Journal Detail Information

1

Cite

Share

Morphologic Alterations in Amygdala Subregions of Adult Patients with Bipolar Disorder

Hyun Jae LEE ; Kyu Man HAN ; Aram KIM ; Wooyoung KANG ; Youbin KANG ; June KANG ; Eunsoo WON ; Woo Suk TAE ; Byung Joo HAM

Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry.2019;26(1):22-31.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have revealed inconsistent results on amygdala volume in adult bipolar disorder (BD) patients compared to healthy controls (HC). Since the amygdala encompasses multiple subregions, the subtle volume changes in each amygdala nucleus might have not been fully reflected in the measure of the total amygdala volume, causing discrepant results. Thus, we aimed to investigate volume changes in each amygdala subregion and their association with subtypes of BD, lithium use and clinical status of BD. METHODS: Fifty-five BD patients and 55 HC underwent T1-weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging. We analyzed volumes of the whole amygdala and each amygdala subregion, including the anterior amygdaloid area, cortico-amygdaloid transition area, basal, lateral, accessory basal, central, cortical, medial and paralaminar nuclei using the atlas in the FreeSurfer. The volume difference was analyzed using a one-way analysis of covariance with individual volumes as dependent variables, and age, sex, and total intracranial volume as covariates. RESULTS: The volumes of whole right amygdala and subregions including basal nucleus, accessory basal nucleus, anterior amygdaloid area, and cortico-amygdaloid transition area in the right amygdala of BD patients were significantly smaller for the HC group. No significant volume difference between bipolar I disorder and bipolar II disorder was found after the Bonferroni correction. The trend of larger volume in medial nucleus with lithium treatment was not significant after the Bonferroni correction. No significant correlation between illness duration and amygdala volume, and insignificant negative correlation were found between right central nucleus volume and depression severity. CONCLUSIONS: Significant volume decrements of the whole amygdala, basal nucleus, accessory basal nucleus, anterior amygdaloid area, and cortico-amygdaloid transition area were found in the right hemisphere in adult BD patients, compared to HC group. We postulate that such volume changes are associated with altered functional activity and connectivity of amygdala nuclei in BD.
Adult ; Amygdala ; Basolateral Nuclear Complex ; Bipolar Disorder ; Cerebellar Nuclei ; Corticomedial Nuclear Complex ; Depression ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Lithium ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

2

Cite

Share

Association between Thyroid Dysfunction and Severity, Treatment Response in Schizophrenic Inpatients

Mee Jool JUNG ; Hyun Kuk HWANG ; Yung Eun SEO ; Jong Hyuk CHOI

Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry.2019;26(1):14-21.

OBJECTIVES: Thyroid hormone deficiency during the neurodevelopmental period can impair brain development and induce psychiatric symptoms. This study examined the association between thyroid dysfunction and the severity of symptoms in schizophrenia patients, and the treatment response of patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Three hundred thirty-eight schizophrenia patients, with no prior history of thyroid disease or taking medication associated with it, were studied. We assessed the blood thyroid hormone level, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores on the day of admission and discharge, admission period, dose of administered antipsychotics, and the number of antipsychotic combinations. The collected data were subsequently analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and Pearson's chi-square test. RESULTS: The percentage of schizophrenia patients who presented with abnormal thyroid hormone level was 24.6%. High total triiodothyronine (TT3) (p = 0.003), low TT3 (p = 0.001), and high free thyroxine (fT4) (p < 0.001) groups showed a higher BPRS score on admission than did the normal thyroid hormone group, while thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were not significantly correlated with the severity of symptoms. Furthermore, thyroid hormone was not associated with the treatment response assessed by the rate of BPRS score reduction, admission days, use of clozapine, and dose of antipsychotics. CONCLUSIONS: The TT3 and fT4 hormone levels were significantly associated with the severity of symptoms in schizophrenia patients. These relations suggested that thyroid dysfunction may be associated with the severity of schizophrenia. And hence, further analysis of the results of the thyroid function test, which is commonly used in cases of psychiatric admission, is required.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Brain ; Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale ; Clozapine ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Schizophrenia ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Hormones ; Thyrotropin ; Thyroxine ; Triiodothyronine

3

Cite

Share

Comparison of Fornix and Stria Terminalis Connectivity among First-Episode Schizophrenia, Chronic Schizophrenia and Healthy Controls

Arira LEE ; Mirim YUN ; Ki Hwan YOOK ; Tai Kiu CHOI ; Kang Soo LEE ; Minji BANG ; Sang Hyuk LEE

Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry.2019;26(1):8-13.

