No abstract available.

OBJECTIVE: Stress and depression have been known to be associated with impairment in immune function. This study was designed to elucidate the abnormalities of humoral immune function in patients with depressive illness. METHOD: The author compared seam immunoglobulin IgG, IgA, IgM, and complements C3, C4, checked with rate Nephelometry, between hospitalized depressed patients and healthy normal controls. The depressive symptoms were rated with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the current life events were evaluated with the Social Readjustment Rating Scale. RESULTS: 1) Serum levels of immunoglobulin and complements of depressed patients as well as those of normal controls were generally within normal range. 2) The levels of the immunoglobulin IgM were found to be significantly increased in depressed patients compared to healthy normal controls. 3) The levels of complement C3, C4 tended to be slightly increased in depressed patients compared to healthy normal controls, but with no statistical significance. 4) Serum immunglobulin and complement levels were not significantly correlated with age, severity of depression and life events in depressed patients. CONCLUSION: These findings expand previously reported evidence of immune abnormalities in depressive illness and provide a partial explanation for some of these findings and suggest that depressive illness is associated with an acute phase immune response. However, the seam immunoglobulin and complement levels were not correlated with the severity of depression and life events in depressive illness. So, it is difficult to consider the serum immunoglobulin and complement levels as specific markers of depressive illness. Further research on the interaction between hormones and immunity in depression is warranted.
Complement C3 ; Complement System Proteins ; Depression* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunoglobulins ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Reference Values

OBJECTIVES: Stressful life events play the important role in depression. Somatic symptoms have also been closely linked to life stress. This study aimed to investigate the influence of life stress during four different life stages (childhood, adolescent, from 19 years to last year, the year prior to interview) on the severity of depression and somatic symptoms in depressive women. METHODS: Seventy women who had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder or dysthymic disorder according to the DSM-IV TR, and whose ages varied from 21 to 72 years (average age : 41 years), completed the Mooney Problem checklist, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Wittenborn`s somatic symptom scale. RESULTS: Life stressors which significantly influenced the severity of depression were difficulties with parents in the initial life stage, difficulties with other people in the third and fourth stages, and difficulties with social relationships in the fourth stage Further, somatic symptoms were influenced by health problem in the second period, difficulties with partners were prominent in the third stage, and difficulties with other people were noted in the fourth stage. The severity of depression showed a significantly positive correlation both with autonomic nervous system (p<0.001) and menopausal symptoms (p<0.001). After controlling for age, the severity of depression showed a significant positive correlation with stressors in the first stage (p<0.05), third stage (p<0.05), and fourth stage (p<0.01). Somatic symptom scores exhibited a significantly positive correlation with stressors in the second (p<0.05) and fourth stages (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Current results suggested that the severity of depression and somatic symptoms were influenced by difficulties with other people in the fourth stage. The results of this study suggests that depression and somatic symptoms can be abbreviated by regulating excess stress.
Adolescent ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Checklist ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Dysthymic Disorder ; Female ; Humans ; Parents ; Stress, Psychological

OBJECTIVES: This study is to compare psychopathology and their perceived parental rearing pattern of the children of mothers with major depression, bipolar disorder and those of normal control group. The correlation was also assessed between behavior problem and perceived parenting style. METHODS: The subjects were 30 children (age range 12-18) of mothers who met the DSM-IV criteria of major depressive disorder or bipolar I disorder and 30 children of normal mother group. All completed self-report questionnaires containing Child, adolescent Behavior Problem Checklist (K-CBCL), Youth Self Report (YSR) and Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). RESULTS: 1) The mean score of the subscales of somatic complaints, anxious/depressed, internalizing problems in K-CBCL was significantly higher in the control subjects compared with that of the children of mothers with affective disorders (p<0.05). 2) In YSR, there was a tendency of increased behavior problems among the children of mothers with major depression compared with the control subjects. Compared with children of mothers with bipolar disorder, children of mothers with major depression had significantly more behavior problems (p<0.05). 3) Mothers with affective disorders tended to display less caring and fathers and mothers with affective disorders tended to display more overprotective parenting style than the control subjects. 4) There was positive correlation between paternal overprotection and behavior problems in the children of mothers with affective disorders. CONCLUSION: In summary, the author identified that the children of mothers with affective disorders have more behavior problems in social adjustment than normal control subjects. Parental rearing style is thought to have more negative influence on the children of mothers with affective disorders than normal control. It is surmised that less caring and more overprotective rearing style could influence behavior problems of their children.
Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior ; Bipolar Disorder ; Checklist ; Child ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Fathers ; Humans ; Mood Disorders* ; Mothers* ; Parenting ; Parents ; Psychopathology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self Report ; Social Adjustment

