1.Neurobiological Mechanisms, Clinical Validity, and Real-World Implementation of Metaverse-Based Counseling for Adolescents through a School-Linked Mental Health Center
Sang Hyun BAEK ; Tae Young CHOI ; Jung Yeon MOON ; Hyang Hee JEONG ; Yun Kyong JEONG ; Se Jun PARK ; Jong Young EUN ; Eun Young JIN ; So Yeong YUK
Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Therapies in Psychiatry 2026;32(1):1-13
Metaverse-based mental health interventions have recently emerged as an extension of telepsychiatry, digital therapeutics (DTx), and virtual reality (VR)–based treatments for children and adolescents. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote psychological assessment and intervention, raising critical questions regarding their clinical validity, developmental appropriateness, and long-term applicability in youth populations. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that remote assessments and internet-based interventions can achieve clinical outcomes comparable to face-to-face approaches in selected domains, particularly anxiety, depression, and social communication difficulties. In parallel, immersive technologies such as VR and metaverse-based platforms have been applied to exposure-based interventions, social skills training, and emotion regulation in controlled and repeatable environments. This narrative review examined 48 empirical and review studies on telepsychiatry, internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy, DTx, VR, and metaverse-based interventions for children and adolescents. Neurobiological mechanisms relevant to fear extinction, executive function, emotion regulation, and social cognition were critically reviewed. In addition, real-world implementation experiences from a hospital-based Wee Center in Korea were integrated to evaluate feasibility within school-linked mental health services. The findings suggested that metaverse-based counseling should not be conceptualized as a stand-alone replacement for face-to-face treatment, but rather as a complementary, hybrid platform linking remote screening, structured digital intervention, and in-person clinical care. While current evidence supported feasibility and conditional clinical utility, further longitudinal, controlled, and cost-effectiveness studies were required to establish its role in pediatric mental health.
5.Comparison of Reliability and Satisfaction Between Face-to-Face and Remote Formats in the Secondary Evaluation of the Student Emotional and Behavioral Characteristics Test:Exploring the Feasibility of Remote Assessments
Tae Young CHOI ; Hee Jin KIM ; Jung Yeon MOON ; Hyang Hee JEONG ; Yun Kyong JEONG ; Sang Hyun BAEK ; Jung Sook KIM ; Wan Seok SEO
Journal of the Korean Society of Biological Therapies in Psychiatry 2025;31(3):124-130
Objectives:
The Ministry of Education in South Korea conducts an annual Student Emotional and Behavioral Characteristics Test to facilitate early identification and intervention for mental health issues among adolescents. Students who exceed the screening cut-off undergo a secondary in-depth evaluation. In response to the increasing use of remote services following the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, this study aimed to compare satisfaction and perceived reliability of face-to-face and remote formats of the secondary evaluation as reported by school personnel responsible for conducting the assessments.
Methods:
A total of 94 school personnel who oversaw the 2023 secondary evaluations in a metropolitan area participated in an anonymous online survey. The survey assessed their satisfaction with the evaluation period, perceived reliability of the evaluation process, and perceived reliability of the written reports. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on their experience with and preference for each evaluation format. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare differences between groups.
Results:
No significant differences were found between the face-to-face and remote groups in satisfaction with the evaluation period or the reliability of the written results. However, the face-to-face format was perceived as significantly more reliable in terms of the evaluation process itself. Among participants who had experience with both formats, the face-to-face format continued to receive higher reliability ratings, particularly among those who preferred face-to-face assessments. In contrast, those who preferred remote assessments showed no significant differences regardless of the format used.
Conclusions
Although some counselors express concern about the reliability of remote assessments, the findings suggest that remote formats can yield comparable results to face-to-face evaluations in terms of satisfaction and outcome reliability. While remote assessments may not fully replace in-person interactions, they can serve as a valid and efficient alternative, particularly for large-scale mental health screenings in school settings. Expanding the use of structured remote evaluations may enhance accessibility and responsiveness in school-based mental health services.
7.Newly Developed Sex-Specific Z Score Model for Coronary Artery Diameter in a Pediatric Population
Jeong Jin YU ; Hee Joung CHOI ; Hwa Jin CHO ; Sung Hye KIM ; Eun Jung CHEON ; Gi Beom KIM ; Lucy Youngmin EUN ; Se Yong JUNG ; Hyun Ok JUN ; Hyang-Ok WOO ; Sin-Ae PARK ; Soyoung YOON ; Hoon KO ; Ji-Eun BAN ; Jong-Woon CHOI ; Min Seob SONG ; Ji Whan HAN
Journal of Korean Medical Science 2024;39(16):e144-
Background:
This study aimed to generate a Z score calculation model for coronary artery diameter of normal children and adolescents to be adopted as the standard calculation method with consensus in clinical practice.
Methods:
This study was a retrospective, multicenter study that collected data from multiple institutions across South Korea. Data were analyzed to determine the model that best fit the relationship between the diameter of coronary arteries and independent demographic parameters. Linear, power, logarithmic, exponential, and square root polynomial models were tested for best fit.
Results:
Data of 2,030 subjects were collected from 16 institutions. Separate calculation models for each sex were developed because the impact of demographic variables on the diameter of coronary arteries differs according to sex. The final model was the polynomial formula with an exponential relationship between the diameter of coronary arteries and body surface area using the DuBois formula.
