Objectives: ：This review aimed to examine the risks and safety of psychotropic drug use during pregnancy through a systematic literature review and to provide fundamental data for clinical guidelines to aid clinical practice. Methods: ：The author reviewed literature published from 2000 to 2025 using PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. This review included large cohort studies, meta-analyses, and systematic literature reviews that investigated the association between psychotropic drugs and perinatal outcomes, while single case reports and animal studies were excluded. Results: ：During pregnancy, particularly in the later stages, the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors was slightly associated with preterm birth, neonatal adaptation syndrome, and persistent pulmonary hypertension. Among psychotropic drugs, lithium and paroxetine were most strongly associated with an increased risk of congenital heart malformation when exposed during pregnancy. Exposure to benzodiazepines during pregnancy has been associated with a slight increase in premature birth and congenital malformations. Gestational diabetes has been associated with the use of second-generation antipsychotics, particularly quetiapine and olanzapine.Exposure to valproate during pregnancy was associated with congenital malformations in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions ：Some psychotropic drugs can be used cautiously during pregnancy, but drugs like lithium, paroxetine, valproate, and certain atypical antipsychotics increase the risk of congenital malformations or metabolic problems if the fetus is exposed during pregnancy. Therefore, the use of these drugs during pregnancy should be avoided unless unavoidable. Close collaboration between psychiatry and obstetrics and gynecology is necessary for the safe and effective perinatal mental health care of mothers.

Objectives: ：This study aimed to evaluate the psychosocial characteristics of patients with somatic symptom disorder (SSD) and to identify factors associated with its diagnosis. Methods: ：Adult outpatients who visited the Department of Psychiatry at a university hospital between November 2021 and November 2024 were included. SSD was diagnosed through structured clinical interviews conducted by psychiatrists based on DSM-5 criteria. Somatic and psychosocial characteristics were assessed using validated self-report instruments, including the Somatic Symptom Disorder–B Criteria Scale (SSD-12), Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire (DUFSS), Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS), EQ-5D-5L, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life–Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF). Group differences were examined using independent t-tests and chisquare tests. Multivariable logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, marital status, and occupation were performed to identify factors associated with SSD diagnosis. Results: ：Of the 242 participants, 78 (32.2%) were diagnosed with SSD. Compared with the non-SSD group, patients with SSD showed higher levels of depression and anxiety, more pronounced alexithymic traits, and greater perceived pain intensity, along with lower levels of social support and quality of life. In multivariable logistic regression analyses, moderate-to-severe anxiety, alexithymic traits, higher pain intensity, and lower perceived social support were independently associated with SSD diagnosis. Conclusions ：SSD is characterized by distinct psychosocial features beyond somatic symptom burden. Thesefindings highlight the importance of a comprehensive clinical approach that assesses emotional distress, difficultiesin emotion recognition and expression, subjective pain intensity, and perceived social support, in addition to somatic symptoms, for the evaluation and management of patients with SSD.

Objectives: ：This study aims to identify differences in the expression of early inflammatory markers according to psychiatric diagnosis in the early course of mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 confirmed patients. Methods: ：The sample consisted of 79 COVID-19 patients hospitalized from January 1, 2022 to May 31, 2022, 78 patients were divided into three groups: schizophrenia spectrum disorder, neurodevelopmental disorder,and others. And inflammatory markers were obtained via blood tests that performed upon hospitalization. We compared inflammatory markers and analyze the correlation about age, gender and use of antipsychotic drugs was confirmed. Results: ：Neutrophil fraction was increased in the schizophrenia spectrum group and the neurodevelopmental disorder group compared to others(Schizophrenia=56.2±12.3, Neurodevelopmental disorder=56.0±11.7, Other=44.5±8.3, p=0.009). However, other inflammatory markers showed no difference in the three groups. Correlation analysis confirmed the association between age and Neutrophil fraction (r2 =0.113, 0.336, p<0.01) and free T4 (r2 =0.073, 0.270, p<0.05), but all had only weak explanatory power. Conclusions ：Most inflammatory markers did not show significant differences depending on the patient group.There are several studies reporting that COVID-19 is highly associated with a negative prognosis in patients withschizophrenia or intellectual disability, but no significant differences in inflammatory markers by patient groups in the early course of mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 confirmed patients. suggesting that additional research onthe course of the disease is needed.

Objectives: ：Recent studies have increasingly focused on identifying biological markers predictive of antidepressant treatment response. This study aimed to evaluate whether baseline levels of C-reactive protein(CRP) are significantly associated with treatment response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) inpatients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: ：Among 60 outpatients diagnosed with MDD according to DSM-5 criteria, 38 patients completed the study. Participants were treated with escitalopram for 8 weeks. Serum CRP levels were measured prior to medication, and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, 17-item ver-sion (HAMD-17) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) at baseline and week 8. Pearson correlation and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between baseline CRP levels and treatment response. Results: ：Depressive symptoms significantly improved after treatment. However, baseline CRP levels were not significantly correlated with symptom changes. CRP was not a significant predictor of treatment response,and its predictive validity was limited. Conclusions ：This study suggests that CRP may have limited utility as a biological predictor of SSRI treat-ment response in patients with MDD. Future research should incorporate larger sample sizes and multimodal biomarker-based predictive models.

Suicide is a major public health concern worldwide, and various mental and physical illnesses are known to be associated with suicidal behavior. This study aimed to review the literature on the association between dermatological conditions and suicidal behavior—including suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicidedeath—and to explore the potential mechanisms by which dermatologic disorders may influence suicidal behav-ior. Numerous studies suggest that major dermatologic disorders such as acne, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and hidradenitis suppurativa may increase the risk of suicidal behavior. However, most of these studies are crosssectional or case-control in design, limiting the ability to draw causal inferences. Moreover, inconsistencies in measurements of suicidal behavior across studies hinder the interpretation of results. Dermatological conditions are hypothesized to affect suicidal behavior through comorbid psychiatric disorders (such as depression and anxiety), sleep disturbances, psychological distress related to appearance, impaired social and occupationalfunctioning, dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and neuroinflammation. Further researchis needed to validate these proposed mechanisms empirically. For effective suicide prevention in dermatology patients, it is essential not only to treat the skin condition itself but also to assess and support mental health, screen for suicide risk, and ensure collaboration with mental health professionals.

The author reinterpreted the literature on mind cultivation emphasized in Confucianism from the perspective of a psychiatrist, and attempted to systematize the method of cultivation in a way that is easy for psychiatrists to understand. This paper introduced Confucian mind cultivation as a self-care technique for psychiatrists to improve their mental health. In Confucianism, mind cultivation is a fundamental and prioritized principle.While Confucianism served as the ideology of political and social order during the Joseon Dynasty, it became dogmatic and its etiquette became rigid, leading to its decline in public interest in modern times. As a psychiatrist, the author recognized the need for mind cultivation and, while exploring various methods, discovered that mind cultivation based on Confucian theories of mind cultivation possesses precise logic and emphasizes practical application in real life, not mere words or arguments. This method is not simply a relic of the past, but can be a valuable mind cultivation method applicable to the present and future. The ideology of recovering one'strue nature through self-reflection and introspection, pursuing higher values that connect with heaven, and ulti-mately dedicating oneself to society, is distinct from other self-care techniques. It is not a method for temporarily alleviating symptoms or discomfort, but rather a study that transforms one's innate nature and strives towardbecoming an ideal person. The content of this method of self-cultivation appears simple at first glance. Howev-er, practicing it is by no means easy. It is a lifelong endeavor. The Confucian mind cultivation methods presented here is merely a draft. Its contents will need to be revised and supplemented through future implementation.

The author reviewed domestic and international literature on the mental health of psychiatrists and, based on his clinical experience, sought to identify the characteristics of mental imbalances among psychiatrists and identify countermeasures. Most studies on the mental health of psychiatrists were conducted abroad, with no do-mestic studies identified. The results indicate that a significant number of psychiatrists struggle with depression, burnout, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders. A significant proportion of residents also suffer from these disorders, suggesting that a significant number of psychiatrists in Korea are likely to experience these challenges aswell. To develop countermeasures, a thorough understanding of the current situation is essential. However, considering the number of cases requiring urgent treatment, appropriate support measures are crucial. There are obstaclesfor psychiatrists seeking help for mental imbalances. Most importantly, it is difficult for the general public to un-derstand and accept that psychiatrists struggle with mental health issues. Prejudice against psychiatrists often results in psychiatrists concealing their own illnesses requiring treatment, attempting to resolve them on their own,or only seeking treatment after their symptoms worsen. If a psychiatrist suffers from a mental health issue, theyshould not attempt to resolve their problems through self-prescription, as this can lead to medication misuse. Furthermore, an environment where psychiatrists (including psychiatry residents) can comfortably receive treatmentshould be created. I believe that specially designed clinics and support systems are necessary to ensure psychiatrists can receive treatment with ease. Specialized clinics should be considerate of appointment times, consider financialburden, and, above all, guarantee complete anonymity. Furthermore, as physicians specializing in the psychiatricfield, psychiatrists should possess greater mental capacity than the general public or other specialists. This is a nat-ural requirement for patients as well. To achieve this, psychiatrists should develop self-care methods appropriate for themselves and cultivate their minds.

Objectives: ：Body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) is characterized by repetitive, destructive behavior thatcause significant distress or impairment in major functional domains. This systematic review aims to analyze existing research to conclude the efficacy of various treatment approaches for BFRB in children and adolescents. Methods: ：A systematic literature review was conducted using the PubMed and Embase databases up to De-cember 10, 2024. 17 studies evaluating treatments for BFRB, including hair-pulling, skin-picking, nail-biting, lip-biting, and cheek-chewing in children and adolescents, were identified. Results: ：In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, studies were excluded based on eligibility criteria, resulting in no studies identified for skin-picking, lip-biting, and cheek-chewing. The final analysis included 13 stud-ies on hair-pulling and 4 studies on nail-biting. For pediatric trichotillomania, psychosocial treatments demon-strated relatively higher efficacy, while pharmacological treatments, including N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and milk thistle, were also identified. NAC, however, showed only minimal efficacy. For nail-biting disorders, habit reversal training (HRT) was shown to be effective, and NAC was identified as a potential adjunctive treatment. Conclusions ：Psychosocial treatments for pediatric and adolescent BFRB demonstrated relatively strongshort- and long-term efficacy, whereas the effectiveness and research on pharmacological treatments remain lim-ited. Further research is needed to explore treatments for a broader range of BFRB in children and adolescents,particularly for under-studied subtypes such as skin-picking, lip-biting, and cheek-chewing.

Objectives: ：This study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of post-traumatic stress symptoms on the relationship between affective temperaments and depression in psychiatric patients. Methods: ：A total of 200 psychiatric outpatients and inpatients completed TEMPS-A short version (Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire), the Korean-Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5. Data analysis was conducted using regression analyses and bootstrap sampling. Results: ：The results indicated that post-traumatic stress symptoms mediated the relationship between cyclothymic, depressive, and anxious temperaments with depression. Conclusions ：Cyclothymic, depressive, and anxious temperaments influence depression through post-trau-matic stress symptoms. This suggests the importance of considering subtypes of affective temperament and intervening in post-traumatic stress symptoms in order to prevent depression in psychiatric patients.

Objectives: ：This study aimed to investigate the effects of anxiety sensitivity and distress overtolerance onposttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), and examined the role of brooding and reflection as a mediator. Methods: ：A self-reported data of 216 psychiatric outpatients was analyzed using structural equation modeling. The questionnaires included are Korean Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3, Korean version of the Distress Overtolerance Scale, Korean-Ruminative Response Scale, and Impact of Event Scale-Revised Korean Version. Results: ：Anxiety sensitivity and distress overtolerance positively predicted PTSS. Also, the mediating effects of brooding in the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and PTSS, and distress overtolerance and PTSSwere significant. Conversely, reflection did not significantly mediate the relationships between anxiety sensitivi-ty or distress overtolerance, and PTSS. Conclusions ：The results drawn from this study highlighted the differential roles of brooding and reflectionin the mediating role. Findings suggest the important role of brooding as a mechanism mediating the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and PTSS, as well as distress overtolerance and PTSS.