (p=0.015). There was no significant difference in the all-cause death, cardiac death, and mode of death between the groups according to the etiology and indication. CONCLUSION: Studies from this multicenter regional registry data shows that in both ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy patients, the ICD shock therapy rate was higher in the secondary prevention group than primary prevention group.
Cardiomyopathies ; Convulsive Therapy ; Death ; Defibrillators, Implantable* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mortality ; Primary Prevention ; Secondary Prevention ; Shock ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left

Neuro-stimulation techniques have gradually evolved over the decades and have emerged potential therapeutic modalities for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, especially treatment refractory cases. The neuro-stimulation techniques involves modalities like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and others. This review discusses the role of neuro-stimulation techniques in the treatment of anxiety disorders. The various modalities of neuro-stimulation techniques are briefly discussed. The evidence base relating to use of these techniques in the treatment of anxiety disorders is discussed further. The review then highlights the challenges in conducting research in relation to the use of neuro-stimulation techniques with reference to patients with anxiety disorders. The review provides the future directions of research and aimed at expanding the evidence base of treatment of anxiety disorders and providing neuro-stimulation techniques as promising effective and acceptable alternative in select cases.
Anxiety Disorders* ; Anxiety* ; Electroconvulsive Therapy ; Humans ; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ; Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Based on advances in biotechnology and neuroscience, neuromodulation is poised to gain clinical importance as a treatment modality for psychiatric disorders. In addition to old-established electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), clinicians are expected to understand newer forms of neurostimulation, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). Given the growing interest in non-invasive neuromodulation technologies, clinicians may seek sufficient information about neuromodulation to inform their clinical practice. A growing literature suggests that applications of non-invasive neuromodulation have evidence particularly for indications where treatments are currently insufficient, such as drug-resistant depression. However, positive neuromodulation studies require replication, and the precise interactions among stimulation, antidepressant medication, and psychotherapy are unknown. Further studies of long-term safety and the impact on the developing brain are needed. Non-invasive neuromodulatory devices could enable more individualized treatment. However, do-it-yourself (DIY) stimulation kits require a better understanding of the effects of more frequent patterns of stimulation and raise concerns about clinical supervision, regulation, and reimbursement. Wide spread enthusiasm for therapeutic potential of neuromodulation in clinical practice settings should be mitigated by the fact that there are still research gaps and challenges associated with non-invasive neuromodulatory devices.
Biotechnology ; Brain* ; Deep Brain Stimulation ; Depression ; Electroconvulsive Therapy ; Neurosciences ; Organization and Administration ; Psychotherapy ; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ; Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Bipolar Disorder ; therapy ; Deep Brain Stimulation ; Depressive Disorder ; therapy ; Electroconvulsive Therapy ; Humans ; Mental Disorders ; therapy ; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder ; Schizophrenia ; therapy ; Singapore ; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Acute renal failure refers to a rapid reduction in renal function that usually occurs in an individual with no known previous renal disease. Development of a complication of acue renal failure in critically ill surgical patients is not unusual, and it causes high morbidity and mortality. Acute renal failure can be divided as Pre-renal (functional), Renal (organic), and Postrenal (obstructive) azotemia according to their etiologies. Early recognition and proper correction of pre-renal conditions are utter most important to prevent an organic damage of kidney. These measures include correction of dehydration, treatment of sepsis, and institution of shock therapy. Prolonged exposure to ischemia or nephrotoxin may lead a kidney to permanent parenchymal damage. A differential diagnosis between functional and organic acute renal failure may not be simple in many clinical settings. Renal functional parameters, such as FENa+ or renal failure index, are may be of help in these situations for the differential diagnosis. Provocative test utilizing mannitol, loop diuretics and renovascular dilators after restoration of renal circulation will give further benefits for diagnosis or for prevention of functional failure from leading to organic renal failure. Converting enzyme blocker, dopamine, calcium channel blocker, and propranolol are also reported to have some degree of renal protection from bioenergetic renal insults. Once diagnosis of acute tubular necrosis has been made, all measures should be utilized to maintain the patient until renal tubular regeneration occurs. Careful regulation of fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance is primary goal. Hyperkalemia over 6.5 mEq/l is a medical emergency and it should be corrected immediately. Various dosing schedules for medicines excreting through kidney have been suggested but none was proved safe and accurate. Therefore blood level of specific medicines better be checked before each dose, especially digoxin and Aminoglycosides. Indication for application of ultrafiltration hemofilter or dialysis may be made by individual base.
Acid-Base Equilibrium ; Acute Kidney Injury* ; Aminoglycosides ; Appointments and Schedules ; Azotemia ; Calcium Channels ; Convulsive Therapy ; Critical Illness ; Dehydration ; Diagnosis* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dialysis ; Digoxin ; Dopamine ; Emergencies ; Energy Metabolism ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia ; Ischemia ; Kidney ; Mannitol ; Mortality ; Necrosis ; Propranolol ; Regeneration ; Renal Circulation ; Renal Insufficiency ; Sepsis ; Sodium Potassium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors ; Ultrafiltration

