1.Awareness, Compliance, and Self-Discontinuation of Medication in Psychosis Outpatients in University Hospital Setting
Young Hoon KIM ; Jae Hoon JEONG ; Nuree KANG ; Junggeun AHN ; Jangmi BAEK ; Jiu KIM ; Hyunju LEE ; Yong-Min AHN ; Se Hyun KIM
Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research 2026;29(1):25-33
Objectives:
This study investigated medication perceptions, adherence patterns, self-discontinuation experiences, and information sources among psychiatric outpatients to provide evidence for improving adherence strategies.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 79 outpatients from a University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry. Self-administered questionnaires assessed diagnostic awareness, medication perceptions, adherence behaviors, discontinuation experiences, side effects, and information sources.
Results:
Overall, 89.7% knew their psychiatric diagnosis and 88.2% perceived medication as effective. While 73.1% rarely forgot medication, 35.9% had previously self-discontinued treatment. Medication adherence was significantly associated with previous discontinuation experience (p=0.006), whereas diagnostic awareness and efficacy perception were not. Primary discontinuation reasons were symptom improvement (53.6%) and physical discomfort (35.7%). Common side effects included weight gain (n=31), daytime drowsiness (n=26), memory impairment (n=24), and concentration problems (n=22). Patients primarily obtained side effect information from TV/internet (27.8%) rather than healthcare providers (20.3%). Most patients desired additional information about side effects (57.0%) and medication effects (54.4%).
Conclusion
Daily medication-taking behaviors were more predictive of treatment discontinuation than cognitive factors in this outpatient sample. Discontinuation due to symptom improvement and reliance on non-medical information sources highlights the need for enhanced patient education regarding relapse risks and systematic provision of accurate medication information.
2.Relationship Between Sarcopenia and Incident Depression in Older Men:Findings From the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study
Sanghyeok SUH ; Bong-Jo KIM ; Nuree KANG ; Eun-Ji LIM ; Jae-Won CHOI ; Dongyun LEE ; So-Jin LEE ; Boseok CHA
Journal of Korean Geriatric Psychiatry 2026;30(1):19-27
Objective:
To investigate the longitudinal association between sarcopenia and depressive symptoms in community-dwellingolder adults, focusing on sex-specific differences.
Methods:
This 2-year prospective study utilized data from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. We included 1,366participants (700 men, 666 women) aged 70-84 years who were free of depressive symptoms (Short Geriatric Depression Scale-Korean [SGDS-K]<8) at baseline. Sarcopenia status (no sarcopenia, sarcopenia, severe sarcopenia) was defined by the AsianWorking Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association be-tween baseline sarcopenia and incident depressive symptoms (SGDS-K≥8) at follow-up, adjusting for covariates.
Results:
After adjustment, baseline severe sarcopenia was significantly associated with a higher risk of incident depression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=3.040, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.494-6.188). In the sex-stratified analysis, this association remained robust only in men (aOR=3.344, 95% CI=1.332-8.395), but was not statistically significant in women (aOR=2.490, 95% CI=0.699-8.872, p=0.159).
Conclusion
Severe sarcopenia independently predicts for 2-year development of depressive symptoms, particularly amongolder Korean men. These findings highlight a significant sex difference in the temporal relationship between sarcopenia and de-pression for older men.
3.Association Between Morningness and Defense Style in Adolescence:Morningness is Associated With Greater Adaptive and Self-Suppressive Defense Styles and Lesser Immature Defense Style
So-Jin LEE ; Bong-Jo KIM ; Boseok CHA ; Dongyun LEE ; Jae-Won CHOI ; Young-Ji LEE ; Eun-Ji LIM ; Nuree KANG ; Wooyoung IM
Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology 2024;31(2):41-47
Objectives:
Eveningness predominates in adolescence. Morningness has been reported to be associated with mental toughness via resilience. Morningness could be related to healthy sleep habits and a good personality.
Methods:
Sleep-related behaviors, such as weekend oversleep, social jetlag, and daytime sunlight exposure between 10:00 and 15:00, were evaluated using sleep-related questionnaires. Morningness-eveningness questionnaire, insomnia severity index, Epworth sleepiness scale, hospital anxiety and depression scale and defense style questionnaire were used. This study includes 1,610 high school students.
Results:
Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that morningness is predicted by male sex (β=0.115, t=4.769, p<0.001) and greater adaptive (β=0.092, t=3.506, p<0.001) and self-suppressive defense styles (β=0.072, t=2.192, p=0.029) and lesser immature defense styles (β=-0.163, t=-4.782, p<0.001) after controlling for age, sleep quality, depression, anxiety. Morningness is also predicted by greater sublimation (β=0.09, t=3.541, p<0.001) and reaction formation (β=0.112, t=4.488, p<0.001) and lesser consumption (β=-0.062, t=-2.501, p=0.012), passive aggression (β=-0.101, t=-3.747, p<0.001) and withdrawal (β=-0.084, t=-2.955, p=0.003), and male sex (β=0.117, t=4.896, p<0.001) after controlling for age, sleep quality, depression, and anxiety.
Conclusion
Morniness in adolescence may be related to a positive personality. Promoting morningness might be related to healthy development in personality.
4.Difference of Spatiotemporal Patterns of Suicide Between Genders in Korea Over a Decade Using Geographic Information Systems
Soyoung PARK ; Jong-Ho PARK ; Bong-Jo KIM ; Boseok CHA ; So-Jin LEE ; Jae-Won CHOI ; Eun Ji LIM ; Nuree KANG ; Dongyun LEE
Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine 2024;32(2):70-76
Objectives:
:Among the various risk factors for suicide, geographic factors have different effects on males and females. This study aimed to identify differences between genders in spatiotemporal dependence and spatiotemporal patterns of suicide mortality over the preceding decade.
Methods:
:This research analyzed the age-adjusted suicide mortality rate per 100,000 population, spanning from 2012 to 2021, for intentional suicides across each administrative district (229 Si, Gun, Gu) in Korea. Data were sourced from the National Statistical Office of the Korean Statistical Information Service. The Moran’s I in-dex for spatial autocorrelation of the suicide mortality rates was computed. An emerging hot spot analysis was conducted to examine the community-level spatiotemporal distribution patterns, thus providing insight into the re-gional clustering characteristics that reflect the temporal-spatial clusters of suicide mortality rates.
Results:
:TIn males, the Moran’s I indices were almost above 0 (p-value<0.05) for most years, indicating sig-nificant spatial autocorrelation. Conversely, no significant regional clustering was observed among females dur-ing the same period. The emerging hot spot analysis, focusing on the temporal trends in the spatial distributionof male suicide mortality rates from 2012 to 2021, identified two distinct time series patterns and a total of 12 hot spot areas: seven new spots and five sporadic spots.
Conclusions
:This study is the first to intuitively demonstrate the disparities in spatiotemporal dependencies and patterns of suicide mortality rates in Korea between genders. The findings highlight the necessity for tailoredsuicide prevention strategies that are sensitive to gender differences.
5.Association Between Morningness and Defense Style in Adolescence:Morningness is Associated With Greater Adaptive and Self-Suppressive Defense Styles and Lesser Immature Defense Style
So-Jin LEE ; Bong-Jo KIM ; Boseok CHA ; Dongyun LEE ; Jae-Won CHOI ; Young-Ji LEE ; Eun-Ji LIM ; Nuree KANG ; Wooyoung IM
Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology 2024;31(2):41-47
Objectives:
Eveningness predominates in adolescence. Morningness has been reported to be associated with mental toughness via resilience. Morningness could be related to healthy sleep habits and a good personality.
Methods:
Sleep-related behaviors, such as weekend oversleep, social jetlag, and daytime sunlight exposure between 10:00 and 15:00, were evaluated using sleep-related questionnaires. Morningness-eveningness questionnaire, insomnia severity index, Epworth sleepiness scale, hospital anxiety and depression scale and defense style questionnaire were used. This study includes 1,610 high school students.
Results:
Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that morningness is predicted by male sex (β=0.115, t=4.769, p<0.001) and greater adaptive (β=0.092, t=3.506, p<0.001) and self-suppressive defense styles (β=0.072, t=2.192, p=0.029) and lesser immature defense styles (β=-0.163, t=-4.782, p<0.001) after controlling for age, sleep quality, depression, anxiety. Morningness is also predicted by greater sublimation (β=0.09, t=3.541, p<0.001) and reaction formation (β=0.112, t=4.488, p<0.001) and lesser consumption (β=-0.062, t=-2.501, p=0.012), passive aggression (β=-0.101, t=-3.747, p<0.001) and withdrawal (β=-0.084, t=-2.955, p=0.003), and male sex (β=0.117, t=4.896, p<0.001) after controlling for age, sleep quality, depression, and anxiety.
Conclusion
Morniness in adolescence may be related to a positive personality. Promoting morningness might be related to healthy development in personality.
6.Difference of Spatiotemporal Patterns of Suicide Between Genders in Korea Over a Decade Using Geographic Information Systems
Soyoung PARK ; Jong-Ho PARK ; Bong-Jo KIM ; Boseok CHA ; So-Jin LEE ; Jae-Won CHOI ; Eun Ji LIM ; Nuree KANG ; Dongyun LEE
Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine 2024;32(2):70-76
Objectives:
:Among the various risk factors for suicide, geographic factors have different effects on males and females. This study aimed to identify differences between genders in spatiotemporal dependence and spatiotemporal patterns of suicide mortality over the preceding decade.
Methods:
:This research analyzed the age-adjusted suicide mortality rate per 100,000 population, spanning from 2012 to 2021, for intentional suicides across each administrative district (229 Si, Gun, Gu) in Korea. Data were sourced from the National Statistical Office of the Korean Statistical Information Service. The Moran’s I in-dex for spatial autocorrelation of the suicide mortality rates was computed. An emerging hot spot analysis was conducted to examine the community-level spatiotemporal distribution patterns, thus providing insight into the re-gional clustering characteristics that reflect the temporal-spatial clusters of suicide mortality rates.
Results:
:TIn males, the Moran’s I indices were almost above 0 (p-value<0.05) for most years, indicating sig-nificant spatial autocorrelation. Conversely, no significant regional clustering was observed among females dur-ing the same period. The emerging hot spot analysis, focusing on the temporal trends in the spatial distributionof male suicide mortality rates from 2012 to 2021, identified two distinct time series patterns and a total of 12 hot spot areas: seven new spots and five sporadic spots.
Conclusions
:This study is the first to intuitively demonstrate the disparities in spatiotemporal dependencies and patterns of suicide mortality rates in Korea between genders. The findings highlight the necessity for tailoredsuicide prevention strategies that are sensitive to gender differences.
7.Difference of Spatiotemporal Patterns of Suicide Between Genders in Korea Over a Decade Using Geographic Information Systems
Soyoung PARK ; Jong-Ho PARK ; Bong-Jo KIM ; Boseok CHA ; So-Jin LEE ; Jae-Won CHOI ; Eun Ji LIM ; Nuree KANG ; Dongyun LEE
Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine 2024;32(2):70-76
Objectives:
:Among the various risk factors for suicide, geographic factors have different effects on males and females. This study aimed to identify differences between genders in spatiotemporal dependence and spatiotemporal patterns of suicide mortality over the preceding decade.
Methods:
:This research analyzed the age-adjusted suicide mortality rate per 100,000 population, spanning from 2012 to 2021, for intentional suicides across each administrative district (229 Si, Gun, Gu) in Korea. Data were sourced from the National Statistical Office of the Korean Statistical Information Service. The Moran’s I in-dex for spatial autocorrelation of the suicide mortality rates was computed. An emerging hot spot analysis was conducted to examine the community-level spatiotemporal distribution patterns, thus providing insight into the re-gional clustering characteristics that reflect the temporal-spatial clusters of suicide mortality rates.
Results:
:TIn males, the Moran’s I indices were almost above 0 (p-value<0.05) for most years, indicating sig-nificant spatial autocorrelation. Conversely, no significant regional clustering was observed among females dur-ing the same period. The emerging hot spot analysis, focusing on the temporal trends in the spatial distributionof male suicide mortality rates from 2012 to 2021, identified two distinct time series patterns and a total of 12 hot spot areas: seven new spots and five sporadic spots.
Conclusions
:This study is the first to intuitively demonstrate the disparities in spatiotemporal dependencies and patterns of suicide mortality rates in Korea between genders. The findings highlight the necessity for tailoredsuicide prevention strategies that are sensitive to gender differences.
8.Association Between Morningness and Defense Style in Adolescence:Morningness is Associated With Greater Adaptive and Self-Suppressive Defense Styles and Lesser Immature Defense Style
So-Jin LEE ; Bong-Jo KIM ; Boseok CHA ; Dongyun LEE ; Jae-Won CHOI ; Young-Ji LEE ; Eun-Ji LIM ; Nuree KANG ; Wooyoung IM
Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology 2024;31(2):41-47
Objectives:
Eveningness predominates in adolescence. Morningness has been reported to be associated with mental toughness via resilience. Morningness could be related to healthy sleep habits and a good personality.
Methods:
Sleep-related behaviors, such as weekend oversleep, social jetlag, and daytime sunlight exposure between 10:00 and 15:00, were evaluated using sleep-related questionnaires. Morningness-eveningness questionnaire, insomnia severity index, Epworth sleepiness scale, hospital anxiety and depression scale and defense style questionnaire were used. This study includes 1,610 high school students.
Results:
Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that morningness is predicted by male sex (β=0.115, t=4.769, p<0.001) and greater adaptive (β=0.092, t=3.506, p<0.001) and self-suppressive defense styles (β=0.072, t=2.192, p=0.029) and lesser immature defense styles (β=-0.163, t=-4.782, p<0.001) after controlling for age, sleep quality, depression, anxiety. Morningness is also predicted by greater sublimation (β=0.09, t=3.541, p<0.001) and reaction formation (β=0.112, t=4.488, p<0.001) and lesser consumption (β=-0.062, t=-2.501, p=0.012), passive aggression (β=-0.101, t=-3.747, p<0.001) and withdrawal (β=-0.084, t=-2.955, p=0.003), and male sex (β=0.117, t=4.896, p<0.001) after controlling for age, sleep quality, depression, and anxiety.
