A Case of Nasopharyngeal Tuberculosis Which Was Difficult to Differentiate From Sarcoidosis / 대한이비인후과학회지

Nasopharyngeal mass is a disease that can cause unilateral or bilateral nasal obstruction. Common diseases that can cause nasal obstruction include antrochoanal polyp, adenoid remnants, juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis and nasopharyngeal sarcoidosis are two rare diseases that involve the nasopharynx and manifest as nasopharyngeal mass, and they share common histopathologic findings of granulomatous inflammation. We report a case where a patient complaining of nasal obstruction was found with nasopharyngeal mass with smooth surface, which was difficult to differentiate nasopharyngeal tuberculosis from nasopharyngeal sarcoidosis due to similar clinical manifestations and histopathologic findings.

Relationship Between Sleep and Alzheimer’s Dementia / 수면정신생리

Sleep is associated with Alzheimer’s dementia. Many previous researches have shown that inadequate sleep is one of the risk factors that predict Alzheimer’s dementia. The causal mechanism of this association is not clear. Slow wave sleep and REM sleep are critical stages in memory consolidation, and by sequential hypothesis both stages are important. Deposition of amyloid beta and tau, the main pathology of Alzheimer’s dementia, are also associated with sleep. This review provides the association of sleep and Alzheimer’s dementia, and future research is necessary to examine the specific mechanism of this association between sleep and Alzheimer’s dementia, which may lead to an early intervention in sleep.

Emotional Distress of the COVID-19 Cluster Infection on Health Care Workers Working at a National Hospital in Korea

Background@#Frontline healthcare workers responding to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) inevitably face tremendous psychological burden. Thus, the present study aimed to identify the psychological impact and the factors contributing to the likely increase in emotional distress of healthcare workers. @*Methods@#The participants include a total of 99 healthcare workers at Bugok National Hospital. Psychometric scales were used to assess emotional distress (12-item General Health Questionnaire; GHQ-12), depression symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9; PHQ-9), and post-traumatic stress disorder-related symptoms (Impact of Events Scale-Revised; IES-R). A supplementary questionnaire was administered to investigate the experience of healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19-infected patients. Based on the results of GHQ-12 survey, participants were categorized into two groups: distress and non-distress. All the assessed scores were compared between the two groups. A logistic regression model was constructed to identify factors associated with emotional distress. @*Results@#Emotional distress was reported by 45.3% (n = 45) of all participants. The emotionally distressed group was more likely to be female, manage close contacts, have higher scores on PHQ-9 and IES-R, feel increased professional risk, and report that proper infection control training was not provided. Female gender, managing close contacts, higher scores on PHQ-9, and a feeling that proper infection control training was not provided were associated with emotional distress in logistic regression. @*Conclusion@#Frontline healthcare workers face tremendous psychological burden during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, appropriate psychological interventions should be provided to the HCWs engaged in the management of COVID-19-infected patients.

A Study of Factors Influencing Quality of Life among Community Dwelling Elderly in Urban Community / 생물치료정신의학

Objectives@#：We examined the factors influencing quality of life among community dwelling elderly in Busan city. @*Methods@#：The subjects of this research were 160 community-dwelling elderly people without dementia and major depressive disorder. Korean version of World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment instrument-Abbreviated form (WHOQOL-BREF), Korean version of Short Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS-K) and Korean version of MiniMental State Examination (K-MMSE) were administered for each subject. Low quality of life was defined as below 60 points of WHOQOL-BREF. @*Results@#：The high quality of life group showed higher score of MMSE, lower score of GDS-K, higher educational level and married status. About a third of the subjects complained about low quality of life. In the low quality of life group, there were significant associations between quality of life and SGDS-K (p<0.001), but there was no association with education (p=0.708), marital status (p=0.410), and K-MMSE (p=0.683). @*Conclusion@#：Depressive disorders including minor depressive disorder and subsyndromal depression, might play a role in the quality of life rather than cognitive impairments in community-dwelling elderly people. Therefore, the treatments for the depressive mood should be considered in dealing with low quality of life.

