It is known that the personality is the crucial factor in the treatment outcome of depression. The authors tried to identify the results of such studies and various components which determine the treatment outcome of depression. Nearly 60 papers published between the year 1990 and 2000 about the treatment of depression and personality were reviewed. Among them about 30 papers were selected to compere the research methods, results and discussions. The arguments and critics of the papers were discussed. In the many debates, the authors admitted the fact that premorbid personality trait influences the treatment outcome of depression negatively regardless of treatment method. Subtyping of depression is feasible along the presence of good or bad predictors of treatment outcome for depression. Differentiation of depression and personality seems to have no problem, however test of personality state before the development of psychiatric disorder such as depression is not amenable. For example, cluster A personality trait is often misunderstood as depression in clinical setting. In some cases cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in the treatment of depression accompanying personality disorder. The authors insist that the analysis of personality in the dimensional aspect rather than in the categorical aspect gives more information in the research of personality influencing the treatment outcome of depression. In addition, the reason why we understand the relationship between depression and personality were discussed.
Cognitive Therapy ; Depression* ; Personality Disorders ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVES: As a part of plan to develop evidence-based treatment guidelines for depression that is more suitable for Korean situation, we investigate the present status and client's requirements for non-pharmacological treatment of depression in Korean clinical situation. METHODS: Subjects were patients with depression in 12 university hospitals which are located in metropolises in Korea. We analyzed the records from questionnaires about current clinical status and requirements for the non-pharmacological treatment of depression in Korea. RESULT: 50.8% of the subjects have experienced non-pharmacological treatments for their depression. The preference of non-pharmacological treatment method of depression is exercise/interesting activity, counseling by psychiatrists and psychotherapy, and the best effective treatment method is psychotherapy (Es=4.36). Actually, the mean consultation time by psychiatrist is 11.31+/-7.16 min, and the appropriate consultation time for client's situation is 18.39+/-8.95 min. During consultation, patients' satisfaction measurement for psychiatrist's explanation about pharmacological treatment is 64.17+/-27.11, and satisfaction measurement for psychiatrist's counseling for their depression about personal problems, resent stress, interpersonal relationship is 61.66+/-26.63. CONCLUSION: In Korea, many psychiatrists offered biologically oriented treatment to their patients with depression, and patients' satisfaction measurement about consultation by psychiatrists is low. Many patients wanted to combined pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment for their depression, and aspired to information about complementary and self-help treatment methods. It is necessary to develop non-pharmacological treatment guideline for depression which reflect the clinical situation in Korea and meet Korean patients' need.
Counseling ; Depression* ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Korea* ; Psychiatry ; Psychotherapy

Cysticercosis in the human is caused by infestation by larvae of pork tapeworm, taenia solium. Although they may grow anywhere in the body such as the liver, lung, eyes, heart, muscle, ect., they are most commonly found in the brain and its coverings. The cysticercus vesicles have occasionally been found in spinal structures other than the brain. We present a case of spinal cysticercosis in a 63-year-old male. The patient presented with a marked paraparesis and paresthesia below a T10 dermatome level, and moderately decreased deep tendon reflexes. After performing total laminectomies at T11-12 & L3-5, 30 cysticercus vesicles were removed.
Brain ; Cysticercosis* ; Cysticercus ; Heart ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Larva ; Liver ; Lung ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraparesis ; Paresthesia ; Reflex, Stretch ; Spine ; Taenia solium

Chloracne is a refractory acneiform eruption due to halogenated polyaromatic compound(eg. dioxin, dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphenyls, etc.). 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, a kind of dioxin isomer, contained in the Agent Orange which was used for defoliating agent during Vietnam war. It is characterized by recalcitrant comedones and cyst predominantly in the malar and postauricular area. Lesions of the penis and scrotum are also relatively frequent. The key pathological feature is the non-inflammatory keratinization of pilosebaceous unit. The meibomian glands are typically affected. Xerosis, conjunctivitis, pigmentation, follicular hyperkeratosis, actinic elastosis are occasionally associated with chloracne. We report a case of typical chloracne due to exposure to defoliating agent during Vietnam war in a 54-year-old-man who shows typical clinical and histopathological features.
Acneiform Eruptions ; Actins ; Chloracne* ; Citrus sinensis ; Conjunctivitis ; Male ; Meibomian Glands ; Penis ; Pigmentation ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls ; Scrotum ; Vietnam*

