This review aimed to assist clinicians in the identification and assessment of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with an emphasis on diagnostic and rating instruments. Pubmed and RISS were utilized to identify relevant studies and critical reviews on the diagnosis and assessment of adult ADHD, published between 1988 and 2010. The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale-v1.1, the ADHD Rating Scale-IV, the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale, and the Current Symptoms Scale have been utilized for self-reporting of current ADHD symptoms. The Brown ADD Rating Scale, the ADHD Rating Scale-IV, the Current Symptoms Scale, and the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale have also been evaluated by an observer. The Childhood Symptom Scale and the Wender-Utah Rating Scale have been used for retrospective assessment of childhood ADHD symptoms and the Adult ADHD Investigator Symptom Rating Scale, the Adult Interview, the Brown ADD Diagnostic Form, the Conners adult ADHD diagnostic interview for DSM-IV, and the Wender-Reimherr Interview have been available as comprehensive diagnostic interviews. There is a wide variety of instruments available with respect to adult ADHD. The choice of appropriate instruments is essential for achieving accurate diagnosis and assessment of this disorder.
Adult ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; Research Personnel ; Retrospective Studies ; Weights and Measures

Most screening instruments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been developed and evaluated in western countries. Therefore, difficulties are often experienced when using these instruments because of the cultural differences in the symptoms of ASD. This paper reviews the screening instruments for ASD used in South Korea and explores a new direction in the screening of ASD in South Korea. Among the many published screening instruments for ASD, the screening instruments with a validated Korean version were chosen and reviewed. A total of nine autism-screening instruments met the criteria for the inclusion criteria. Nine screening instruments were summarized and the direction for the Korean version of screening instruments was discussed.
Autism Spectrum Disorder ; Autistic Disorder ; Korea ; Mass Screening

Background: Globally, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has compromised human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) services. The study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the access and delivery of HIV care in Korea. Materials and Methods: People living with HIV (PLHIV), people at risk of HIV (PAR) and prescribers of HIV care were recruited through a patient advocacy group, online communities for men who have sex with men (MSM) and a HIV care center for a web-based survey between October 22 and November 26, 2020. The survey compared the frequency of hospital/clinic visits, HIV-related testing, access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) or preventive medications, and experience with telehealth services by PLHIV and PAR between the pre-pandemic and pandemic eras. Results: One hundred and twelve PLHIV (mean age: 38.5 ± 10.2 years), 174 PAR (mean age:33.5 ± 8.0 years) and 9 prescribers participated the survey; ≥97% of the PLHIV and PAR were male. A greater proportion of PAR than PLHIV reported a decrease in the frequency of hospital/clinical visits (59.2% vs. 17.0%) and HIV-related testing (50.6% vs. 6.3%) since COVID-19. Among PAR, not engaging or engaging less in high-risk behaviors was the most frequently cited reason (51.1%) for decreased frequency of HIV-related tests. A substantial proportion of PLHIV (12.5%) and PAR (50.0%) experienced interrupted use of ART and HIV preventive medications, respectively. A substantial proportion of PLHIV (35.7%) and PAR (62.5%) were concerned about the long-term accessibility of HIV care, however, >90% had not used any types of telehealth services during the pandemic. Conclusion Overall, COVID-19 has negatively impacted the access and delivery of HIV services in Korea, especially HIV-related testing for PAR. Our findings highlight the need to develop strategies to mitigate the interrupted HIV care.

