OBJECTIVES: To explore the naturalistic outcome of the schizophrenics, we evaluated key clinical outcome-drop-out rate and readmission rate among the 33 risperidone and 17 conventional antipsychotics(such as haloperidol, chlorpromazine, mesoridazine) treated patients who met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia at psychiatric department of a university hospital. METHOD: Outcome data was extracted from the charts of 50-schizophrenic patients who were more than 2 years after initiation of treatment with risperidone and conventional anti-psychotics. RESULTS: During over the 2-year period, the drop-out rate of the conventional antipsychotics treated schizophrenics was significantly higher than that of risperidone treated patients. But no significant factors(such as age, education level, duration of illness) were found between these two differently treated groups. Among the risperidone treated patients, the percentage of readmission was 18.2% at 12 months and 45.5% at 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced drop-out and rehospitalization rate suggest that risperidone was better than conventional antipsychotics among schizophrenic patients in a university hospital. Our data may contribute essential functional outcome information to assist the clinician in long-term, comparative treatment evaluation in 'real' clinical practice.
Antipsychotic Agents* ; Chlorpromazine ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Education ; Haloperidol ; Humans ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care)* ; Risperidone* ; Schizophrenia

PURPOSE: This study investigates patterns of small group interaction and examines the influence among graduate nursing students of online collaborative learning strategies on small group interaction patterns, task performance and learning attitude in web-based team learning environments. METHODS: To analyze patterns of small group interaction, group discussion dialogues were reviewed by two instructors. Groups were divided into two categories depending on the type of feedback given (passive or active). For task performance, evaluation of learning processes and numbers of postings were examined. Learning attitude toward group study and coursework were measured via scales. RESULTS: Explorative interactions were still low among graduate nursing students. Among the students given active feedback, considerable individual variability in interaction frequency was revealed and some students did not show any specific type of interaction pattern. Whether given active or passive feedback, groups exhibited no significant differences in terms of task performance and learning attitude. Also, frequent group interaction was significantly related to greater task performance. CONCLUSION: Active feedback strategies should be modified to improve task performance and learning attitude among graduate nursing students.
Education, Distance ; Education, Nursing ; Group Processes ; Humans ; Learning* ; Students, Nursing* ; Task Performance and Analysis* ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: The purpose of this exploratory study was to find a specific time of day with a stable cortisol level and to investigate the relationship between salivary cortisol and sleep. METHODS: A total of 36 Korean female college students participated in the study. Salivary specimens were collected 6 times a day for 2 days in different stressful situations. Sleep characteristics were measured using an actigraph while salivary specimens were collected. Perceived stress was evaluated using the Global Assessment of Recent Stress. RESULTS: Depending on whether there were morning peak and/or afternoon elevations in the cortisol levels, the type of diurnal cortisol pattern was classified into 4 types. None of the cortisol levels in different times of the day showed significant relationships to perceived stress levels. Cortisol levels in the morning, levels of peak cortisol and diurnal differences of cortisol were significantly correlated with sleep duration. The time with most stable cortisol level was 9-10 pm. CONCLUSION: It is recommended that measurements of salivary cortisol are taken from 9-10 pm since it showed a stable value regardless of diurnal cortisol rhythm and sleep. Sleep duration should be considered as an important confounding factor in measuring cortisol levels in the morning and the diurnal differences of cortisol.
Adult* ; Female* ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone*

Purpose: A tobacco-free campus (TFC) is the most advanced tobacco-control policy for college campuses, but it has rarely been explored in Korea. This study aimed to explore Korean college students’ attitudes toward TFC and related factors. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study enrolled college students who were taking an elective course on smoking cessation and a healthy lifestyle at a university located in Incheon, Korea. Data were collected from March 1 to December 31, 2019 using a structured questionnaire, and study participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Results: Data on 309 college students were analyzed. Of those participants, 6.1% supported the TFC policy. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that female gender (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=5.80, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.47-22.95), taking the course to quit smoking oneself (aOR=11.03, 95% CI=1.04-117.05), anxiety in the past month (aOR=4.27, 95% CI=1.06-17.31), and being a current smoker (aOR=0.06, 95% CI=0.01-0.70) were statistically significant independent predictors of TFC support. Conclusion Women, students taking the course to quit smoking themselves, nonsmokers, and students who felt anxious in the past month were more likely to support TFC. Further research with more representative samples is required to examine the characteristics of people who favor TFC.

