1.Localized Upper Back Pain: A Rare Variant of Restless Legs Syndrome
Seungwon SONG ; Namoh KIM ; Yong Woo SHIN ; Ki-Young JUNG
Journal of Sleep Medicine 2024;21(2):123-125
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a chronic sensory-motor neuron disorder characterized by an urge to move the legs, accompanied by abnormal sensations and pain that occur during sitting and resting periods but are relieved by movement. Although RLS typically affects the lower limbs, cases of localized sensation in the chest, lower back, abdomen, arm, and perineum have also been reported. To date, only one documented case of RLS localized to the upper back has been reported. In this report, we present a rare variant of RLS that manifests as symptoms localized in the upper back.
2.Localized Upper Back Pain: A Rare Variant of Restless Legs Syndrome
Seungwon SONG ; Namoh KIM ; Yong Woo SHIN ; Ki-Young JUNG
Journal of Sleep Medicine 2024;21(2):123-125
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a chronic sensory-motor neuron disorder characterized by an urge to move the legs, accompanied by abnormal sensations and pain that occur during sitting and resting periods but are relieved by movement. Although RLS typically affects the lower limbs, cases of localized sensation in the chest, lower back, abdomen, arm, and perineum have also been reported. To date, only one documented case of RLS localized to the upper back has been reported. In this report, we present a rare variant of RLS that manifests as symptoms localized in the upper back.
3.Localized Upper Back Pain: A Rare Variant of Restless Legs Syndrome
Seungwon SONG ; Namoh KIM ; Yong Woo SHIN ; Ki-Young JUNG
Journal of Sleep Medicine 2024;21(2):123-125
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a chronic sensory-motor neuron disorder characterized by an urge to move the legs, accompanied by abnormal sensations and pain that occur during sitting and resting periods but are relieved by movement. Although RLS typically affects the lower limbs, cases of localized sensation in the chest, lower back, abdomen, arm, and perineum have also been reported. To date, only one documented case of RLS localized to the upper back has been reported. In this report, we present a rare variant of RLS that manifests as symptoms localized in the upper back.
4.Acquired idiopathic laryngomalacia in a 12-year-old adolescent: A case report
Minsol KIM ; Seungwon LEE ; Meeyong SHIN
Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease 2024;12(1):40-43
Laryngomalacia, the most common cause of stridor in infants, is characterized by the inward collapse of soft and immature upper laryngeal cartilages during inspiration, resulting in airway obstruction at the supraglottic level. Acquired laryngomalacia is a rare condition that mainly occurs following significant neurological dysfunctions associated with cerebrovascular disease, head and neck surgery, or cervical trauma. We present a case of acquired idiopathic laryngomalacia in a 12-year-old adolescent caused by the prolapse of redundant arytenoid mucosa. The patient exhibited no neurological dysfunctions or laryngeal deformities. However, he had allergic rhinitis accompanied by high serum immunoglobulin E levels. His symptoms worsened after being infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Furthermore, allergic rhinitis or SARS-CoV-2 infection may have worsened preexisting asymptomatic congenital or acquired laryngomalacia through neurological damage. Acquired idiopathic laryngomalacia is rale in children. In cases where children and adolescents present with a sudden onset of inspiratory stridor, it is essential to perform a laryngoscopic examination for identifying potential cases of acquired laryngomalacia.
5.Atrophy of Thalamic Nuclei in Patients with Alcohol Dependence
Jeonghwan LEE ; Seungwon CHUNG ; Hyemi PARK ; Gawon JU ; Jung-Woo SON ; Chul-Jin SHIN ; Sang Ick LEE ; Siekyeong KIM
Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Therapies in Psychiatry 2020;26(3):259-268
Objectives:
:Chronic alcohol ingestion is associated with structural alterations in the brain. In patients with alcohol dependence, thalamic volume is frequently diminished, commensurate with the amount of alcohol consumption, duration of illness, and cognitive impairment. Since the thalamus is composed of histologically and functionally distinct nuclei, we aimed to investigate volumetric changes of these nuclei in patients with alcohol dependence.
Methods:
:Twenty-three participants with alcohol dependence who had abstained from drinking for at least 3 months (alcohol group) and 21 age-matched healthy controls (control group) underwent 3T magnetic resonance imaging. The volumes of 50 individual thalamic nuclei were reconstructed using FreeSurfer 6.0.0. We compared normalized volumes of thalamic nuclei between the two groups using analysis of covariance, controlling for age. The p-values were corrected using False Discovery Rate (p<0.05).