OBJECTIVES: We examined magical ideation in adolescent and adult group by Magical Ideation Scale (MIS). We also explored how adolescents and adults respond differently to each items of MIS. METHODS: 310 nonclinical adults and 310 Year 10 students participated in this study, and completed MIS and Symptom Checklist 90-revision (SCL-90-R). Total scores of MIS were compared between adults and adolescents. The item characteristics of MIS were evaluated by item response theory (IRT). Differential item functioning (DIF) was detected using the parameters of IRT. RESULTS: Total score of MIS was higher in adolescents than in adults, but there was no statistical significance. Item 5, 10, 13, and 16 showed significant difference on item difficulty parameters and were identified as DIF. Among DIF items, item 5 was more difficult for adolescents than adults. Item 10, 13, and 16 were more difficult for adults than adolescents. The modified MIS score excluding 4 DIF items was significantly higher in adolescents than adults. CONCLUSION: The influence of age on response to DIF items should be considered when comparing MIS scores between adolescents and adults.
Adolescent* ; Adult* ; Checklist ; Humans ; Magic*

The prevalence of atherothrombotic disease continues to rise, presenting an increasing number of challenges to modern society and creating interest in functional foods. Platelet activation, adhesion, and aggregation at vascular endothelial disruption sites are key events in atherothrombotic disease. Physiological challenges such as hyperlipidemia, obesity, and cigarette smoking are associated with vascular changes underlying platelet aggregation and inflammatory processes. However, it is difficult to determine the beneficial response of functional foods in healthy subjects. To address this problem, challenge models and high-risk models related to smokers, obesity, and dyslipidemia are proposed as sensitive measures to evaluate the effects of functional foods in healthy subjects. In this review, we construct a model to evaluate the effects of functional food such as natural products on blood flow based on a human intervention study.
Atherosclerosis ; Biological Products ; Blood Circulation ; Blood Vessels ; Dyslipidemias ; Functional Food* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans* ; Hyperlipidemias ; Obesity ; Platelet Activation ; Platelet Aggregation ; Prevalence ; Smoking

