While cognitive behavior therapy is considered to be the first-line therapy for adolescent depression, there are limited data on whether other psychotherapeutic techniques are also effective in treating adolescents with depression. This report suggests the potential application of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for treatment of depressive disorder related, not to trauma, but to stressful life events. At present, EMDR has only been empirically validated for only trauma-related disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder. Two teenagers with major depressive disorder (MDD) underwent three and seven sessions of EMDR aimed at memories of stressful life events. After treatment, their depressive symptoms decreased to the level of full remission, and the therapeutic gains were maintained after two and three months of follow up. The effectiveness of EMDR for depression is explained by the model of adaptive information processing. Given the powerful effects observed within a brief period of time, the authors suggest that further investigation of EMDR for depressive disorders is warranted.
Adolescent* ; Automatic Data Processing ; Cognitive Therapy ; Depression* ; Depressive Disorder ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing ; Eye Movements* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Psychotherapy ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

OBJECTIVES: Psychiatric patients report higher rates of interpersonal trauma, and they present with more symptoms and behavioral problems. However, less is known about other anxiety disorders, except for posttraumatic stress disorder. In this study, we investigated symptomatic correlates of interpersonal trauma (i.e., physical or sexual assaults) in patients with heterogeneous anxiety disorders. METHODS: We surveyed a consecutive sample of 90 outpatients with DSM-IV anxiety disorders (panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, social phobia, anxiety disorder not otherwise specified) at the psychiatric department of a university-affiliated hospital. The questionnaire was comprised of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), Beck Depression Inventory, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Impact of Events Scale-Revised. RESULTS: Patients with interpersonal trauma (n=51) demonstrated a significantly higher level of interpersonal sensitivity, paranoid ideation, and obsessive-compulsive subscale of the SCL-90-R. However, logistic regression analysis suggested that interpersonal sensitivity alone was suggested as the best fitting model. CONCLUSION: Anxiety disorder patients with interpersonal trauma demonstrated difficulty in domains of interpersonal relationship. Clinicians treating this population should consider this finding for better engagement and management.
Anxiety ; Anxiety Disorders ; Depression ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder ; Outpatients ; Phobic Disorders ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Objective: Methamphetamine (METH) is a neurotoxic substance that can induce neurodegeneration in the human brain. Consequently chronic METH use can affect the cognitive functions in METH-dependent patients. In this study, we aimed to identify the relationship between cognitive function and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which reflects the status of neuroadaptive changes, by characterizing the effects on the cognitive function of METH-dependent patients. Methods: A total of 38 METH-dependent patients participated in this study. BDNF levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We also examined the clinical features based on the measurements of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease-Korean version (CERAD-K). Finally, the relationships between various parts of CERAD-K and BDNF were compared with one another. Results: METH-dependent patients were able to conduct most parts of CERAD-K stably. Among the parts of CERAD-K, only trail-making test part B was correlated with BDNF. Conclusion The trail-making test is specific for evaluating executive function; therefore, BDNF may play an essential role in detecting neurocognitive functional decline in METH dependence.

Objective: Methamphetamine (METH) is a neurotoxic substance that can induce neurodegeneration in the human brain. Consequently chronic METH use can affect the cognitive functions in METH-dependent patients. In this study, we aimed to identify the relationship between cognitive function and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which reflects the status of neuroadaptive changes, by characterizing the effects on the cognitive function of METH-dependent patients. Methods: A total of 38 METH-dependent patients participated in this study. BDNF levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We also examined the clinical features based on the measurements of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease-Korean version (CERAD-K). Finally, the relationships between various parts of CERAD-K and BDNF were compared with one another. Results: METH-dependent patients were able to conduct most parts of CERAD-K stably. Among the parts of CERAD-K, only trail-making test part B was correlated with BDNF. Conclusion The trail-making test is specific for evaluating executive function; therefore, BDNF may play an essential role in detecting neurocognitive functional decline in METH dependence.

Objective: Methamphetamine (METH) is a neurotoxic substance that can induce neurodegeneration in the human brain. Consequently chronic METH use can affect the cognitive functions in METH-dependent patients. In this study, we aimed to identify the relationship between cognitive function and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which reflects the status of neuroadaptive changes, by characterizing the effects on the cognitive function of METH-dependent patients. Methods: A total of 38 METH-dependent patients participated in this study. BDNF levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We also examined the clinical features based on the measurements of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease-Korean version (CERAD-K). Finally, the relationships between various parts of CERAD-K and BDNF were compared with one another. Results: METH-dependent patients were able to conduct most parts of CERAD-K stably. Among the parts of CERAD-K, only trail-making test part B was correlated with BDNF. Conclusion The trail-making test is specific for evaluating executive function; therefore, BDNF may play an essential role in detecting neurocognitive functional decline in METH dependence.