Relationship between Insomnia and Depression in Type 2 Diabetics / 정신신체의학

OBJECTIVES: Many of the patients with type 2 diabetes are associated with sleep problems, and the rate of insomnia is known to be higher in the general population. The aims of this study were to know the frequency and clnical characteristics of insomnia, and related variables to insomnia in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: For 99 patients from 18 to 80 years of age (65 males and 34 females) with type 2 diabetes, interviews were performed. Total sleep time and sleep latency was evaluated. Insomnia was evaluated using the Korean Version of the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI-K). Severity of depressive symptoms were evaluted using the Korean version of the Hamilton Depression Scale (K-HDRM). According to the cutoff score of 15.5 on the ISI-K, subjects were divided into the group of type 2 diabetics with insomnia (N=34) and those without insomnia (N=65) at first, and then statistically analyzed. RESULTS: TInsomnia could be found in 34.34% of type 2 diabetics. Type 2 diabetics with insomnia had significantly more single or divorced (respectively 11.8%, p<0.05), higher total scores of the K-HDRS (11.76±5.52, p<0.001), shorter total sleep time (5.35±2.00 hours, p<0.001), and longer sleep latency (50.29±33.80 minutes, p<0.001). The all item scores of the ISI-K in type 2 diabetics with insomnia were significantly higher than those in type 2 diabetics without insomnia, that is, total (18.38±2.69), A1 (Initial insomnia) (2.97±0.76), A2 (Middle insomnia) (3.06±0.69), A3 (Terminal insomnia) (2.76±0.61), B (Satisfaction) (3.18±0.72), C (Interference) (2.09±0.97), D (Noticeability) (2.12±1.09) and E (Distress) (2.21±0.81) (respectively p<0.001). Variables associated with insomnia in type 2 diabetics were as following. Age had significant negative correlation with A3 items of the ISI-K (β=−0.241, p<0.05). Total scores of the K-HDRS had significant positive correlation, while total sleep time had significant negative correlation with all items of the ISI-K (respectively p<0.05). Sleep latency had significant positive correlation with total,, A1, B and E item scores of the ISI-K (respectively p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Insomnia was found in about 1/3 of type 2 diabetics. According to the presence of insomnia, clinical characteristics including sleep quality as well as quantity seemed to be different. Because depression seemed to be correlated with insomnia, clinicians should pay attention to early detection and intervention of depression among type 2 diabetics

Factors Influencing on the Cognitive Function in Type 2 Diabetics / 정신신체의학

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to know the frequency and the nature of cognitive dysfunction in type 2 diabetics, and to reveal influencing variables on it. METHODS: From eighty type 2 diabetics (42 males and 38 females), demographic and clinical data were obtained by structured interviews. Cognitive functions were measured using the MMSE-K (Korean Version of the Mini-Mental State Examination) and the Korean Version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K) tests. Severity of depression was evaluated by the Korean Version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (K-HDRS). RESULTS: 1) Among eighty type 2 diabetics, 13.75% were below 24 on the MMSE-K, while 38.8% were below 22 on the MoCA-K. 2) The total scores and subtest scores of the MoCA-K including visuospatial/executive, attention, language, delayed recall and orientation were significantly lower in type 2 diabetics with cognitive dysfunction (N=31) than those without cognitive dysfunction (N=49) (p < 0.001, respectively). 3) There were significant difference between type 2 diabetics with and those without cognitive dysfunction in age, education, economic status, body mass index, duration of diabetes, total scores of the K-HDRS, the MMSE-K and the MoCA-K (p < 0.05, respectively). 4) The total scores of the MoCA-K had significant correlation with age, education, body mass index, family history of diabetes, duration of diabetes, total scores of the K-HDRS (p < 0.05, respectively). 5) The risks of cognitive dysfunction in type 2 diabetics were significantly influenced by sex, education, fasting plasma glucose and depression. CONCLUSIONS: The cognitive dysfunction in type 2 diabetics seemed to be related to multiple factors. Therefore, more comprehensive biopsychosocial approaches needed for diagnosis and management of type 2 diabetes.

Times to Discontinue Antidepressants Over 6 Months in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate differences in discontinuation time among antidepressants and total antidepressant discontinuation rate of patients with depression over a 6 month period in a naturalistic treatment setting. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 900 patients with major depressive disorder who were initially prescribed only one kind of antidepressant. The prescribed antidepressants and the reasons for discontinuation were surveyed at baseline and every 4 weeks during the 24 week study. We investigated the discontinuation rate and the mean time to discontinuation among six antidepressants groups. RESULTS: Mean and median overall discontinuation times were 13.8 and 12 weeks, respectively. Sertraline and escitalopram had longer discontinuation times than that of fluoxetine, and patients who used sertraline discontinued use significantly later than those taking mirtazapine. No differences in discontinuation rate were observed after 24 weeks among these antidepressants. About 73% of patients discontinued antidepressant treatment after 24 weeks. CONCLUSION: Sertraline and escitalopram tended to have longer mean times to discontinuation, although no difference in discontinuation rate was detected between antidepressants after 24 weeks. About three-quarters of patients discontinued antidepressant maintenance therapy after 24 weeks.

Association of Cognitive Dysfunction with Thyroid Autoantibody / 정신신체의학

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to know the frequency of cognitive dysfunction among patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders, and to reveal influencing factors on it, especially to clarify association with autoimmune thyroid antibodies. METHODS: From sixty-five female patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders, demographic data were obtained by structured interview. Their cognitive funtions were measured using the MMSE-K and the MoCA-K tests. Depression was evaluated by the K-HDRS. RESULTS: 1) Among patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders, 7.69% of them were below 24 on the MMSE-K, while 10.77% were below 22 on the MoCA-K. The frequency of cognitive deficit was not significantly different according to having positivity to antimicrosomal antibodies or not. 2) The antimicrosomal antibody-positive patients had significantly higher antithyroglobulin antibody titers, antimicrosomal antibody titers, and TSH concentration, while had significantly lower free T4 levels(p<0.05, respectively). 3) The total scores of the MMSE-K and the MoCA-K had significant correlation with age, marital status, antithyroglobulin antibody titers and K-HDRS(p<0.05, respectively). 4) The regression analysis revealed that variables such as age, education, autoimmune thyroid antibodies, thyroid function and depression did not influence on cognitive function of patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Our results could not support that cognitive function of patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders had correlation with autoimmune thyroid antibodies.

Petrous Apex Cholesterol Granuloma Presenting as Endolymphatic Hydrops: A Case Report

A petrous apex cholesterol granuloma (PACG) is the most common lesion of the petrous apex mass. Affected patients present with various symptoms such as hearing loss, vertigo, headache, tinnitus, facial spasms, and diplopia. We report the case of a 32-yr-old man with a PACG, who was first misdiagnosed with Meniere's disease. He was placed on a low-salt diet, and prescribed medication from another hospital, for several months, but the symptoms persisted and worsened. The patient presented to the emergency room complaining of left facial twitching and numbness. To rule out a central neurological lesion, temporal bone magnetic resonance imaging was carried out and a 2.5 cm mass with high signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted imaging, without gadolinium enhancement, was found. Because of the hearing and facial problems, we drained cholesterol-bearing material via an infralabyrinthine approach using a computer aided image-guided surgical device, the BrainLAB(R). After the operation, the vertigo and hearing loss were no longer present. It is likely that the patent's Meniere's disease-like symptoms were due to the compression of the endolymphatic sac by a PACG.

The Study on Reliability and Validity of Korean Alcohol Urge Questionnaire(AUQ-K) for Alcohol Dependence

OBJECTIVES: The Alcohol Urge Questionnaire(AUQ) has been used in alcohol dependence treatment and research. The goal of this study is to develop of the Korean Alcohol Urge Questionnaire(AUQ-K). METHODS: To examine the AUQ-K's psychometric properties, responses from 104 patients admitted in alcohol dependence treatment facility were investigated. RESULTS: The internal consistency of the 8-item AUQ-K, measured by coefficient alpha, was high(Cronbach's alpha =0.78). AUQ-K scores showed significant correlation when the retest interval was 1 day(p<0.01). The AUQ-K's validity was investigated using correlational analyses with two other craving scales[the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale(OCDS) and the Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)]. The high correlations were obtained between total AUQ-K scores and total OCDS scores, and between total AUQ-K scores and the VAS scores(p<0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: The AUQ-K is a reliable and valid short scale for measurement of self-reported alcohol craving. This scale may offer significant advantages over existing single-item measures of alcohol craving in the fields of alcohol dependence treatment and research.

A Study of the Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale for Alcohol-Dependent Patients

OBJECTIVE: The Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) is a stronger predictor of subsequent drinking and relapse of alcohol dependence that can be administered more quickly and easily than other craving scales. The goal of this study was to develop the Korean version of the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS-K). METHODS: To examine the psychometric properties of the PACS-K, responses were chosen from 80 patients admitted to a treatment facility for alcohol dependence. RESULTS: The PACS-K possesses good psychometric properties, as assessed by Cronbach's alpha estimates (Cronbach's alpha=0.91). The test-retest reliability of the PACS-K showed high correlation (p<0.01) when the retest interval was 1 day. When the validity of the PACS-K was investigated using correlation analysis with two other craving scales (the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), high correlations were obtained between total PACS scores and total OCDS scores, and between total PACS scores and VAS scores (p<0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: The PACS-K is a reliable and valid measure of alcohol cravings, and it could be useful for predicting which individuals are at risk for subsequent relapse.

Expression of VEGF and its Receptors, Flk-1 and Flt-1 in Postnatal Murine Cerebellum / 체질인류학회지

VEGF and its receptors, flk-1 and flt-1 have been characterized as critical factors in angiogenesis and neurogenesis during development. Here we investigated the expression of VEGF and its receptors in postnatal murine cerebellum in terms of time-dependency and regional distribution. Immunofluorescence staining showed that the expression of VEGF was restricted only to Purkinje cells and was increased in their processes on the postnatal development. Flk-1 was expressed in Purkinje cellular bodies on postnatal day (P) 8, 11, 18. Flt-1 was expressed in Purkinje cells on P8 but gradually disappeared in all of cerebellar layers on the postnatal development. These results suggest that VEGF may contribute to postnatal development of cerebellum via its receptors. And they suggest that changes in the expression of VEGF and its receptors related to the difference in maturation and proliferation of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum.

Dementia with Parkinsonism

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a extrapyramidal movement disorder characterized by rigidity and bradykinesia. PD is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, affecting 1% of the population over the age of 60. Dementia is common and affects 40% of patients with PD during the course of the disease, the risk for the development of dementia being 6 times higher than in age-matched general population. In addition to motor abnormalities, there are several non-motor signs and symptoms that may create a considerable burden for patients and caregivers. Parkinsonism is a major feature of several dementing diseases. The parkinsonian disorders with dementia are Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD), parkinsonian-plus syndromes, sepcific heredodegenerative diseases, and secondary parkinsonisms. The parkinsonian-plus syndromes are neurodegenerative disorders charaterized by parkinsonism and at least one other nonparkinsonian neurological manfestation. This brief review concentrates on those disorders in which cognitive impairment/dementia and parkinsonism coexist: Parkinson's disease dementia, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration. The clinical and neuropsychological similarities and differences in these disorders are compared and contrasted along with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and dementia of Lewy bodies, highlighting the features critical for identifying the correct diagnosis.

Psychological Characteristics of the Patients with Myofascial Pain Syndrome in Shipyard Work

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to analyze the psychological factors which influence myofascial pain syndrome and to evaluate whether the electromyographic study on the myofascial trigger point in shipyard workers satisfied the diagnostic criteria of myofascial pain syndrome. METHOD: We studied 61 patients who were employed in the shipbuilding industry and diagnosed myofascial pain syndrome. We investigated them using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the visual analogue scale (VAS) and also obtained spontaneous electrical activity (SEA) by electromyographic study on myofascial trigger point. RESULTS: Mean VAS of subjects was 5.88. On the MMPI profile, the patients scored highest in psychopathic deviate, and then in hypochondriasis, depression and hysteria, in that order. The correlation of the VAS with results of electromyographic study and with the MMPI were not significant. In the electromyographic study, 19 patients out of 61 (31%) showed initial positive deflection on spontaneous electrical activities. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that considering the psychosocial aspect of myofascial pain syndrome, as well as organic aspects in hard manual labor such as shipyard work might be useful for treatment.

A study on the relationship between Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and liver function test in blue-collar workers / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the relationship between AUDIT score and liver function test. METHODS: AUDIT questionnaires were distributed to 440 blue-collar workers. We compared liver function test with firstly, normal and hazardous drinking as defined by WHO, and secondly, with normal, hazardous and harmful drinking as measured by Kim et al.(1999). We also compared influencing factors on abnormal liver function. RESULTS: By simple analysis in the normal BMI group, abnormal liver function was significantly affected by hazardous drinking (odds ratio 2.81) based on the guideline of WHO. By chi-square test for linear trend in the normal BMI group, abnormal liver function was significantly affected by hazardous drinking (odds ratio 1.23) and harmful drinking (odds ratio 2.14) based on the guideline of Kim et al.By multiple logistic regression analysis, abnormal liver function was significantly affected by AUDIT questionnaires No. 1-3 (odds ratio- high risk 2.39), age (odds ratio- thirties 1.95, forties 2.40, fifties 3.85), BMI (odds ratio- overweight 1.66, obesity 4.53), guideline by WHO (odds ratio- hazardous drinking 2.10), and guideline by Kim et al (odds ratio- harmful drinking 2.20) CONCLUSIONS: We found that the problem of alcohol drinking as measured by AUDIT was significantly associated with abnormal liver function. Therefore we suggest that AUDIT will be useful for the predictive test of abnormal liver function and screening test of hazardous and harmful drinking.

The occupational hazards of interns & residents during training / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTS: Residents are exposed to various hazards and harassed by sleep deficiency due to overwork. This study was performed to outline the health condition of residents and develop the ways of improving it. METHODS: A questionnaire was distributed to 881 army doctors who enrolled at the Korea Third Military Academy and The Armed Force Health Service School in 2000 with the exception of medical doctors who joined the armed service without going through intern and resident periods , dental and oriental medical doctors. 784 (89.0%) of the 881 questionnaires were returned of which 704 cases (79.9%). This should actually be 89.0% were regarded for analyses as being reliable data. RESULTS: More than 20% of residents were exposed to radiation, laser, disinfectants, anesthetic gas, and anticancer drugs during their training periods with preventive measures for each of these hazards taken in about 10% of the cases of the lesser hazards but in about 35% for the hazards from radiation and laser. 91.1% of residents had experience of needlestick injuries during their training periods with over 36.3% being exposed to patients with infection during that time. The cases contracting HBV and HCV diseases due to pricking are 2.3 and 0.6% respectively. The average number of night duties per month during a one-year resident's period was about 19. The average sleeping time on duty during a one-year residents was less than 4 hours .28.4% of respondents were not satisfied with their occupation, 96.5% felt tired from overwork and 69.5% wanted to change their occupation to another that would pay the same salary. CONCLUSION: Residents are exposed to harmful physical , chemical and biological factors, but the preventive care seldom undertaken. In addition, their overwork brings about lack of sleep which causes them problems when giving medical treatment to patients during their training periods. Despite the resident's interest in an occupation as a doctor, many intend to select other occupations if they can receive the same salary. According to the above results, preventative systems and measures should be prepared with environmental improvements for residents, and proper rewards for their overwork should be accomplished.

Neurocognitive Deficits during the Acute and Remitted Stages of Schizophrenia / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to examine whether the neurocognitive deficits of schizophrenia may be associated with certain features of symptomatology or a stable vulnerability of disease itself. METHOD: The 42 schizophrenic patients and 35 matched normal controls with sex, age, and education level were examined for their sustained attention, sensory register, executive function, concentration and attention, and verbal memory and learning in the acute and remitted stages of schizophrenia using Degraded Stimulus Continuous Performance Test, Span Apprehension Task, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Digit Span, and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, respectively. RESULTS: The schizophrenic patients showed significant deficits in the sustained attention, sensory register, executive function, and verbal memory and learning compared with the normal controls in both acute and remitted stages of schizophrenia. Regarding the concentration and attention, the schizophrenic patients showed significant deficits in the backward digit span compared with the normal controls during acute stages, but there was no difference between two groups in the forward and backward digit span during remitted stages. No difference was evident in the sustained attention, sensory register, executive function, and verbal memory and learning between acute and remitted stages of schizophrenia. But the forward and backward digit span of schizophrenic patients showed significant improvement in the remitted stages compared with acute stages. CONCLUSIONS: The sustained attention and sensory register deficits in the visual information processing associated with schizophrenia, detected by high-processing-load version of the Degraded Stimulus Continuous Performance Test and Span Apprehension Task, are highly possible to be stable vulnerability indicators. Executive functioning deficit in the schizophrenic patients detected by Wisconsin Card Sorting Test is not likely to be dependent on symptoms, so it is difficult to conclude that it is a stable vulnerability indicators of schizophrenia. In the digit span task, the forward digit span is more likely to be a episodic indicator but the backward digit span is likely to be a mediating vulnerability indicator. And the forward and backward digit span tasks seem to be tap different cognitive abilities that are differentially associated with the diathesis for schizophrenia. Some forms of the verbal memory and learning deficits associated with schizophrenia appear to be a stable vulnerability indicators.

The study about atropy of remnant pancreas after pancreaticoduodenectomy / 한국간담췌외과학회지

BACKGROUND: The pacreaticoduodenectomy is the procedure of choice for neoplasm of periampullary region. However, some complications such as glucose intolerance and maldigestion are developed on postoperative long-term follow-up. The aim of this study is to evaluate the volume change of remnant pancreas and difference of thickness change between PPPD and Whipples'operation. Material and METHODS: From November, 1988 to June, 1998, 110 patients with periampullary neoplasms had undergone pancreaticoduodenectomy in our hospital(Whipple procedure 67, pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy 43). We selected 19 patients who had regular interval follow-up during at least 1 year and didn't have operation related complications and recurrence(Whipple procedure 8, PPPD 11). We examined the size of body and tail of pancreas on preoperative CT and postoperative CT. Medical records were reviewed to find body weight changes, occurrence of glucose intolerance and steatorrhea. RESULTS: The size of body and tail of pancreas were 16.2+/-3.9mm and 12.1+/-5.0mm preoperatively, 10.8+/-3.9mm and 8.3+/-3.5mm postoperatively(p<0.001). However, there was no significant difference between Whipple and PPPD group. The body weight reduced to 95% of preoperative body weight, but it didn't show statistic sigificance. The occurrence of glucose intolerance and steatorrhea were insignificant. CONCLUSION: We conclude that pancreatic atrophy develop in patients underwent pancreticoduodenectomy. But, the difference of thickness change between PPPD and Whipples'group is no significance. We suggest that further study is need to find out the cause of pancreatic atrophy and correlation between atrophy and resection method such as duodenum preserving pancreatic head resection versus pancreaticoduodenectomy. Also we recommend that long-term follow-up study is necessary to find out correlation between pancreatic atrophy and pancreatic endocrine, exocrine insufficiency.

A Preliminary Study for the Development of the Family Burden Scale of the Schizophrenics / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This preliminary study was carried out to develop the Family Burden Scale(FBS) of the schizophrenics. METHODS: Ninety-four items were collected by interviewing in a free unstructured format with one relative of each 200 schizophrenic patients and reviewing foreign FBS's. Several professionals and relatives were asked to group and integrate them into several categories. Finally 36 burden items were chosen to constitute a FBS. The FBS was administered to the relatives of 135 schizophrenic, 22 anxiety disorder, 26 dysthymic disorder and somatization disorder, and 49 dementia patients for examining the reliability and validity. RESULTS: The FBS showed high test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and discriminant validity. The results of the factor analysis revealed five-factor solution. CONCLUSION: The FBS can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of various programs intended not only to reduce decompensation among schizophrenics, but also to alleviate family burden.

A case of Takayasu's arteritis with renovascular hypertension

No abstract available.