Objective: We sought to determine if the links between and within the default mode network (DMN) and dorsal attention network (DAT) exhibited different conditions according to catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene polymorphism in relationship to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Methods: Fifty-seven children with ADHD and 48 healthy controls (HCs) were administered an intelligence test, the Children’s Depression Inventory, the Korean ADHD rating scale, and continuous performance test. Resting-state brain functional MRI scans were obtained, and COMT genotyping was performed to distinguish valine carriers and methionine homozygotes. Results: Compared to controls, children with ADHD showed increased ADHD scale scores, increased visual commission errors, and increased functional connectivity (FC) within the DMN and DAT. Compared to all children with ADHD, children with the methionine homozygote and those who were valine carriers showed increased FC within the DMN and DAT and decreased FC between the DMN and DAT. FC within the DMN was also increased in HC valine carriers compared to HC children with the methionine homozygote, and in children with ADHD who were valine carriers compared to HC valine carriers. Conclusion We observed increased brain connectivity within the DMN and DAT and altered brain connectivity within and between the DMN and DAT associated with COMT polymorphism in children with ADHD.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the utility of the Korean version of the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) in hospital settings and to identify items sensitive for detecting autism spectrum disorder (ASD) trait. Methods: The Q-CHAT was administered to a clinical sample of children presenting with developmental delays with a high probability of ASD in a hospital setting (n=37), as well as to typically developing community children (n=67), aged 12 to 54 months. Results: The mean Q-CHAT total score in the hospital sample (42.0±13.6) was significantly higher than in the community sample (29.9±7.8), with maximized sensitivity and adequate specificity at 32.5 (sensitivity=0.811, specificity=0.687). The internal consistency of Q-CHAT was 0.764 for the overall sample and 0.825 for the hospital sample. Q-CHAT total scores and item scores in the hospital sample remained stable across age groups, indicating age-invariant properties. The hospital sample showed higher endorsement of less favorable development in social interaction and reciprocity items compared to community sample. No difference in the Q-CHAT item scores was present among age groups in the hospital samples. In the community samples, item scores, such as comprehending a child’s speech, using the hand of others as a tool, adapting to a change in routine, repeating the same action, and making unusual finger movements, decreased with the advance of age. Conclusion The Korean version of the Q-CHAT demonstrates good validity and reliability and is effective in discriminating autistic traits even in children older than 24 months. The items endorsed for hospital samples varied from community samples, implying item-specific sensitivity for hospital samples.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the utility of the Korean version of the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) in hospital settings and to identify items sensitive for detecting autism spectrum disorder (ASD) trait. Methods: The Q-CHAT was administered to a clinical sample of children presenting with developmental delays with a high probability of ASD in a hospital setting (n=37), as well as to typically developing community children (n=67), aged 12 to 54 months. Results: The mean Q-CHAT total score in the hospital sample (42.0±13.6) was significantly higher than in the community sample (29.9±7.8), with maximized sensitivity and adequate specificity at 32.5 (sensitivity=0.811, specificity=0.687). The internal consistency of Q-CHAT was 0.764 for the overall sample and 0.825 for the hospital sample. Q-CHAT total scores and item scores in the hospital sample remained stable across age groups, indicating age-invariant properties. The hospital sample showed higher endorsement of less favorable development in social interaction and reciprocity items compared to community sample. No difference in the Q-CHAT item scores was present among age groups in the hospital samples. In the community samples, item scores, such as comprehending a child’s speech, using the hand of others as a tool, adapting to a change in routine, repeating the same action, and making unusual finger movements, decreased with the advance of age. Conclusion The Korean version of the Q-CHAT demonstrates good validity and reliability and is effective in discriminating autistic traits even in children older than 24 months. The items endorsed for hospital samples varied from community samples, implying item-specific sensitivity for hospital samples.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the utility of the Korean version of the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) in hospital settings and to identify items sensitive for detecting autism spectrum disorder (ASD) trait. Methods: The Q-CHAT was administered to a clinical sample of children presenting with developmental delays with a high probability of ASD in a hospital setting (n=37), as well as to typically developing community children (n=67), aged 12 to 54 months. Results: The mean Q-CHAT total score in the hospital sample (42.0±13.6) was significantly higher than in the community sample (29.9±7.8), with maximized sensitivity and adequate specificity at 32.5 (sensitivity=0.811, specificity=0.687). The internal consistency of Q-CHAT was 0.764 for the overall sample and 0.825 for the hospital sample. Q-CHAT total scores and item scores in the hospital sample remained stable across age groups, indicating age-invariant properties. The hospital sample showed higher endorsement of less favorable development in social interaction and reciprocity items compared to community sample. No difference in the Q-CHAT item scores was present among age groups in the hospital samples. In the community samples, item scores, such as comprehending a child’s speech, using the hand of others as a tool, adapting to a change in routine, repeating the same action, and making unusual finger movements, decreased with the advance of age. Conclusion The Korean version of the Q-CHAT demonstrates good validity and reliability and is effective in discriminating autistic traits even in children older than 24 months. The items endorsed for hospital samples varied from community samples, implying item-specific sensitivity for hospital samples.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the utility of the Korean version of the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) in hospital settings and to identify items sensitive for detecting autism spectrum disorder (ASD) trait. Methods: The Q-CHAT was administered to a clinical sample of children presenting with developmental delays with a high probability of ASD in a hospital setting (n=37), as well as to typically developing community children (n=67), aged 12 to 54 months. Results: The mean Q-CHAT total score in the hospital sample (42.0±13.6) was significantly higher than in the community sample (29.9±7.8), with maximized sensitivity and adequate specificity at 32.5 (sensitivity=0.811, specificity=0.687). The internal consistency of Q-CHAT was 0.764 for the overall sample and 0.825 for the hospital sample. Q-CHAT total scores and item scores in the hospital sample remained stable across age groups, indicating age-invariant properties. The hospital sample showed higher endorsement of less favorable development in social interaction and reciprocity items compared to community sample. No difference in the Q-CHAT item scores was present among age groups in the hospital samples. In the community samples, item scores, such as comprehending a child’s speech, using the hand of others as a tool, adapting to a change in routine, repeating the same action, and making unusual finger movements, decreased with the advance of age. Conclusion The Korean version of the Q-CHAT demonstrates good validity and reliability and is effective in discriminating autistic traits even in children older than 24 months. The items endorsed for hospital samples varied from community samples, implying item-specific sensitivity for hospital samples.