Results:
:The alcohol group demonstrated atrophy of the whole thalamus and nuclei in the anterior, ventral, intralaminar, and medial thalamus. However, the volumes of bilateral lateral geniculate, medial geniculate, suprageniculatelimitans, pulvinar lateral, and right pulvinar inferior nuclei which are included in posterior thalamus, were not significantly different between the two groups.
Conclusion
:In the alcohol group, atrophy of most thalamic nuclei which are associated with language processing, visuospatial memory, autobiographical memory, executive function and attention were not normalized after 3 months of sobriety. Furthermore, thalamic nuclei volumes, which are associated with visual and auditory information processing, were not significantly different compared to controls. We suggest that this could be microstructural evidence of relatively preserved visual attention and auditory startle response in patients with alcohol dependence.
6.The Relationship Between Anger and Suicidality
Jun-Hyuck KIM ; Gawon JU ; Sang Ick LEE ; Chul-Jin SHIN ; Jung-Woo SON ; Siekyeong KIM ; Jeonghwan LEE ; Seungwon CHUNG
Mood and Emotion 2023;21(3):86-94
Background:
This study explored the effect of anger on suicidality by dividing participants into a group with major depressive disorder (MDD) and a non-MDD group, and also investigated whether the anger expression affects suicidality in participants without clinical depression.
Methods:
A total of 1,015 residents responded to anonymous questionnaires in our survey. The survey included scales, such as the Patients Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Korean State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, and Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview-Plus. Participants were categorized into the MDD and non-MDD groups or depression group and non-depression group following the PHQ-9 score. Logistic regression analysis was performed to confirm the association between anger and suicidality in the non-MDD and non-MDD groups.
Results:
Anger suppression and higher PHQ-9 appeared as risk factors for suicidality in the non-MDD group. The depression level in the non-MDD group mediates the relationship between anger suppression and suicidality. Higher PHQ-9 was no longer a risk factor and anger suppression remains a risk factor in the non-depression group.
Conclusion
Not only depression evaluation, but also anger evaluation is important when assessing suicidality. Implementing anger management programs for people with high anger suppression can help lower suicidality in Korean society, where negative emotional expression is suppressed.
7.Effectiveness Analysis of School-Based Self-Harm Prevention Program for Children and Adolescent Using Brief Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training: Based on Age, Sex, Self-Harm History and Program Implementation Methods
Je Jung LEE ; Cheolgyu SHIN ; Hyunjeong KIM ; Sunkyu PARK ; Inyoung NOH ; Jonggook LEE ; Keun OH ; Heeyoung SEO ; Seungwon CHUNG
Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine 2024;32(2):87-97
Objectives:
:This study aims to confirm the effectiveness of a school-based very-short-term dialectical be-havior therapy-skills training (DBT-ST) program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents, considering factors such as age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation.
Methods:
:The study was conducted from September 2021 to December 2023, targeting 1,012 elementary and middle school students in the Chungcheong region. Changes in responses to the Depressed Mood Questionnaire(RDQ), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 (DERS-16), ‘future self-harm possibility’ scores wereanalyzed and compared before and after the program, based on age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation.
Results:
:Overall, participants showed a decrease in the ‘rumination(RDQ) scale’ (t=10.49, p<0.001), ‘reversescored distraction (RDQ)’ (t=10.67, p<0.001) and the total DERS-16 (t=5.56, p<0.001) as well as a decrease in ‘future self-harm possibility’ score (t=4.26, p<0.001). Both elementary and middle school students showed decrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’ and distraction (RDQ), but only middle school students showed a decrease in theDERS-16 and most sub-scales. Regardless of sex, self-harm history, or methods of program implementation, adecrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’, distraction (RDQ) and the total DERS-16 scale and most sub-scales decreased.
Conclusions
:Our program appears to be effective as a primary prevention program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents in a school setting.
8.Investigating Disembodiment-related Brain Activation by Interaction between Perspective-shifting and the Experience of Agency in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Possible Relationship with Interoceptive Abilities
Ahjeong HUR ; Seungwon CHUNG ; Huiyeong JEON ; Hoyeon LEE ; Yong-Wook SHIN ; Jung-Woo SON
Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience 2025;23(1):86-99
Objective:
Many studies have explored sense of self in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, few have reported on their experience of “disembodiment.” This study aimed to investigate the differences in brain activity between patients with ASD and neurotypicals (NTs) under conditions causing disembodiment and to examine the correlation between their interoceptive abilities and disembodiment-related brain activity.