Conclusion
A new coronary artery diameter Z score model was developed and is anticipated to be applicable in clinical practice. The new model will help establish a consensus-based Z score model.
8.Lecanemab: Appropriate Use Recommendations by Korean Dementia Association
Kee Hyung PARK ; Geon Ha KIM ; Chi-Hun KIM ; Seong-Ho KOH ; So Young MOON ; Young Ho PARK ; Sang Won SEO ; Bora YOON ; Jae-Sung LIM ; Byeong C. KIM ; Hee-Jin KIM ; Hae Ri NA ; YongSoo SHIM ; YoungSoon YANG ; Chan-Nyoung LEE ; Hak Young RHEE ; San JUNG ; Jee Hyang JEONG ; Hojin CHOI ; Dong Won YANG ; Seong Hye CHOI
Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders 2024;23(4):165-187
Lecanemab (product name Leqembi ® ) is an anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody treatment approved for use in Korea for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. The Korean Dementia Association has created recommendations for the appropriate use of lecanemab to assist clinicians. These recommendations include selecting patients for administration, necessary pre-administration tests and preparations,administration methods, monitoring for amyloid related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), and communication with patients and caregivers. Lecanemab is recommended for patients with MCI or mild dementia who confirmed positive amyloid biomarkers, and should not be administered to patients with severe hypersensitivity to lecanemab or those unable to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation. To predict the risk of ARIA before administration, apolipoprotein E genotyping is conducted, and regular brain MRI evaluations are recommended to monitor for ARIA during treatment. The most common adverse reactions are infusion-related reactions, which require appropriate management upon occurrence. Additional caution is needed when co-administering with anticoagulants or tissue plasminogen activator due to the risk of macrohemorrhage. Clinicians should consider the efficacy and necessary conditions for administration, as well as the safety of lecanemab, to make a comprehensive decision regarding its use.
9.Lecanemab: Appropriate Use Recommendations by Korean Dementia Association
Kee Hyung PARK ; Geon Ha KIM ; Chi-Hun KIM ; Seong-Ho KOH ; So Young MOON ; Young Ho PARK ; Sang Won SEO ; Bora YOON ; Jae-Sung LIM ; Byeong C. KIM ; Hee-Jin KIM ; Hae Ri NA ; YongSoo SHIM ; YoungSoon YANG ; Chan-Nyoung LEE ; Hak Young RHEE ; San JUNG ; Jee Hyang JEONG ; Hojin CHOI ; Dong Won YANG ; Seong Hye CHOI
Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders 2024;23(4):165-187
Lecanemab (product name Leqembi ® ) is an anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody treatment approved for use in Korea for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. The Korean Dementia Association has created recommendations for the appropriate use of lecanemab to assist clinicians. These recommendations include selecting patients for administration, necessary pre-administration tests and preparations,administration methods, monitoring for amyloid related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), and communication with patients and caregivers. Lecanemab is recommended for patients with MCI or mild dementia who confirmed positive amyloid biomarkers, and should not be administered to patients with severe hypersensitivity to lecanemab or those unable to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation. To predict the risk of ARIA before administration, apolipoprotein E genotyping is conducted, and regular brain MRI evaluations are recommended to monitor for ARIA during treatment. The most common adverse reactions are infusion-related reactions, which require appropriate management upon occurrence. Additional caution is needed when co-administering with anticoagulants or tissue plasminogen activator due to the risk of macrohemorrhage. Clinicians should consider the efficacy and necessary conditions for administration, as well as the safety of lecanemab, to make a comprehensive decision regarding its use.
10.Lecanemab: Appropriate Use Recommendations by Korean Dementia Association
Kee Hyung PARK ; Geon Ha KIM ; Chi-Hun KIM ; Seong-Ho KOH ; So Young MOON ; Young Ho PARK ; Sang Won SEO ; Bora YOON ; Jae-Sung LIM ; Byeong C. KIM ; Hee-Jin KIM ; Hae Ri NA ; YongSoo SHIM ; YoungSoon YANG ; Chan-Nyoung LEE ; Hak Young RHEE ; San JUNG ; Jee Hyang JEONG ; Hojin CHOI ; Dong Won YANG ; Seong Hye CHOI
Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders 2024;23(4):165-187
Lecanemab (product name Leqembi ® ) is an anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody treatment approved for use in Korea for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. The Korean Dementia Association has created recommendations for the appropriate use of lecanemab to assist clinicians. These recommendations include selecting patients for administration, necessary pre-administration tests and preparations,administration methods, monitoring for amyloid related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), and communication with patients and caregivers. Lecanemab is recommended for patients with MCI or mild dementia who confirmed positive amyloid biomarkers, and should not be administered to patients with severe hypersensitivity to lecanemab or those unable to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation. To predict the risk of ARIA before administration, apolipoprotein E genotyping is conducted, and regular brain MRI evaluations are recommended to monitor for ARIA during treatment. The most common adverse reactions are infusion-related reactions, which require appropriate management upon occurrence. Additional caution is needed when co-administering with anticoagulants or tissue plasminogen activator due to the risk of macrohemorrhage. Clinicians should consider the efficacy and necessary conditions for administration, as well as the safety of lecanemab, to make a comprehensive decision regarding its use.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail