OBJECTIVES: This study examined the selective deficits of executive function in patients with mild traumatic brain injury that in normal range of general intelligence level and aimed to analysis of the correlation between K-WAIS result and executive function. METHODS: 59 subjects were included in this study, who were diagnosed as mild traumatic brain injury(MTBI) and they have visited in neuropsychiatric department of Wonkwang University Hospital during from March, 2005 to September, 2010. For measurement of general intelligence quotient, the Korean-Wechsler Adults Intelligence Scale(K-WAIS) was administered and for measurement of executive intelligence quotient(EIQ), Executive Intelligence Test(EXIT) was administered. RESULTS: Of patients, 50.8% included at abnormal EIQ group. The patients of abnormal EIQ showed poorer full scale IQ(FIQ), performance IQ(PIQ) and in subscale that picture arrangement, digit symbol, digit span, block design, object assembly and comprehension were significantly different. In terms of relationships between K-WAIS and EIQ, FIQ and PIQ have positive correlation with EIQ. And in subscale, picture arrangement, digit symbol, digit span, block design, object assembly and comprehension show positive correlation with EIQ. CONCLUSION: This study suggest that MTBI patients with have normal range of general intelligence level may have deficit of executive function is common. The decline of FIQ, PIQ and some subscales of K-WAIS may suggest executive dysfunction in MTBI patients.
Adult ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Comprehension ; Executive Function ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Reference Values ; Wechsler Scales

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the pattern of psychiatric consultation-liaison in a new general hospital over a 5-year period. METHOD: Retrospective chart review was conducted for psychiatric consultations performed from May 2004 to December 2008 in a new general hospital in Hwasun, Korea. RESULTS: A total of 1,852 patients who were referred to the Department of Psychiatry for consultation were included in the analysis. The main reasons for psychiatric consultation were changes in mental status(20.5%), depression(16.8%), insomnia(12.8%), and anxiety(7.9%). Psychiatric consultations were conducted with diagnoses of delirium(39.7%), depressive disorder(28.2%), adjustment disorder(7.9%), and anxiety disorder(4.1%). Patients with delirium were significantly older than were those with other psychiatric diagnoses(p<0.001). Delirium was more common in male patients than in female patients(47.1% vs. 29.9%, respectively), and depression was more common in female patients than in male patients(48.3% vs. 33.9%, respectively)(p<0.001). Delirium was more common in patients who underwent surgical operation than those who did not(p=0.010). CONCLUSION: Delirium was the most common diagnosis for psychiatric consultation followed by depression in a university hospital. Delirium was more prevalent in men than in women, while depression was more common in women.
Anxiety ; Delirium ; Depression ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Male ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Pelvic Exenteration*

No abstract available.
Acne Vulgaris* ; Hair Removal* ; Pigmentation Disorders*

OBJECTIVE: This study was done to explore the determinants of care burden of Korean caregiver in patients with dementia. METHODS: For the seventy-nine patients with dementia and their caregivers, data on Caregiver Burden Inventory Korean version, and various patient- and caregiver related factors potentially related to care burden were investigated. Uni- or bi-variate analyses were performed to measure the relationships between individual factors and care burden, and then stepwise multiple linear regression tests were used to determine the independent risk factors. RESULTS: Two determinants of care burden were identified: 'severer depressive symptoms in patient' and 'lower spontaneous care motivation in caregiver'. Of the patient related factors, 'shorter disease duration', 'severer behavioral and psychotic symptoms' and'severer anxiety symptoms', and of the caregiver related factors,'women','having household responsibility', 'shorter free time' and'worse subjective health state' were related to care burden, although these were not identified as independent risk factors. CONCLUSION: To mitigate the care burden of Korean caregivers in patients with dementia, therapeutic interventions focused on the behavioral and psychological symptoms of patients would be essential in terms of patient related factors. With respect to caregiver related factors, in addition to the succession of the philosophy of filial piety, establishment of multi-modal services and facilities suitable for the caregivers vulnerable to care burden would be needed.
Anxiety ; Caregivers* ; Dementia* ; Depression ; Family Characteristics ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Motivation ; Philosophy ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: This study developed and validated the Perceived Stigma of Delirium Scale(PSDS), which is designed to measure perceived stigma associated with delirium in patients suffering from that disorder. METHODS: Based on a literature review of scales assessing stigma, a preliminary scale comprising seven items was developed. After recovering from delirium, 128 patients completed the PSDS and the Distress Thermometer (DT). Factor analysis was used to examine construct validity, and internal consistency and test-retest reliability were examined to ensure reliability. Concurrent validity was assessed using the correlation between the total scores on the PSDS and the DT. RESULTS: Factor analysis yielded a single-factor structure from the seven candidate items. One item was excluded due to low factor loading. The internal consistency was computed and Cronbach's α was 0.85 for the total score. The overall test-retest reliability was 0.71, with items ranging from 0.58 to 0.83. The total score on the PSDS was significantly correlated with the DT score. CONCLUSIONS: The PSDS may be a reliable, valid instrument for evaluating perceived stigma in patients who have recovered from delirium. Further study of the perceived stigma by delirium patients is required to assess the implications of the PSDS for clinical practice and research.
Delirium* ; Humans ; Thermometers ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVES: This study compared attitudes toward antipsychotic treatment according to awareness of the name of their illness in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Information on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, including awareness of the importance of antipsychotic treatment, was obtained through a self-report questionnaire. The Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI) was administered. The data were compared according to awareness of the name of their illness. RESULTS: The study analyzed data for 199 patients with schizophrenia. Of these, 115 patients (57.8%) were aware that their illness was called schizophrenia, while 84 patients (42.2%) knew it by their psychotic symptoms or as another mental illness, such as depression. The patients aware of the name of their illness had significantly longer durations of illness and higher scores on the DAI. They were significantly more likely to have stopped taking medication on their own accord and to agree with the importance of antipsychotic treatment. Statistical significance was sustained in a logistic regression analysis after adjusting for the duration of illness and study site, except for the DAI score, which had borderline significance (p=0.055). In subjects with duration of illness > or =5 years, patients aware of the name of their illness had significantly higher scores on the DAI. CONCLUSION: Awareness of the name of their illness was associated with awareness of the importance of, and a positive attitude toward, antipsychotic treatments in patients. Psycho-education, including telling the patient the correct name of his or her illness, might be needed for maintaining antipsychotic treatment in patients with chronic schizophrenia.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Depression ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Schizophrenia

No abstract available.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Korea*

Depression is common among patients with breast cancer and has been found to influence quality of life and disease course as well as to increase fatigue, pain, and insomnia. Therefore, it is very important to treat depression among breast cancer patients with antidepressants in order to improve clinical outcomes. However, inconsistent results about the consequences of antidepressant use in patients with breast cancer have been reported. This article reviews and discusses the following issues : epidemiologic data about depression in patients with breast cancer; debates about the association between antidepressant use and breast cancer risk ; pharmacological interactions of antidepressants and medications for breast cancer, including tamoxifen and opioids ; data from clinical trials addressing the effect of antidepressants on depressive symptoms in patients with breast cancer; and data from clinical trials addressing the effect of antidepressants on cancer-related symptoms, including hot flashes, post-mastectomy pain syndrome, nausea, pruritus, fatigue, and sexual dysfunction. This review article contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the use of antidepressants in patients with breast cancer.
Analgesics, Opioid ; Antidepressive Agents ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 ; Depression ; Drug Interactions ; Fatigue ; Hot Flashes ; Humans ; Nausea ; Pruritus ; Quality of Life ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Tamoxifen

PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate patients' preferences on receiving life-sustaining treatments (LST) and to analyze the relationship between patients' characteristics and LST selection. We also examined any discrepancy between LST patients' choices regarding medical intervention and actual medical intervention given/not given within 48 hours before death. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed from March 1, 2008 to August 31, 2008 in the Palliative Care Unit of Korea University Hospital. Electric medical records (EMR) of 102 hospice cancer patients were reviewed, and 74 patients with Glasgow coma scale (GCS) > or =10 at the time of signing the advance medical directives (AMD) were selected for the first analysis. Then, patients alive at the end of this study, transferred to other hospitals or dead within 48 hours were excluded, and the remaining 42 patients were selected for the second analysis. RESULTS: Preferred LST included antibiotics, total parenteral nutrition, tube feeding, transfusion, and laboratory and imaging studies. The relationship between patients' characteristics and LST could not be analyzed due to skewed preferences. LST chosen at the time of signing the AMD and actual medical intervention given/not given in the last 48 hours showed discrepancy in most cases. CONCLUSION: When making AMD in hospice cancer patients, it is important to consider the time and possibility of changing the choices. Above all, patients must fully understand the AMD. Thus, LST should always be provided with careful consideration of all possibilities, because legal and social aspects of AMD have not been established yet.
Advance Directives ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Enteral Nutrition ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Hospices ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Support Care ; Medical Records ; Palliative Care ; Parenteral Nutrition, Total