OBJECTIVES: While most neurological models of schizophrenia have focused on cerebral functions, cerebellar abnormality, especially in cerebellar vermis has been repeatedly reported in schizophrenic patients from brain imaging and lesion studies. And cerebellar vermis has been implicated for adaptive control of saccadic eye movements, which has not been studied in schizophrenics to our knowledge. METHOD: We investigated saccadic adaptation using double-step paradigm in 5 patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia and 5 age and sex-matched normal controls. Gaze and head movements were recorded with scleral search coil method in head-free condition. RESULTS: Time course of adaptation in schizophrenics was similar to that of normal control but it never reached to the complete level of adaptation seen in control, and accordingly gaze gain (gaze amplitude/target amplitude) was low even after 600 adaptive trials. Head contribution to gaze saccade was relatively low and time to peak head velocity was longer in schizophrenics. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that schizophrenic patients used a different strategy of gaze control and some schizophrenics might have cerebellar abnormality. Variability across patients in adaptation parameters need to be further investigated in combination with cerebellar volumetry. This study was supported by "In-san Schizophrenia Research Grant" from the Research Institute of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association in 1997.
Academies and Institutes ; Cerebellum ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Eye Movements* ; Head ; Head Movements ; Humans ; Models, Neurological ; Neuroimaging ; Saccades ; Schizophrenia

Delusional parasitosis is characterized by the unshakeable belief of being infested with tiny (microscopic) insects. Patients spend much time trying to get rid of the bugs and suffer from these symptoms. Patients prefer to go to dermatologists because they have a strong conviction over the presence of a somatic disease and do not accept any psychiatric advice for their complaints. 'Folie a deux' or shared psychotic disorder (SPD) is a relatively rare syndrome, which has long attracted clinical attention. Delusional parasitosis is associated in 5-15% of SPD and can run within a family. We experienced delusional parasitosis as 'Folie a Deux' between a mother and her son and successfully treated them through early psychiatric intervention. We believe that attention should be drawn to DP with SPD.
Adult ; Delusions/*diagnosis/*psychology ; Ectoparasitic Infestations/psychology ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paranoid Disorders/diagnosis/psychology ; Shared Paranoid Disorder/*diagnosis/*psychology ; Social Isolation

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a newly described adverse effect possibly associated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist therapy. We report a case of PRES after 2 doses of depot GnRH agonists in a 44-year-old woman with a huge myoma uteri and iron-deficiency anemia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed high signal lesions in both occipital lobes on fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) images, compatible with PRES. After treatment with anticonvulsant, she recovered both radiographically and clinically. The association between PRES and GnRH agonist use is still enigmatic, and thus should be further clarified.
Adult ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; Brain ; Brain Diseases ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Humans ; Leuprolide ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myoma ; Occipital Lobe ; Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome* ; Uterus

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the level of chewing and swallowing function (CSF) and the factors related to CSF among elderly vendors in a conventional market. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted between August 10 through September 8, 2020, using a self-reporting questionnaire to collect data. The study sample comprised 61 elderly vendors aged 65 years and over, from a conventional market at Jeju-si. CSF was measured using the Questionnaire for Chewing and Swallowing Function of the elderly, and depression was assessed by applying the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Results: Chewing and swallowing dysfunctions were reported by 34.4% of elderly vendors. CSF was significantly associated with the current smoking status (β=0.39, P=0.001) and depression (β=0.33, P=0.006). Conclusion These results indicate that current smoker and depression are significant factors affecting CSF. The factors determined in this study may be used in community health programs for preventing and managing chewing and swallowing dysfunction among the elderly vendors in a conventional market.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the level of chewing and swallowing function (CSF) and the factors related to CSF among elderly vendors in a conventional market. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted between August 10 through September 8, 2020, using a self-reporting questionnaire to collect data. The study sample comprised 61 elderly vendors aged 65 years and over, from a conventional market at Jeju-si. CSF was measured using the Questionnaire for Chewing and Swallowing Function of the elderly, and depression was assessed by applying the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Results: Chewing and swallowing dysfunctions were reported by 34.4% of elderly vendors. CSF was significantly associated with the current smoking status (β=0.39, P=0.001) and depression (β=0.33, P=0.006). Conclusion These results indicate that current smoker and depression are significant factors affecting CSF. The factors determined in this study may be used in community health programs for preventing and managing chewing and swallowing dysfunction among the elderly vendors in a conventional market.