Methods:
18 Participants with ASD and 21 NTs completed psychological evaluations, interoceptive abilities measurement, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The fMRI images were taken while the participants performed tasks involving ball-throwing animations. The task focused on either self-agency related to ball-throwing (Agency Task) or the spatial location of a ball (Location Task). The animations were presented from constantly changing perspective (Changing View) or fixed perspective (Fixed View). The disembodiment-related condition was the interaction between the Agency Task and Changing View.
Results:
Participants with ASD exhibited higher activation than NTs in regions near the left parieto-temporo-occipital junction, left precuneus, left hippocampus, and other brain areas. Furthermore, interoceptive accuracy was negatively correlated with the activity of the left superior parietal and posterior midcingulate areas, whereas interoceptive trait prediction error was positively correlated with the activity of the left hippocampus, mid-temporal area, and left posterior cingulate area in participants with ASD.
Conclusion
These results suggest that disembodiment-related brain activation might be easily manifested by the interaction between perspective-shifting and the experience of agency, and that interoceptive abilities might be related to disembodiment-related brain activation in individuals with ASD.
9.Effectiveness Analysis of School-Based Self-Harm Prevention Program for Children and Adolescent Using Brief Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training: Based on Age, Sex, Self-Harm History and Program Implementation Methods
Je Jung LEE ; Cheolgyu SHIN ; Hyunjeong KIM ; Sunkyu PARK ; Inyoung NOH ; Jonggook LEE ; Keun OH ; Heeyoung SEO ; Seungwon CHUNG
Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine 2024;32(2):87-97
Objectives:
:This study aims to confirm the effectiveness of a school-based very-short-term dialectical be-havior therapy-skills training (DBT-ST) program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents, considering factors such as age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation.
Methods:
:The study was conducted from September 2021 to December 2023, targeting 1,012 elementary and middle school students in the Chungcheong region. Changes in responses to the Depressed Mood Questionnaire(RDQ), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 (DERS-16), ‘future self-harm possibility’ scores wereanalyzed and compared before and after the program, based on age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation.
Results:
:Overall, participants showed a decrease in the ‘rumination(RDQ) scale’ (t=10.49, p<0.001), ‘reversescored distraction (RDQ)’ (t=10.67, p<0.001) and the total DERS-16 (t=5.56, p<0.001) as well as a decrease in ‘future self-harm possibility’ score (t=4.26, p<0.001). Both elementary and middle school students showed decrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’ and distraction (RDQ), but only middle school students showed a decrease in theDERS-16 and most sub-scales. Regardless of sex, self-harm history, or methods of program implementation, adecrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’, distraction (RDQ) and the total DERS-16 scale and most sub-scales decreased.
Conclusions
:Our program appears to be effective as a primary prevention program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents in a school setting.
10.Effectiveness Analysis of School-Based Self-Harm Prevention Program for Children and Adolescent Using Brief Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training: Based on Age, Sex, Self-Harm History and Program Implementation Methods
Je Jung LEE ; Cheolgyu SHIN ; Hyunjeong KIM ; Sunkyu PARK ; Inyoung NOH ; Jonggook LEE ; Keun OH ; Heeyoung SEO ; Seungwon CHUNG
Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine 2024;32(2):87-97
Objectives:
:This study aims to confirm the effectiveness of a school-based very-short-term dialectical be-havior therapy-skills training (DBT-ST) program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents, considering factors such as age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation.
Methods:
:The study was conducted from September 2021 to December 2023, targeting 1,012 elementary and middle school students in the Chungcheong region. Changes in responses to the Depressed Mood Questionnaire(RDQ), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 (DERS-16), ‘future self-harm possibility’ scores wereanalyzed and compared before and after the program, based on age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation.
Results:
:Overall, participants showed a decrease in the ‘rumination(RDQ) scale’ (t=10.49, p<0.001), ‘reversescored distraction (RDQ)’ (t=10.67, p<0.001) and the total DERS-16 (t=5.56, p<0.001) as well as a decrease in ‘future self-harm possibility’ score (t=4.26, p<0.001). Both elementary and middle school students showed decrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’ and distraction (RDQ), but only middle school students showed a decrease in theDERS-16 and most sub-scales. Regardless of sex, self-harm history, or methods of program implementation, adecrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’, distraction (RDQ) and the total DERS-16 scale and most sub-scales decreased.
Conclusions
:Our program appears to be effective as a primary prevention program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents in a school setting.