Objective: Methamphetamine (METH) is a neurotoxic substance that can induce neurodegeneration in the human brain. Consequently chronic METH use can affect the cognitive functions in METH-dependent patients. In this study, we aimed to identify the relationship between cognitive function and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which reflects the status of neuroadaptive changes, by characterizing the effects on the cognitive function of METH-dependent patients. Methods: A total of 38 METH-dependent patients participated in this study. BDNF levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We also examined the clinical features based on the measurements of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease-Korean version (CERAD-K). Finally, the relationships between various parts of CERAD-K and BDNF were compared with one another. Results: METH-dependent patients were able to conduct most parts of CERAD-K stably. Among the parts of CERAD-K, only trail-making test part B was correlated with BDNF. Conclusion The trail-making test is specific for evaluating executive function; therefore, BDNF may play an essential role in detecting neurocognitive functional decline in METH dependence.

Objective: Methamphetamine (METH) is a neurotoxic substance that can induce neurodegeneration in the human brain. Consequently chronic METH use can affect the cognitive functions in METH-dependent patients. In this study, we aimed to identify the relationship between cognitive function and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which reflects the status of neuroadaptive changes, by characterizing the effects on the cognitive function of METH-dependent patients. Methods: A total of 38 METH-dependent patients participated in this study. BDNF levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We also examined the clinical features based on the measurements of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease-Korean version (CERAD-K). Finally, the relationships between various parts of CERAD-K and BDNF were compared with one another. Results: METH-dependent patients were able to conduct most parts of CERAD-K stably. Among the parts of CERAD-K, only trail-making test part B was correlated with BDNF. Conclusion The trail-making test is specific for evaluating executive function; therefore, BDNF may play an essential role in detecting neurocognitive functional decline in METH dependence.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment effect and predictors of response of affect regulation group therapy (ARGT) delivered to a group of recently traumatized children. METHODS: A total of 464 school children, who had witnessed or confronted a tragic accident at school, were given a single-session of affect regulation group therapy, that which included psychoeducation and affect regulation elements from eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Of 213 children whose with initial score of Subject Unit of Disturbance Scale (SUDS) score over 4, we compared pre- and post-treatment scores and performed conducted the responder vs. non-responder comparison. The pPost-traumatic disorder (PTSD) symptom scores measured by using Child Reaction to Traumatic Events Scale-Revised (CRTES-R), demographic variables, and clinical variables were considered. RESULTS: Affect regulation group therapy was effective for children who had experienced an acute traumatic event (t=16.3, p<0.001). Baseline SUDS score of for non-responder were was significantly higher (t=-2.89, p<0.001) and CRTES-R score approached a level of significance level (t=-1.72, p=0.09). However, results of logistic regression analysis identified showed that the pretreatment SUDS score was the only significant predictor of non-response. CONCLUSION: Affect regulation group therapy appeared to be effective for children who had undergone experienced an acute traumatic event. And in addition, the survivors' subjective distress was more important to treatment response than severity of PTSD symptoms severity.
Child* ; Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing ; Eye Movements ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Psychotherapy, Group* ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute

OBJECTIVES: A growing body of literature supports the view that experiences of psychotic symptoms or involuntary admission may act as traumatic events which cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Authors report three cases of postpsychotic (PP) PTSD developed in the course of schizophrenic illness. METHODS: Clinician-administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia (PANSS) were administered for evaluation of symptomatology. RESULTS: Two cases represented PP/PTSD caused by psychotic symptoms, especially auditory and visual hallucination, and one case by forced involuntary admissions. All three cases met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria of PTSD. The severity was mild in the range of 48 to 51 by CAPS. CONCLUSION: PP/PTSD developed during or soon after psychotic episodes and persisted for as long as nine years. Clinicians working with individuals with psychotic disorders should keep in mind that some portion of their patients may suffer from lingering posttraumatic effect of psychotic episode -related experiences.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Hallucinations ; Humans ; Psychotic Disorders ; Schizophrenia* ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic*

OBJECTIVE: This study is to suggest the plans for improving the quality of lives of the solitary old people by evaluating the effects of depression, social supports, and activity of daily living to the quality of life. METHODS: The subjects of this research were 329 elderly people who lived alone in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, Korea. They were recruited and underwent the questionnaire including their sociodemographic data, Activities of Daily Living/Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale (ADL/IADL) and the Korean version of the Short Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS-K). Statistical analyses including Pearson's correlation test, multiple regression were performed in this study. RESULTS: They were composed of 83.6% females and 16.4% males and almost age was between 70 and 84 years old. House welfare availability (p<0.05), subjective economic status (p<0.05), and SGDS-K score (p<0.01) had a negative correlation with Quality of life. Multiple regression analysis revealed that Quality of life correlates to SGDS-K score (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The quality of life of elderly living alone was related with depression. Early detection and management for depression may need to be considered for quality of life of community dwelling elderly living alone.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged* ; Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Quality of Life* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul