OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare psychiatric comorbid disorders and psychological outcomes in children and adolescents with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: Subjects were divided into a child group (aged under 12 years) and an adolescent group (aged 12 years and above). All subjects were diagnosed with ADHD based on the DSM IV diagnostic criteria using the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Korean Version (K-SADS-PL-K). The K-SADS-PL-K was also used to evaluate those psychiatric disorders comorbid with ADHD. And the Korean version of the Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL) was used to examine the subjects' psychological outcomes. RESULTS: The rate of comorbidity in adolescent group was significantly higher than that in the child group. In particular, the adolescent group had a significantly higher ratio of comorbid conduct disorder and mood disorder than the child group. With respect to the predominantly inattentive type and Not Otherwise Specified, the school subscale scores on the K-CBCL for the children were significantly higher than those for the adolescents. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the psychiatric comorbidity may differ between adolescents and children with ADHD. Therefore when treating adolescents with ADHD, more careful assessment and treatment targeting a range of comorbidities are needed.
Adolescent ; Checklist ; Child ; Child Behavior ; Comorbidity ; Conduct Disorder ; Humans ; Mood Disorders

The aim of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics of prepubertal- and adolescent-onset bipolar disorder (BD) and to identify any clinical differences between patients with prepubertal- and adolescent-onset BD. We analyzed the clinical records of 53 inpatients with BD. These patients were divided into prepubertal-onset and adolescent-onset groups. We also divided the subjects into narrow, intermediate, and broad phenotypes according to the definitions proposed by Leibenluft and colleagues. Of the total sample, 16 patients (30.2%) were in the prepubertal-onset group and 37 (69.8%) were in the adolescent-onset group. Patients with prepubertal-onset BD were more likely to display an insidious clinical presentation, atypical features, and comorbid psychopathology. And the majority of the subjects, especially in the prepubertal-onset group, were classified under the intermediate and broad phenotypes. These results suggest that the clinical presentation of BD with prepubertal-onset is different from that of adolescent-onset BD. It is inferred that a significant number of patients with prepubertal- and adolescent-onset BD do not meet DSM-IV criteria for mania or hypomania from the results of this study.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the current prescription status by clinicians, the efficacy of once-daily OROS-methylphenidate (MPH) in the treatment of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and parent anticipation, concern and satisfaction about treatment. METHODS: The subjects with ADHD between 6 and 18 years were prescribed 18, 36, 54 mg OROS-MPH, depending on clinician's judgment. ADHD symptoms and improvement were assessed by clinicians using the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) and the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I). Parents were also measured the Conners Abbreviated Parent Rating Scale (CAPRS) and by the questionnaires inquiring about parental anticipation, concern, satisfaction about treatment at baseline and the 4th week after OROS-MPH trial. RESULTS: A total of 704 subjects were enrolled in the observational study and 645 completed the trial. There was an 18% increase in mean daily dose and 14% increase in mean daily dose per kg during 4 weeks. About 56% of subjects were scored 2 or less by the CGI-I. CAPRS scores were significantly decreased from 14.8 to 8.81. Before treatment, parents anticipated the symptom improvement firstly, followed by education material, parental education and non-pharmacological treatment. Parent concerned about side effect, growth, dependency and abuse. In general, 95% of parent were satisfied with OROS-MPH . CONCLUSION: According to this study, there was an increase in mean daily dose over the study period. OROS-MPH appears to be efficacious for decreasing the symptoms of ADHD and was satisfactory to parents of children with ADHD.
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* ; Child* ; Education ; Humans ; Judgment ; Observational Study ; Parents* ; Prescriptions* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The KIDSCREEN-52 quality-of-life (KIDSCREEN-52-HRQOL) is a relevant, worldwide tool used for assessing the health-related quality of life in children and adolescents. The purpose of this study was to define measurement properties of the Korean version of the KIDSCREEN-52 HRQOL. The original questionnaire was translated following international translation guidelines. Analysis regarding psychometric properties showed that the Cronbach-alpha ranged from 0.77 to 0.95. The correlation coefficient between the PedQL and KIDSCREEN-52 dimensions were high for the assessments of similar constructs. Therefore, the Korean version of the KIDSCREEN-52 was found to be suitable for use in Korean adolescents.
Adolescent ; Female ; Health Status ; Health Status Indicators ; *Health Surveys ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Psychometrics ; *Quality of Life ; Questionnaires ; Reproducibility of Results ; *Research Design

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to compare temperament/character patterns of patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders with normal controls. METHODS: The Junior Temperament and Character Inventory was given to a clinical sample of one hundred-four patients with ADHD (all male, mean age 10.46+/-1.45) and their parents. The diagnoses were done using DSM-IV criteria. Fifty ones of the patients with ADHD were confirmed by K-SADS-PL-K. One hundred forty four normal controls (all male, mean age 13.26+/-0.26) and their parents were enrolled to compare temperament and character patterns with ADHD patients. RESULTS: Novelty seeking was significantly higher in parental JTCI of patients with ADHD. Reward dependence, persistence, self directedness, cooperativeness and self transcendence (ST23) were significantly lower in both self and parental JTCI of patients with ADHD. Using K-SADS-PL-K, ADHD patients were divided into three groups with their ADHD subtype (combined type: 32, inattentive type: 11, NOS type: 7). Self transcendence (ST23) in self JTCI was significantly lower in ADHD patients of the inattentive type than those of the combined type. CONCLUSION: The temperament and character patterns of ADHD patients were different from those of normal controls. Novelty seeking was significantly higher in the ADHD patients. Reward dependence, persistence, self directedness, cooperativeness, self transcendence (ST23) were significantly lower in the ADHD patients.
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; Male ; Parents ; Reward ; Temperament*

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence and correlates of children who had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Seoul. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 2,429 children included in four elementary schools at Seoul. Parents and teachers completed the Korean ADHD Rating Scales (K-ARS) and the Korean version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-Kr). Child psychiatrists interviewed the children who demonstrated clinically significant scores on K-ARS and SDQ-Kr. Further assessments were conducted with other psychological tests if needed. RESULTS: 1) Of 2,429 children, 158 (6.5%) children had ADHD. 2) Compared to controls, ADHD children showed more frequently male preponderance, more single parent family, lower parental education level, more paternal no employment, poorer sibling relationship, fewer number of friends, and lower ability in language and mathematics. 3) In multivariate analysis, ADHD were associated with boys, single parent family, poor sibling relationship, and low language ability. Our stratified analysis by gender, there were association with single parent family and lower language ability in boys, and poor sibling relationship and lower mathematics ability in girls. CONCLUSION: This study found 6.5% prevalence of ADHD and ADHD were associated with gender, family environment, and academic achievements. Understanding of high-risk children would help in developing an ADHD school mental health program.
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* ; Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education ; Employment ; Female ; Friends ; Humans ; Language ; Male ; Mathematics ; Mental Health Services* ; Mental Health* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Parents ; Prevalence* ; Psychiatry ; Psychological Tests ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul* ; Siblings ; Single-Parent Family ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVES: Recent studies in autistic brain samples have shown diminished acetylcholine and nicotinic receptor activity. We hypothesized that acetylcholinergic enhancement may pharmacologically improve some autistic characteristics. Donepezil hydrochloride, a cholinesterase inhibitor, was studied in few studies which showed improvement in the expressive and receptive speech of autistic children. We therefore undertook an open label trial to evaluate this effect on speech function in Korean autistic children. METHODS: Twenty-one patients (18 males, 3 females, average age 77.9+/-23.7 months), with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder enrolled in a 12-week open label trial of donepezil hydrochloride. Changes were evaluated by PLS (Preschool language scale). Testing was administered at baseline and at 12-week follow-up. RESULTS: Test administered at baseline and at 12-week follow-up showed gains in both expressive and receptive speech functions. CONCLUSION: Donepezil hydrochloride, a cholinesterase inhibitor, appears to improve expressive and receptive speech functions of autistic children.
Acetylcholine ; Autistic Disorder* ; Brain ; Autism Spectrum Disorder* ; Child* ; Cholinesterases ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Receptors, Nicotinic

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to assess the psychometric properties and to investigate factor structure of the Korean version of Fear Survey Schedule for Children (FSSC-K). METHODS: 397 male and 366 female students in elementary, middle, and high school completed the FSSC-K, a anxiety scale, and a self-esteem scale to assess psychometric properties. 403 male and 175 female outpatients completed FSSC-K for confirmatory factor analysis. RESULTS: First, psychometric properties of the FSSC-K compared favorably with that of the FSSC-R. Second, students in elementary school were significantly higher in total score of the FSSC-K than in high school and females significantly higher than males. Third, a seven-factor solution provided the best conceptual fit for responding on the FSSC-K. Fourth, seven-factor model was most appropriate in result of confirmatory factor analysis in clinic-referred sample. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the FSSC-K have a good reliability and validity and seven-factor model was most appropriate in Korean children and adolescents.
Adolescent ; Anxiety ; Appointments and Schedules* ; Child* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Outpatients ; Psychometrics ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVES: Temperamental and sociodemographic characteristics of developmentally delayed preschool children have not been adequately studied. This research compares temperamental and sociodemographic characteristics in 3 groups of preschool children: those with communication disorder (CD), those with mental retardation (MR), and those with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). METHODS: One hundred ninety eight preschool children (160 males, 38 females, average age 37.8 months) with delayed language development were included in this study. Developmental status of children was assessed by Bayley scales of infant development II, and temperamental characteristics were assessed by PTQ (Parental Temperamental Questionnaire). Sociodemographic characteristics of children were assessed with a questionnaire developed by us. Subjects were divided into three groups according to Bayley scale and Childhood autism rating scale (CARS). RESULTS: CD groups showed higher scores on rhythmicity and persistence than MR and PDD groups. CD group showed lower scores on threshold of reaction than MR group. On intensity of reaction and quality of mood, CD group showed higher scores than the PDD group. Sociodemographic characteristics were not different among the 3 groups. CONCLUSION: There are differences in temperamental characteristics but not in sociodemographic characteristics among CD, MR, and PDD.
Autistic Disorder ; Child ; Child Development ; Child, Preschool* ; Communication Disorders ; Female ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Language Development* ; Male ; Periodicity ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Temperament* ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVES: Obesity is associated with a range of adverse health impacts on physical and psychosocial aspects. Psychosocial effects may include body image disturbance, negative self-perception and peer problem. We investigated the association between self perception of body image, real body mass index (BMI), and self-esteem in middle school students and explored factors that most attribute to self-esteem. METHODS: We randomly selected 477 middle school students ot 13 to15 years old. Informations on weight, height and BMI were colleted. Subjective perception of body image, wished body image, depression scales and self-esteem scales were checked by the participants. Subjects were divided into three groups according to their BMI values. Underweight, normal-weight and overweight groups were identified and compared with demographic data and several scales. RESULTS: Mean BMI of participants was within the normal range. Male students perceived their body images to be underweight, but female students perceived their body image to be overweight (x2=15.140, p=0.010). Wished body images were in counter directions. Male students wanted to gain weight, but female students wanted to lose weight (x2=39.432, p<0.001). In male students, overweight group had lower scores in total self-esteem, athletic competence and physical appearance than normal weight and underweight groups. In female students, overweight group had lower scores in physical appearance than normal weight and underweight groups. Self perception of body image was the most important factor in their total, athletic competence and physical appearance self-esteem. CONCLUSION: The self-esteem of early adolescents attributed to the self perception of body image and not by BMI or parent's perception of their child's body image.
Adolescent* ; Body Image* ; Body Mass Index ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Competency ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Reference Values ; Self Concept* ; Sports ; Thinness ; Weights and Measures