OBJECTIVES: This prospective study was designed to investigate the effect of serotonergic atypical antipsychotics on serum creatine phosphokinase. METHOD: The subjects were 60 inpatients who were medicated risperidone and nemonapride, atypical antipsychotics. The symptoms of NMS such as fever and muscle rigidity and the level of CRK of all subjects were assessed on the 5th, 10th, 20th, and 30th medication day. RESULTS: Sociodemographic variables, such as sex and mean age and number of intramuscular injection were not different between the risperidone and the nemonapride group. Maximum dosage of antipsychotics (chlorpromazine equivalent) was significantly higher in the nemonapride group. Fever and muscle rigidity were not different between two groups (p>0.05). The change of serum creatine phosphokinase was significantly higher in the risperidone group than the nemonapride group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum CRK showed a significant increase in risperidone than nemonapride group. Such a finding is primarily caused by the effect of atypical antipsychotics mediating serotonergic effects. It is not recommanded to stop the medication by misunderstanding the effect as a prodrome symptom of NMS.
Antipsychotic Agents* ; Creatine Kinase* ; Creatine* ; Fever ; Humans ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Inpatients ; Muscle Rigidity ; Negotiating ; Prospective Studies ; Risperidone*

OBJECTIVES: Amenorrhea, one of the most common side effects of neuroleptics, has known to be associated with prolactin elevation. Hyperprolactinemia seriously affects mental health causing depression, anxiety or hostility, while also affecting physical health causing amenorrhea, galactorrhea or sexual dysfunction. The possible correlation between risperidone-induced amenorrhea and depression, anxiety and quality of life was evaluated in a cross-sectional open study. METHODS: During a five-month period, WHO quality of life-BREF (WHOQOL), Beck depression inventory (BDI) and Statetrait anxiety inventory (STAI) were applied twice at two-month intervals for 30 patients with risperidone-induced amenorrhea and 22 patients without amenorrhea. RESULTS: Amenorrhea group had significantly higher scores in BDI and STAI-state, while showing lower scores in the quality of life than control group. The total BDI and STAI-state scores were more negatively correlated with WHOQOL score in amenorrhea group. CONCLUSION: Patients with risperidone-induced amenorrhea rated themselves significantly more depressed and more anxious, and a lower quality of life compared to the control group. Clinicians should be more active in evaluating and treating hyperprolactinemic side effects such as amenorrhea, galactorrhea, depression and anxiety.
Amenorrhea* ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Anxiety* ; Depression* ; Female ; Galactorrhea ; Hostility ; Humans ; Hyperprolactinemia ; Mental Health ; Pregnancy ; Prolactin ; Quality of Life* ; Risperidone* ; Schizophrenia

OBJECTIVES: Recently, the number of female gamblers has increased, therefore, the proportion of women is around one third of all the pathological gamblers. However, the majority of previous studies on pathological gambling have been performed with only male subjects and tended to generalize those results to females. The authors have investigated the gender differences in level 3 gambling in terms of characteristics of gambling and associated psychiatric symptoms. METHODS: 166 participants (104 males, 62 females) who came to a casino have been evaluated for their sociodemographic data and the characteristics of gambling. Participants completed the following self-reported questionnaires: The Korean Version of South Oaks Gambling Screen (KSOGS), The Korean Version of Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), The Korean Version of Beck Anxiety Scale (BAI), The Korean Version of Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), The Korean Version of Behavioral Activation/Inhibition System Scale (K-BAS/BIS), CAGE (The CAGE Questionnare), The Korean Version of Eating Attitudes Test (KEAT). RESULTS: Female level 3 gamblers had significantly later age of onset for their gambling behavior than male. Female level 3 gamblers were significantly more depressed and male level 3 gamblers had more severe alcohol use problems. The proportion of the participants with more severe eating problems was significantly higher in female level 3 gamblers than their male counterparts. CONCLUSION: This study suggests the importance of considering the associated depressive symptoms and eating problems in female gamblers.
Age of Onset ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Eating ; Female* ; Gambling ; Humans ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the biological correlates of schizophrenia by measuring the change of serum immuneglobulin and complement levels and investigating a relationship of clinical symptoms to serum immunoglobulin and complement levels in schizophrenics. METHODS: The subjects were 27 inpatients, 13 men and 14 women, who met the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV(DSM-IV) and 24 normal controls, 8 men and 16 women. The serum immunoglobulin and complement levels of patients were measured at admission day and artier 2 weeks of treatment. Immunoglubulins and complement levels were obtained in serum using nephelometry. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS) were used to determine the clinical symptoms . RESULTS: 1) The serum IgG(p<.01) and IgM(p<.05) levels of schizophrenics measured at admission day were significantly lower than those of normal controls. 2) The serum C3 level significantly(p<.01) correlated with positive syndrome score. 3) The serum IgG levels of schizophrenics were significantly(p<.05) increased artier 2 weeks of treatment, especially in female schizophrenics. 4) The correlations of serum IgG, IgA, IgM, C3 and C4 to positive and negative syndrome scores of PANSS after treatment failed to get significant result. CONCLUSION: It Is suggested that the Immune function of schizophrenics appears to be decreased when compared with normal controls and is slightly increased with clinical improvement. Significant correlation between C3 and positive syndrome score at admission suggests possibility of immunologic marker of acute schizophrenia.
Biomarkers ; Complement System Proteins* ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunoglobulins* ; Inpatients ; Male ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: The authors would like to fine the relationship between zolpidem and nocturnal eating episodes in diverse psychiatric patients. METHOD: We evaluated case series of 6 patients who showed nocturnal eating episodes after takine zolpidem. RESULTS: We have experienced 6 cases who showed nocturnal eating behavior after taking zolpidem. They included 3 patients with schizoprenia, a patient with major depressive disorder, a patient with PTSD and a patient with bipolra I disorder. With reducing or discontiuation of of zolpidem, their nocturnal eating resolved. CONCLUSION: This finding strongly suggests the relationship between zolpidem and the nocturnal eating episode. Physicians should be aware that zolpidem might induce nocturnal eating behaviors.
Depressive Disorder, Major ; Eating* ; Feeding Behavior* ; Humans ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

OBJECTIVES: The pharmacologic treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD) with serotonergic antidepressant agents is well established in clinical psychiatry on the basis of serotonin hypothesis. Studies on predictive factors of treatment response to OCD are relatively scarce. The author compared the demographic factors, age of onset, length of illness, family history of mental illness, previous drug history for OCD, severity and type of symptoms between the drug responders and non-responders to find out the predicitive factors that may be related to treatment response. METHODS: The subjects were 31, both inpatients and outpatients who met the diagnostic criteria for OCD by DSM-IV and scored 20 or higher on the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale(Y-BOCS) completed 12-week trial of sertraline. Y-BOCS, National Institute of Mental Health Obsessive-Compulsive Scale(NIMHOCS), Clinical Global Impression Scale(CGI) were scored to measure the changes of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAM-A) was measured at each visit. RESULTS: 1) The responders, defined as achieving at least a 40% decrease in the Y-BOCS total score and more than a 2 point decrease in CGI score, were 17(54.8%), and non-responders were 14(45.2%). Responders tended to show later onset(p<0.1), and shorter duration of illness(p<0.05), and less previous drug therapy for OCD(p<0.05) than non-responders. There were no significant differences in family history of mental illness between the two groups. 2) The baseline Y-BOCS compulsive score was significantly lower in responders(p<0.05), although there was no significant difference in the baseline severity of other measures. 3) The obsession of contamination and washing behaviors were more frequent, but compulsive counting was not shown, in responders(p<0.05). The pathological doubt tended to be more common in nonresponders(p<0.1). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the patients with shorter duration of illness, less prior drug therapy for OCD, and less severe compulsive behaviors, and the obsession of contamination and washing behaviors are expected to be better outcome with sertraline, whereas compulsive counting are the predictor of poor response.
Age of Onset ; Anxiety ; Compulsive Behavior ; Demography ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Inpatients ; National Institute of Mental Health (U.S.) ; Obsessive Behavior ; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder* ; Outpatients ; Serotonin ; Sertraline*