Conclusion
Morniness in adolescence may be related to a positive personality. Promoting morningness might be related to healthy development in personality.
9.Difference of Spatiotemporal Patterns of Suicide Between Genders in Korea Over a Decade Using Geographic Information Systems
Soyoung PARK ; Jong-Ho PARK ; Bong-Jo KIM ; Boseok CHA ; So-Jin LEE ; Jae-Won CHOI ; Eun Ji LIM ; Nuree KANG ; Dongyun LEE
Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine 2024;32(2):70-76
Objectives:
:Among the various risk factors for suicide, geographic factors have different effects on males and females. This study aimed to identify differences between genders in spatiotemporal dependence and spatiotemporal patterns of suicide mortality over the preceding decade.
Methods:
:This research analyzed the age-adjusted suicide mortality rate per 100,000 population, spanning from 2012 to 2021, for intentional suicides across each administrative district (229 Si, Gun, Gu) in Korea. Data were sourced from the National Statistical Office of the Korean Statistical Information Service. The Moran’s I in-dex for spatial autocorrelation of the suicide mortality rates was computed. An emerging hot spot analysis was conducted to examine the community-level spatiotemporal distribution patterns, thus providing insight into the re-gional clustering characteristics that reflect the temporal-spatial clusters of suicide mortality rates.
Results:
:TIn males, the Moran’s I indices were almost above 0 (p-value<0.05) for most years, indicating sig-nificant spatial autocorrelation. Conversely, no significant regional clustering was observed among females dur-ing the same period. The emerging hot spot analysis, focusing on the temporal trends in the spatial distributionof male suicide mortality rates from 2012 to 2021, identified two distinct time series patterns and a total of 12 hot spot areas: seven new spots and five sporadic spots.
Conclusions
:This study is the first to intuitively demonstrate the disparities in spatiotemporal dependencies and patterns of suicide mortality rates in Korea between genders. The findings highlight the necessity for tailoredsuicide prevention strategies that are sensitive to gender differences.
10.Efficacy and Safety of Lurasidone vs. Quetiapine XR in Acutely Psychotic Patients With Schizophrenia in Korea: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Active-Controlled Trial
Se Hyun KIM ; Do-Un JUNG ; Do Hoon KIM ; Jung Sik LEE ; Kyoung-Uk LEE ; Seunghee WON ; Bong Ju LEE ; Sung-Gon KIM ; Sungwon ROH ; Jong-Ik PARK ; Minah KIM ; Sung Won JUNG ; Hong Seok OH ; Han-yong JUNG ; Sang Hoon KIM ; Hyun Seung CHEE ; Jong-Woo PAIK ; Kyu Young LEE ; Soo In KIM ; Seung-Hwan LEE ; Eun-Jin CHEON ; Hye-Geum KIM ; Heon-Jeong LEE ; In Won CHUNG ; Joonho CHOI ; Min-Hyuk KIM ; Seong-Jin CHO ; HyunChul YOUN ; Jhin-Goo CHANG ; Hoo Rim SONG ; Euitae KIM ; Won-Hyoung KIM ; Chul Eung KIM ; Doo-Heum PARK ; Byung-Ook LEE ; Jungsun LEE ; Seung-Yup LEE ; Nuree KANG ; Hee Yeon JUNG
Psychiatry Investigation 2024;21(7):762-771
Objective:
This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lurasidone (160 mg/day) compared to quetiapine XR (QXR; 600 mg/day) in the treatment of acutely psychotic patients with schizophrenia.
Methods:
Patients were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of double-blind treatment with lurasidone 160 mg/day (n=105) or QXR 600 mg/day (n=105). Primary efficacy measure was the change from baseline to week 6 in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score and Clinical Global Impressions severity (CGI-S) score. Adverse events, body measurements, and laboratory parameters were assessed.
Results:
Lurasidone demonstrated non-inferiority to QXR on the PANSS total score. Adjusted mean±standard error change at week 6 on the PANSS total score was -26.42±2.02 and -27.33±2.01 in the lurasidone and QXR group, respectively. The mean difference score was -0.91 (95% confidence interval -6.35–4.53). The lurasidone group showed a greater reduction in PANSS total and negative subscale on week 1 and a greater reduction in end-point CGI-S score compared to the QXR group. Body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference in the lurasidone group were reduced, with significantly lower mean change compared to QXR. Endpoint changes in glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein levels were also significantly lower. The most common adverse drug reactions with lurasidone were akathisia and nausea.
Conclusion
Lurasidone 160 mg/day was found to be non-inferior to QXR 600 mg/day in the treatment of schizophrenia with comparable efficacy and tolerability. Adverse effects of lurasidone were generally tolerable, and beneficial effects on metabolic parameters can be expected.

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