OBJECTIVES: Disrupted integrities of the fornix and stria terminalis have been suggested in schizophrenia. However, very few studies have focused on the fornix and stria terminalis comparing first-episode schizophrenia (FESZ), chronic schizophrenia (CS), and healthy controls (HCs) with the application of diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) technique. The objective of this study is to compare the connectivity of the fornix and stria terminalis among FESZ, CS, and HCs. METHODS: We included the 44 FESZ patients, 39 CS patients and 20 HCs in this study. Voxel-wise statistical analysis of the fractional anisotropy (FA) data was performed using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics to analyze the connectivity of fornix and stria terminalis. In addition, the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) were used to evaluate clinical symptom severities. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the FESZ, CS, and HCs in age, sex, education years. The SAPS and SANS scores of the schizophrenia groups showed no significant differences. FA values of the right fornix cres/stria terminalis in the CS group were significantly lower than those in FESZ and HCs. There were no significant differences of FA values of the right fornix cres/stria terminalis between the FESZ and the HCs. Pearson correlation analyses revealed that significant correlation between FA values of the right fornix cres/stria terminalies of the the FESZ group and positive, negative symptom scales, and FA values of the right fornix cres/stria terminalis of the CS group and negative symptom scales. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that FA values of the fornix and stria terminalis in the CS were lower than in the FESZ and the HCs. These results suggest that the fornix and stria terminalis can play a role in pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Thus current study can broaden our understanding of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Anisotropy ; Education ; Fornix, Brain ; Humans ; Schizophrenia ; Septal Nuclei ; Weights and Measures ; White Matter

4

Cite

Share

Efficacy of Computerized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Individuals with Non-Cardiac Chest Discomfort : Review and Suggestions for a New Protocol

In Kyoon LYOO ; Jungyoon KIM ; Jieun E KIM

Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry.2019;26(1):1-7.

Since non-cardiac chest discomfort (NCCD) can result in substantial healthcare burden and lower quality of life, interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have been investigated for the relief of NCCD. In this review, we aimed to summarize the evidence on the efficacy of the CBT for the treatment of NCCD while introducing a newly-developed computerized CBT program for NCCD. Studies applying CBT to individuals with NCCD were searched for from both English and Korean electronic databases. Among 37 studies, 11 randomized controlled trials, 4 case-control studies, 1 case series, and 2 review articles were eligible for this review. Efficacy of conventional CBT for NCCD was shown in a series of studies as most of them reported improved symptom severity of NCCD or NCCD-related anxiety. However, a substantial variability existed among these studies in participants, treatment procedures and durations. High attrition rates were also reported in these studies on conventional CBT. Computerized CBT could be an alternative to the conventional CBT as it can be standardized and more easily accessible, but it was only reported in one previous study. In addition to the literature review, we presented a newly-developed computerized CBT program for NCCD which may overcome some of the limitations of conventional CBT. A computerized CBT could be an alternative treatment of NCCD, however, need further studies on its usefulness.
Anxiety ; Case-Control Studies ; Chest Pain ; Cognitive Therapy ; Delivery of Health Care ; Quality of Life ; Therapy, Computer-Assisted ; Thorax

5

Cite

Share

Effects of Alcohol on Neurocognitive Function, Psychomotor Performance and Subjective Response in Koreans with Different ALDH2 Genotypes.

Il Seon SIN ; Jin Sang YOON ; Hyun KIM ; Hyung Yung LEE ; Bo Hyun YOON ; Hoon LEE ; Jae Sung JUNG

Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry.1999;6(2):176-188.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluated the effects of alcohol on neurocognitive function, psychomotor performance and subjective response in healthy Korean adults with different ALDH2 genotypes. METHOD: A total of 24 males, half with active ALDH2*1/2*1 and the other with inactive ALDH2*1/2*1, was selected through genotyping using restriction fragment length polymorphism. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over design, each subject consumed 0.5g/kg dose of alcohol, given as a mixture of 40% vodka and orange juice, and placebo(orange juice) on two separate occasions on an average of weekly intervals. The blood alcohol concentrations(BACs) were measured using a breath analyzer at baseline and at 30, 60 minutes after drinking. P300s were measured at baseline and at 30 minutes after alcohol and placebo intake. Vital signs and psychomotor performance[Critical Flicker Fusion Threshold(CFFT), Choice Reaction Time(CRT), Digit Symbol Substitution(DSS)] were measured at baseline and at 60 minutes after alcohol and placebo intake. Subjective responses were measured at the end of the study. The statistical analysis focused on whether there were any differences between groups with different ALDH2 genotypes. RESULTS: The major results are as follows. 1) BACs in inactive group were overall equivalent to those in the active group. Only in terms of time, BACs were significantly higher overall at 30 minutes than at 60 minutes after alcohol intake. 2) Pulse rates were significantly increased after alcohol intake compared with placebo, and the increase was greater in the inactive than in the active group. 3) P300 latencies in leads Fz(frontal), Cz(cental) and Pz(parietal) were significantly increased after alcohol intake compared to placebo, and the increase was greater in the inactive than in the active group. P300 amplitudes in leads Cz and Pz were significantly decreased overall after alcohol intake compared to placebo. 4) Compared with placebo, alcohol produced significant effect on the psychomotor performance : impairment in the inactive group, improvement in the active group. 5) Compared with placebo, alcohol significantly induced a negative or an intense effect on the subjective responses in the inactive group, but little negative and even a somewhat positive effect in the active group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ALDH isozyme variance might be an important factor to determine the effects of acute dose of alcohol on the various psychobehavioural functions and also to determine the alcohol use pattern and to predict the future development of alcohol overuse and/or abuse.
Adult ; Citrus sinensis ; Cross-Over Studies ; Drinking ; Flicker Fusion ; Genotype* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Psychomotor Performance* ; Vital Signs

6

Cite

Share

VNTR Polymorphism of Tyrosine Hydroxylase Gene Intron 1 in Schizophrenics.

In Ho PAIK ; Kyu Young TOH ; Chang Uk LEE ; Jung Jin KIM ; Soo Jung LEE ; Chul LEE

Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry.1999;6(2):170-175.

Until recently, the etiology of schizophrenia was generally attributed to abnormalities in dopaminergic neurotransmission. Specifically, an excess of dopaminergic activity in the mesolimbic system has been postulated to produce the positive symptoms, while decreased dopaminergic activity in the mesocortical system has been suggested to cause negative symptoms. Accordingly, we performed an association study of schizophrenia with TH gene. Three hundred and seventy four biologically unrelated schizophrenic patients meeting DSM-III-R criteria from Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital affiliated with Catholic university of Korea were recruited for our study. The 393 healthy controls were volunteers for DNA library of Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital without personal or family history of psychiatric and neurologic illness. DNA was extracted from peripheral mononuclear cells and polymorphic region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. TH intron 1 VNTR polymorphism was typed by silver staining. The allele distributions of TH gene were not different between schizophrenics and controls. However, the frequency of allele A was significantly higher in positive group than that of negative group of schizophrenics. These findings suggest that poitive schizophrenia may be associated with allele A of TH gene.
Alleles ; DNA ; Gene Library ; Genetics ; Humans ; Introns* ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Schizophrenia ; Silver Staining ; Synaptic Transmission ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase* ; Tyrosine* ; Volunteers

7

Cite

Share

Experimental Models of Depression.

Young In CHUNG

Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry.1999;6(2):161-169.

There are a number of approaches in developing experimental models for depression. but there is no such thing as a best model for depressive syndrome. Animal models are subject to the obvious limitations inherent in the assumption that human psychopathology can be represented accurately in lower animals. Recently, the concern increasingly is to develop a variety of experimental paradigms in animal to study selected aspects of human psychopathology, and animal models should be understood as basically experimental preparations that are developed to carry out these objects. Therefore, a battery of a variety of animal models should be applied to permit detailed pathophysiological studies and to develop new antidepressant treatments. Animal models of depression basically consider behavioral isomorphism with the human depression a plus, but not a requirement, and the model behavior should be defined operationally in order to be reproduced reliably by other researchers and be responsive to those agents possessing demonstrated clinical efficacy in human depression. In conclusion, animal models of depression have played a significant role in elucidating pathophysiology of depression and developing current treatments for depression, but there is no single comprehensive model for depression until now. Each of the proposed animal model has its advantages and limitations. In other words, certain paradigms are suitable for studying certain phenomena, whereas others are more suitable for studying other aspects. The best model for depression depends upon what the question is.
Animals ; Depression* ; Depressive Disorder ; Humans ; Models, Animal ; Models, Theoretical* ; Psychopathology

8

Cite

Share

Experimental Models of Schizophrenia.

Jin Sook CHEON

Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry.1999;6(2):153-160.

Animal models can provide a useful tool for the study of some aspects of psychiatric disorders and their treatment. The four criteria for the evaluation of animal models of psychiatric disorders are as following : 1) similarity of inducing conditions 2) similarity of behavioral state 3) common underlying neurobiological mechanisms 4) reversal by clinically effective treatment techniques. Several animal models have been proposed for schizophrenia : phenylethylamine model, L-dopa model, hallucinogen model. cocaine model, amphetamine model, phencyclidine model, noradrenergic reward system lesion model, reticular stimulation model, social isolation model, conditioned avoidance reaction, catalepsy test, paw test, self-stimulation paradigms, latent inhibition paradigms, blocking paradigms, prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex, rodent interaction, social behavior in monkeys, hippocampal damage, high ambient pressure, and models using selective breeding. Among them, animals with bilateral lesion of the hippocampus may provide an adequate animal model for several symptoms of schizophrenia, and ketamine model can reproduce negative symptoms and cognitive deficits as well as positive symptoms of schizophrenia. In conclusion, no model of schizophrenia is entirely representative of the disease, and findings gleaned from model systems must be cautiously interpreted. Furthermore, the process of developing and validating animal models must work in concert with the process to identify reliable measures of human phenomenology.
Amphetamine ; Animals ; Breeding ; Catalepsy ; Cocaine ; Haplorhini ; Hippocampus ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Ketamine ; Levodopa ; Models, Animal ; Models, Theoretical* ; Phencyclidine ; Reflex ; Reward ; Rodentia ; Schizophrenia* ; Social Isolation

9

Cite

Share

Animal Models of Alzheimer's Dementia.

Sung Il WOO

Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry.1999;6(2):149-152.

Transgenic mice models of Alzheimer's disease were produced by overexpressing APP(amyloid precursor protein) mutant and presenilin mutant genes using the promotors that induced neuronal expression. The neuropathologies, electrophysiological changes and behavioral changes that were demonstrated in these transgenic mice model were amyloid changes, gliotic changes. A-beta increases, deficit in LTP(ling-term potentiation) and behavioral changes. Some or all of the above changes were found in each transgenic mice model. These models generally showed amyloid neuropathology but they usually lacked the neurofibrillary tangles. So, they can be regarded as partial models of Alzheimer's disease. The development of them is undoubtedly the great progress toward future research.
Alzheimer Disease ; Amyloid ; Animals* ; Dementia* ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Models, Animal* ; Neurofibrillary Tangles ; Neurons ; Presenilins

10

Cite

Share

A Case of Convulsive Seizure Development Induced by Clozapine.

Man Kil SEO ; Doh Kwan KIM ; E Yong KIM

Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Psychiatry.1999;6(1):135-141.

The authors described a case of male schizophrenia who developed myoclonic jerk repeatedly and one episode of convulsive seizure during the treatment of clozapine. According to literatures and reported cases, myoclonic jerks induced in a small amount of clozapine may precede and predict the development of a convulsive seizure. Therefore clinicians have to pay attention to the development of a myoclonic jerk during the administration of clozapine. They may decrease the dosage of clozapine step by step at first in the convulsive state, and observe EEG changes of patients frequently.
Clozapine* ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Male ; Myoclonus ; Schizophrenia ; Seizures*

DISPLAY OPTIONS

Cite

Share

Cite

Share

Cite

Share

Cite

Share

Cite

Share

Cite

Share

Cite

Share

Cite

Share

Cite

Share

Cite

Share