In treatment of depression, non-pharmacological treatment is as important as pharmacological treatment. However, in clinical practice in Korea, non-pharmacological treatment is not provided sufficiently and patients are not satisfied with psychiatric interviews. Accordingly, patients ask for more information from clinicians. Clinicians should be aware of the characteristics of depression in Korean patients, because the manifestations of symptoms are influenced by cultural factors. In particular, depressed patients complain about somatic symptoms more frequently than they complain about depressed mood itself. In order to establish a therapeutic relationship with depressed patients, clinicians should be aware of these characteristics of depressed patients and clinicians should also address the needs of their patients. The author introduces evidence-based self-care methods for Korean patients with depression. St. John's wort, acupuncture, air ionization, light therapy, massage bibliotherapy, exercise, meditation, relaxation, and yoga can be helpful for overcoming depression. Among them, the Clinical Research Center for Depression, an organization supported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, has recommended several non-pharmacological treatments for depression. First of all, exercise, such as walking more than 30 min. everyday, is strongly recommended. Other recommendations include bibliotherapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and short-term psychodynamic supportive psychotherapy. For the nationwide management of depression, social bias against the treatment of depression should be reduced and non-pharmacological treatment for depression should be encouraged.
Acupuncture ; Air Ionization ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Bibliotherapy ; Cognitive Therapy ; Depression ; Humans ; Hypericum ; Korea ; Massage ; Meditation ; Phototherapy ; Psychotherapy ; Relaxation ; Self Care ; Walking ; Yoga

There are many reports that d-tubocurarine has marked species and individual variations in the matter of muscle relaxation. Therefore the dose-related neuromuscular blocking effect of d-tubocurarine was studied in anesthetized patients. Eighty adult patients were studied during halothane-N2O-O2 anesthesia for various kinds of surgery. These patients were in good physical shape, without known or suspected liver, kidney, neuromuscular or hormonal disease, and were not taking medication known to influence the action of relaxants. Preanesthetic medication consisted of atropine 0.01mg/kg and valium 0.18 mg/kg intramuscularly 60 minutes before anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental 4~5mg/kg. Succinylcholine 1mg/kg was used to faciliate tracheal intubation. Moderate hyperventilation was maintained throughout by a mechanical ventilator and patient temperature was maintained at 35~36 degrees C during the study. Forty patients received a single intravenous d-tubocurarine 0.1mg/kg(group A) after the succinylcholine effect had worn off and the other forty patients received a single intravenous d-tubocurarine 0.2mg/kg(group B) after the succinylcholine effect had disappered. Prior to the administration of d-tubocurarine, the patient's forearm and hand were firmly fixed to a specially constructed metal armboard. The thumb was abducted, fixed and connected to a electrical kymograph, Harvard apparatus. The ulnar nerve was stimulated at the wrist subcutaneous needle electrodes by means of supramaximal stimull from a peripheral nerve stimulator(model 91-M3, Emerson, USA). Square wave of "Train of Four" stimuli of 0.2msec duration were delivered at a frequency of 0.1Hz. The evoked twitch and tracing of the adductor muscle of the thumb was recorded continuously on a electrical kymograph. Upon recovery from the initial dose of succinylcholine, a stable baseline twitch tension was recorded for 15 minuts. At this point a single intravenous injection of d-tubocurarine, either 0.1mg/kg or 0.2mg/kg, was given. The data were plotted as onset time of twitch depression and percentage depression of twitch height and the recovery time of "Train of four" response were analysed in each group. The results were as follows: 1) In d-tubocurarine 0.1mg/kg group: the effect of d-tubocurarine was variable, ranging from no effect on twitch tension to abolition of the twitch response. Mean maximal twitch depression was 59.4%. Recovery index which showed more than 75% twitch depression was 39.9minutes. 2) In d-tubocurarine 0.2mg/kg group: the effect of d-tubocurarine obtained consistent and solid neuromuscular relaxation. Mean maximal twitch depression was 95.2%. Recovery index was 58.1 minutes.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans

No abstract available.
Hyperoxaluria, Primary* ; Kidney Transplantation* ; Kidney*

Succinylcholine chloride is the most commonly used muscle relaxant. Its rapid onset of action and relatively brief duration are unique Despite its wide use, certain pharmacologic aspects of auccinylcholine chloride are not as widely appreciated as they should be. There is marked variation in the responses of patients to clinically used doses. Large doses demonstrate that recovery from succinylcholine chloride is slower than is generally appreciated in man. The dose related neuromuscular blocking effect of succinylcholine chloride in cats was investigated using a cat common peroneal nerve anterior tibial muscle preparation. All experimental cats tracheas were intubated through a tracheostomy under general anesthesia with Nembutal 40 mg/kg intravenously. Respiration was controlled by a Harvard animal respirator. The body temperature was kept at 35~37 degrees C by a thermoblanket. The degree of neuromuscular block following intravenous succinylcholine chloride, 0.5 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg, were measured by single twitch response. The common peroneal nerve was stimulated supramaximally by a single stimulus with square waves, 0. 2 msec duration and at a frequency of 0.1 Hz. The ratio of the twitch height was calculated. The results were as follows: 1) The time of neuromuscular blokade to 100% depression was 30.7 sec and to l00% spontaneous recovery was 1,260 sec (21 min.) in the succinylcholine chloride 0.5 mg/kg intravenous group. The recovery index was 258. 5 sec (4. 3 min.). 2) The time of neuromuscular blockade to 100% depression was 30 sec and to 100% spontaneous recovery was 2,004 sec (33. 4 min.) in the succinylcholine chloride I mg/kg intravenous group. No significant time difference was observed in neuromuscular depression in both groups but spontaneous recovery time was markedly prolonged to 744 sec (59% prolongation). The recovery index was also prolonged to 474 sec (83% prolongation).
Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Body Temperature ; Cats* ; Depression ; Humans ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Neuromuscular Blockade* ; Pentobarbital ; Peroneal Nerve ; Respiration ; Succinylcholine* ; Trachea ; Tracheostomy ; Ventilators, Mechanical

As suicide deaths have been rapidly increasing among the Korean people, the clinical conditions associated with suicide including major depressive disorder (MDD) have also been in the public eye for decades. Thus we discuss the relationship between suicide and depression from the psychosocial perspective. Because the introjected aggression or hostility may be essential psychodynamic factors in suicide and depression, the clinical psychiatrist's or psychotherapist's empathy may be the important psychotherapeutic method in the recovery of object relationships or relieving suicidal patients' self-destructive tendencies. Although various and diverse psychological features have been suggested as the predictive factors of suicide, they have not yet been demonstrated by any statistical models. Psychiatrists should be aware that suicide or suicidal behaviors might be strongly associated with sociocultural background in Korea. Further research may be needed in the area of the relationship among suicide, depression, and sociocultural correlates.
Acculturation ; Aggression ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Empathy ; Eye ; Hostility ; Korea ; Models, Statistical ; Object Attachment ; Psychiatry ; Suicide

OBJECTIVES: Understanding the well-being of immigrant adolescents is complicated due to the empirical data showing poorer psychological and behavioral adjustment in native-born second generation immigrant children to those of foreign-born immigrant children. Some researchers argue the phenomenon of "healthy immigrant effect". This research is to examine the valicity of such effect. METHODS: The immigrant sample for this study was drawn from the pool of families involved in the Korean Mental Health Study (Noh et al, 1992) in the Metro area of Toronto. Of the 860 families, 318 Korean adolescents participated in this study. Immigrant control and Canadian control samples participated in the same survey. ANOVA and MCA were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The self reported depression in Korean sample was slightly higher than the controls. The self reported anxiety level is slightly higher in Korean than the controls. The self-reported instrumental and social competence were lower among Korean youth compared to the foreign-born and Canadian-born controls. CONCLUSION: The data are not consistent with the "healthy immigrant effect". A serious design issue in the studies of national data comparing immigrant children is that the impact of immigration on mental health can not be estimated accurately by comparing minority children of varying nativity status to children born in the host country. With close matching of the samples, we found that immigrant children do not have an advantage over their non-immigrant cohort.
Adolescent* ; Anxiety ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Depression ; Emigrants and Immigrants* ; Emigration and Immigration ; Humans ; Mental Competency ; Mental Health* ; Population Groups ; Self Report