PURPOSE: The use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) to prevent sudden cardiac death is increasing in children and adolescents. This study investigated the use of ICDs in children with congenital heart disease. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted on the clinical characteristics and effectiveness of ICD implantation at the department of pediatrics of a single tertiary center between 2007 and 2011. RESULTS: Fifteen patients underwent ICD implantation. Their mean age at the time of implantation was 14.5+/-5.4 years (range, 2 to 22 years). The follow-up duration was 28.9+/-20.4 months. The cause of ICD implantation was cardiac arrest in 7, sustained ventricular tachycardia in 6, and syncope in 2 patients. The underlying disorders were as follows: ionic channelopathy in 6 patients (long QT type 3 in 4, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia [CPVT] in 1, and J wave syndrome in 1), cardiomyopathy in 5 patients, and postoperative congenital heart disease in 4 patients. ICD coils were implanted in the pericardial space in 2 children (ages 2 and 6 years). Five patients received appropriate ICD shock therapy, and 2 patients received inappropriate shocks due to supraventricular tachycardia. During follow-up, 2 patients required lead dysfunction-related revision. One patient with CPVT suffered from an ICD storm that was resolved using sympathetic denervation surgery. CONCLUSION: The overall ICD outcome was acceptable in most pediatric patients. Early diagnosis and timely ICD implantation are recommended for preventing sudden death in high-risk children and patients with congenital heart disease.
Adolescent ; Cardiomyopathies ; Channelopathies ; Child ; Convulsive Therapy ; Death, Sudden ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Defibrillators ; Defibrillators, Implantable ; Early Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Heart Arrest ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Korea ; Long QT Syndrome ; Pediatrics ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock ; Sympathectomy ; Syncope ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

No abstract available.
Electroconvulsive Therapy ; Lacerations ; Tongue

No abstract available.
Electroconvulsive Therapy* ; Oxidative Stress*

Background: Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe psychotic disease with high incidence. Treatment of schizophrenia with neuroleptic is a major medical advance, but sometime its result is still limited. Objective: To study the effect of electroconvulsive therapy (EC) in treatment of paranoid schizophrenic patients. Subject and methods: 101 paranoid schizophrenic patients treated by neuroleptic alone or neuroleptic combined EC, were treated in the Mental Department of Hospital 103 and Nam Dinh Mental Hospital from May, 2006 to June, 2007. Results and Conclusion: All 100% of the patients had a positive response to EC; the mean times of EC were 7.63\xb11.4 times for one. The regression of hallucination was observed after 4.6\xb11.49 times of EC; delusion after 4.96\xb11.4 times; suicide attempt after 3.25\xb10.96 times and refusing to eat after 4.96\xb12.1 times of EC; insomnia disappeared after 4.96\xb12.1 times of EC. Some side effects of the EC therapy: 100% of patients had orientation disorder; headache with light and moderate level accounted for 69.65% and 26.79%, respectively. Combination therapy made patients more stable, compared to neuroleptic therapy alone (p<0.05).
paranoid schizophrenia ; electroconvulsive therapy