Prevalence, Correlates, and Comorbidity of 12-Month Tobacco Dependence among Ever-smokers in South Korea, During 1984-2001

The rate of dependence among ever-users of a drug indicates the risk of developing dependence once an individual has been exposed to the drug. This is the first study to investigate 12-month tobacco dependence (TD) among ever-smokers in a community-based population. Analyses were based on two national studies of representative samples aged 18-64 in 1984 (n=5,025) and in 2001 (n=6,275), conducted with household visits and face-to-face interviews. The rates of 12-month TD among ever-smokers in men showed no significant difference between 51.6% in 1984 and 50.6% in 2001. On the contrary, the rates in women significantly increased from 33.3% in 1984 to 52.8% in 2001. After adjusting for the sociodemographic variables, 'male gender' was significantly associated with 12-month TD among eversmokers in 1984, but not in 2001. 'Unmarried' was significantly associated in 2001 but not in 1984. 'Alcohol dependence' was the only psychiatric disorder associated with 12-month TD in both study years. In conclusion, 12-month TD was found in about 50% of ever-smokers, and gender differences between the rates of 12-month TD which was observed in 1984 disappeared in 2001. Individuals with 12-month TD showed higher comorbidity with alcohol dependence than ever-smokers without TD.

Korean Epidemiologic Catchment Area(KECA) Study for Psychiatric Disorderscc: Prevalence of Specific Psychiatric Disorders / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to estimate the prevalence of the DSM-IV psychiatric disorders in Korean population using the Korean version of Composite International Diagnostic Interview (K-CIDI). METHODS: Subjects were selected by taking multi-stage, cluster samples of 7,867 adult household residents, 18 to 64 years of age, in ten catchment areas. Total 78 trained interviewers administered the K-CIDI to the selected respondents, from June 1 to November 30, 2001. RESULTS: Total 6,275 respondents completed the interview. Some 33.5% of respondents reported at least one lifetime disorder, 20.6% reported at least one-year disorder, and 16.7% reported at least one-month disorder. The most common lifetime disorders were alcohol abuse/dependence (17.24%), nicotine dependence/withdrawal (11.19%), specific phobia (5.16%), and major depressive disorder (4.25%). The lifetime prevalence of substance abuse/dependence (0.25%) and schizophrenia (0.16%) was very low. Nicotine and alcohol use disorder showed very high male/female ratio. Mood disorder and anxiety disorder were more prevalent among female than male. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was high. In comparison with other studies, remarkable differences in distributions of psychiatric disorders across the areas and times were observed.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Dementia in a Rural Area

OBJECTIVES: To survey the incidence and risk factors of dementia on a rural elderly cohort. METHODS: Two follow-up studies in 2000 and 2003 were done on 966 non-demented elderly residents who participated in 1st wave in 1996. A two-phase study was conducted using the Korean version of Psychogeriatric Assessment Scale in phase I and the diagnostic interview according to DSM-III R criteria by psychiatrists in stage II. RESULTS: Of the 966 elderly residents who had not dementia in 1996 prevalence study, 592 residents in 2nd wave and 508 residents in 3rd wave completed the incidence study. Dementia was incident in 96 residents. The annual incidence rates per 1000 persons were 27.2 (CI:22.2-33.2). Annual incidence rates were rapidly raised from 10.6 (CI:5.3-21.2) in the age range 65-69 years to 88.9 (CI:55.3-143) in the age range 85+. Older age was a risk factor of dementia (p<0.05), and Education was a preventive factor of dementia (p<0.001). But, female, history of depression, alcohol use history and tobacco use history were not risk factors. CONCLUSION: The annual incidence rates in Korea were higher than those of other countries. High percentage of no educated person (58.8%) in this community may be related to the higher incidence rates. Weighting to sex and age in normal elderly population in Korea at 2003, The annual incidence rates of dementia per 1000 persons were 25.2, and the numbers of newly incident elderly persons every year were approximately hundred thousand.

Prevalence of Suicide Behaviors(Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempt) and Risk Factors of Suicide Attempts in Junior and High School Adolescents / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Aims of this study were 1) to estimate prevalence rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt, 2) to find out whether the gender difference and age difference(13-15 years vs 16-18 years) for suicide behaviors exist, 3) to analyse correlates of suicide attempts among junior and high school adolescents aged 13-18 years old. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was used in a cluster random sample of 2,203 school adolescents(male 1,105, female 1,098). Data were obtained on a wide range of constructs including suicidal ideation and attempts during past 2 weeks, depressive symptoms, symptoms of DSM-IV alcohol dependence, family structure, socioeconomic status, smoking, satisfaction with school achievements, and subjective health status. Chi-square test were done for analysing gender difference and age difference of suicide behaviors. Statistical analyses including uni-variate and multi-variate logistic regression analysis were done for each sex, respectively. RESULTS: 1) The prevalence of suicide ideation during past 2 week was 30.7% in the total sample. The prevalence rates of male and female ideators were 26.9% and 34.9% respectively. The prevalence of suicide attempt during past 2 week was 5.3% in the total sample. The prevalence of suicide attempt in males was 3.4% and 7.3% in females. 2) Gender difference was significant. That is, female respondents showed higher rate of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt. In our study age difference was found only at the rate of suicide attempt. That is, older adolescents(16-18 years) showed only statistically significant higher rate of suicide attempt than younger adolescents(13-15 years). 3) Multi-variate logistic regression analysis revealed that the correlates for suicide attempt were female, moderate to severe depressive symptoms, alcohol dependence in the total sample. In males the correlate for suicide attempt was alcohol dependence. In females, were moderate to severe depressive symptoms, and alcohol dependence. CONCLUSION: Depressive symptoms, alcohol dependence, presence of suicidal ideation were strong predictors for suicide attempts. This suggest that early detection of treatment of depression and alcohol dependence is important and psychiatric approach and follow-up be needed for the prevention of suicide.

Development of a Korean Version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (K-CIDI) / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to develop a Korean version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview(K-CIDI). METHODS: The Composite International Diagnostic Interview(CIDI) is a comprehensive, fully standardized interview that can be used to assess psychiatric disorders and provide diagnoses. The K-CIDI was developed according to the guidelines provided by the WHO. The reliability and validity of the K-CIDI was evaluated by examining 135 psychiatric patients and five community residents. Subjects were jointly interviewed twice with a one-week interval. A psychiatric resident and clinical psychologist jointly determined clinical diagnoses using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. RESULTS: Notable modifications were done in sex-related expression, health system and help-seeking behavior, subjects for phobic disorder, and kinds of alcohol and substance. Long and complex questions were divided into two or more questions. Field test and back-translation of the K-CIDI confirmed the appropriateness of the translation of the CIDI. The inter-rater reliability, test/retest reliability, and validity of the K-CIDI indicated kappa values ranging from 0.86-1.00, 0.42-0.89, and 0.50-1.00, respectively. CONCLUSION: The K-CIDI was deemed to be appropriate for the sociocultural background of Koreans. The reliability and validity of the K-CIDI were judged to be exceptionally acceptable.

Longitudinal Study of Cerebral Blood Perfusion Deficits in 12 Cases of Dementia of Alzheimer's Typer / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the pattern of longitudinal changes in cerebral blood perfusion defects using SPECT in patients with dementia of Alzheimer's type . METHOD: Twelve patients with dementia of Alzheimer's type(10 male, 2 female; mean age 73.25+/- 10.62 years), diagnosed by the criteria of the DSM IV and the NINCDS-ADRDA, and ten normal comparison subjects(7 male, 3 female; mean age 75.10+/-5.76 years) were recruited. They were rated by Mini-Mental Status Examination, Mattis dementia Rating Scale, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. rCBF(regional cerebral blood flow) was measured using 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT at the initial study in all subjects, but rCBF was remeasured only in the patients after the follow-up period of average 2 years. SPECT scans of dementia patients and comparison subjects were analyzed by three- dimensional volume of interest method. RESULTS: Results were as follows. 1) There were significant perfusion defects in the bilateral frontal and temporoparietal areas in patients with dementia compared with normal comparison subjects at the baseline evaluation. More extensive perfusion defects including left superior frontal and medial temporal areas were observed in the follow-up SPECT scan compared with baseline scan. 2) There was significant negative correlation between rCBF of bilateral temporal lobe at the baseline scan and the rate of decline of scores of MMSE-K and Mattis dementia rating scale. 3) Various areas of the brain showed correlations between rCBF at the baseline scan and the rate of decline of scores of five subscales of Mattis dementia rating scale. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional VOI approach using SPM analysis showed the characteristic perfusion defects and pattern of longitudinal changes in the patients of dementia of Alzheimer's type, which may be overlooked by the conventional region-of-interest technique. This alteration in rCBF may be closely related to the pathophysiological process of dementia of Alzheimer's type.

Three and Half Year Follow-Up Study on a Rural Elderly Cohort: Prevalence, Incidence, and Service Utilization of Dementia and Depressive Disorders

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the incidence rate and associated factors of dementia in the elderly of rural community. METHODS: This study was three and half year follow-up of Yonchon cohort, participated in a prevalence study of dementia and depression in 1996 (N=1,037). A two-phase study was conducted using the Korean version of Psychogeriatric Assessment Scale in phase I and the diagnostic interview according to DSM-IV criteria by two psychiatrists in stage II. RESULTS: Of the 968 elderly residents who had not dementia in 1996 prevalence study, 596 residents completed the incidence study. The annual incidence rate for total dementia, dementia of Alzheimer's type and vascular dementia were 1.88% (1.86% in men, 1.98% in women), 1.58% (1.39% in men, 1.80% in women) and 0.34% (0.45% in men, 0.25% in women), respectively. Increasing age was significantly associated with total dementia and dementia of Alzheimer's type (p<0.01, p<0.05, respectively). There was statistically significant difference of the three and half year mortality rate between the dementia patients who were diagnosed in prevalence study and the non-dementic elderly (chi2=28.89, df=1, p<0.001). Only the 2.8% of newly onset dementia patients sought psychiatric service in the previously year. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of dementia among the Korean elderly in a rural community was relatively consistent with the epidemiological studies of other countries. Age was the only risk factor for total dementia and dementia of Alzheimer's type. Very few dementia patients were treated by psychiatrist.

Prevalence and Correlates of Depressive Symptoms among the Adolescents in an Urban Area in Korea / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVE: We tried to see the prevalence and correlates of symptoms of depression in an adolescent population in Korea, and collected the basal data for mental health promotion of adolescents. METHOD: We sampled 2,203 adolescents among 71,102 adolescents living in Puchon City in Korea by the randomized clustered sampling method. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale(CES-D) was used to measure depressive symptoms. The measurements were conducted through visiting schools. Of the 2,203 adolescents(aged 13 to 18) who were sampled, 1,972 persons completed CES-D and sociodemographic questions. The response rate was 89.5%. RESULT: 1) The prevalence rate of 'probable' depressive symptoms with cutoff point 16 was 34.3% in the boys and 47.5% in the girls. 2) The prevalence rate of 'definite' depression symptoms with cutoff point 25 was 17.4% in the boys and 20.6% in the girls. 3) We could not find any meaningful difference in the average of CES-D from the districts where they live, the course of their education, and their religions. 4) We used the logistic regression analysis to find the risk factor for adolescent depression in these samples. Among the variables of sex, age, economic status considered by self, family structure, satisfaction with school degree, it was most important risk factor in adolescent depression to dissatisfy with their school degrees. Compared it with fully satisfied group, the odds ratio was 8.850. The group of mid to low socioeconomic status had the odds ratio 2.007 compared with high socioeconomic status. The girls had the odds ratio 1.307 compared with the boys. 5) The male versus female ratio was 1:1.38 in the total students and 1:1.88 in the middle school students, and 1:1.13 in the high school students. The male versus female ratio was relatively low in the high school students. It was the result of the high prevalence of depressive symptoms in the high school boys, and it was due to the large burden to their school degrees. CONCLUSION: The depressive symptoms checked by CES-D were very common among adolescents in Korean urban area. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 34.3% in the boys and 47.5% in the girls. The result that male versus female ratio was relatively low in the high school adolescents, and the group that were dissatisfied with the school degrees had high risk of depressive symptoms, revealed that the students had large burden to their school degrees and so they needed special concerns.

Sleep Habits and Insomnia-associated Factors in the Urban Elderly: Demographic, Health and Psychobehavioral Correlates / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to analyze sleep habit and investigate the association between insomnia and demographic, health and psycho-behavioral symptomatology in Korean urban elderly. METHOD: A total of 723 community residents aged 65 years or older were surveyed by two stage, random cluster sampling method. The response rate was 76.2%. Interviewers performed door to door visits and administered a questionnaire about sleep, past medical history, and several scales as the Psychogeriatric Assessment Scale (PAS), the short form Quality of Life Scale (SF-36) and etc. RESULTS: The mean scores are as follows: retiring time was ten-sixteen p.m., wake-up time was five twenty two a.m., duration of sleep was seven hours and six minutes. Among the elderly, 11.6% and 14.8% of the subjects reported chronic and intermittent difficulty in sleeping, respectively. The patients with back pain and history of stroke complained of more insomnia symptoms in univariate analysis. In ANCOVA analysis, insomnia symptoms were associated with an old age, depressive symptoms in male. Bodily pain and history of dermatologic disease were additional risk factors in female. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest insomnia is one of most common health problems among elderly Koreans living in the community. Strong positive relationship between depressive symptoms and insomnia were found. Further research is needed to explore the causal relationship between insomnia and risk factors.

Development of Korean Version of Structured Clinical Interview Schedule for DSM-IV Axis I Disorder: Interrater Reliability / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVE: Accurate diagnosis and assessment for psychiatric disorders is crucial for research, as well as for clinical practice. Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV(SCID-RV) is a less time-consumimg and more accurate structured diagnostic interview form. It can be used by clinical professions and is known for a reliable diagnostic tool. Present study was conducted to develop Korean version of SCID-RV and to test the inter-rater reliability. METHOD: The authors have translated original SCID-RV into Korean, and revised in parallel with sociocultural background of Korea. Ninety patients from two psychiatric hospitals, both outpatient and inpatient, were interviewed and rated independently by three raters. RESULT: The kappa coefficients for most of illnesses, such as major depressive disorder, dysthymia, schizophrenia, alcohol abuse and dependency, anxiety disorder and eating disorder were excellent (>0.70) in the evaluation of current disorders. And the kappa coefficients for bipolar disorder, delusional disorder, agoraphobia, undifferentiated somatoform disorder, and hypochondriasis were acceptable (>0.40) in the evaluation of current disorders. In the evaluation of lifetime disorders, the concordant rates of all the diagnoses except bipolar disorder and undifferentiated somatoform disorder were excellent. Lack of hierarchy in DSM-IV allows for multiple Axis I diagnoses. Mean numbers of Axis I diagnoses per subject assigned by the three raters were 1.5-1.7. CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm that SCID-RV yields highly reliable diagnoses. SCID-RV is recommended for accurate diagnosis in clinical practice and research on psychiatric disorders.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Dementia and Depression in the Elderly / 신경정신의학

An epidemiological survey was conducted to estimate the prevalence of and identify the risk factors of dementia and depression in the elderly between December 1997 and August 1998 in Yonchon County, Korea. A total of 1,037 elderly aged 65 years and over underwent a two phase diagnositc procedure. Multiple stage, random cluster sampling method was used to select the subjects. Response rate was 85.4%. For the 1st stage screening survey, the Korean Psychogeriatric Assessment Scale was used as a primary screening tool, which had already been standardized in Korea, and functioning and social support were assessed by ADL, IADL and APGAR. At the 2nd stage, diagnoses were confirmed according to the DSM-III-R. And several other scales were used as supporting information for differential diagnoses and for evaluating severity. 1) Age-sex adjusted prevalence(%)[95% C.I.] of dementia was 6.83[6.12-7.54](male 6.34[5.29-7.40]female 7.09[6.14-8.04]). Prevalence of the dementia of the Alzheimer's type was 4.17[3.61-4.74](male 2.42[1.76-3.08], female 5.31[4.48-6.14]) and that of the vascular dementia was 2.38 [1.95-2.81](male 3.46[2.67-4.25], female 1.63[1.16-2.10]). 2) Age-sex adjusted prevalence(%)[95% C.I.] of depressive disorder was 10.99 [10.11-11.87] (male 7.59[6.44-8.73], female 13.46[12.20-14.73]). Among depressive disorders, prevalence(%) [95% C.I.] of major depressive disorder was 7.50[6.76-8.26](male 4.42[3.54-5.31], female 9.78 [8.68-10.88]), that of dysthymic disorder was 2.02[1.62-2.42](male 1.37[0.86-1.87], female 2.46 [1.88-3.03]) and that of depressive disorder NOS was 1.49[1.15-1.83](male 1.85[1.47-2.23], female 1.28[0.96-1.60]). 3) Five statistically significant risk factors of the dementia of the Alzheimer's type were identified: age over 85(O.R.=10.27), illiteracy(O.R.=4.01), alcohol abuse(O.R.=2.98), smoking[030(O.R.=4.60)] and family history of dementia(O.R.=4.85). 4) Three statistically significant risk factors of the vascular dementia were identified: illiteracy (O.R.=3.78), history of CVA(O.R.=26.76) and smoking over 40 pack year (O.R.=11.15). 5) Three statistically significant risk factors of the depressive disorder were identified: age between 75 and 79(O.R.=2.87), past history of CVA(O.R.=3.33) and family history of depressive disorder (O.R.=7.16).

Prevalence, Incidence, and Risk Factors of Dementia and Depressive Disorders of the Elderly Residing in the Community: A Two Stage One-year Follow-up Study

OBJECTIVES: This study is to evaluate the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors of cognitive impairment and depression in the elderly in community. METHODS: This study was a one-year follow-up of Yonchon cohort aged 65 years and over, selected initially in a prevalence study of dementia and depression. A sample of 790 elderly persons who completely interviewed in a prevalence study was re-interviewed with one year interval using the Korean version of Psychogeriatric Assessment Scale (K-PAS). RESULTS: A total of 631 elderly persons was completely interviewed in this follow-up study. The prevalence of cognitive impairment and depression were 21.4% (11.9% in males and 28.3% in females) and 8.4% (6.3% in males and 10.0% in females), respectively. The one-year incidence of cognitive impairment and depression were 11.4% (5.7% in males and 16.2% in females) and 5.1% (3.1% in males and 6.6% in females), respectively. The risk factors of the prevalence of cognitive impairment were education, age, sex, history of stroke, and economic status. The risk factors of the prevalence of depression were family history of depression, history of stroke, marital status, and economic status. The risk factors of the incidence of cognitive impairment were female gander, education, age, alcohol use disorder, marital status, and economic status. The risk factors of the incidence of depression were low education, disrupted marital status, and poor economic status. CONCLUSION: Cognitive impairment and depression were frequent in the elderly. Several risk factors for cognitive impairment and depression were identified. These results suggest that comprehensive health and social services were needed for the elderly.

Wish to Die and Associated Factors in the Rural Elderly

No abstract available.

Validation of Geriatric Depression Scale, Korean Version(GDS) in the Assessment of DSM-III-R Major Depression / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The authors attempted to evaluate the diagnostic validity of the Korean version, Geri-atric Depression Scale(GDS) for screening geriatric DSM-III-R major depression among clinical pop-ulations. METHODS: Through of preliminary trials 3 times, the authors translated GDS including Short form Geriatric Depression Scale(SGDS) into Korean. GDS, SGDS, HRS-D, CES-D was adminis-tered to 88 elderly psychiatric patients(35 major depressives, 51 were non-major depression) and also Diagnostic Interview Schedule(DIS-III-R) was administered independently to diagnoses DSM-III-R major depression. Reliability and validity test 5, optimal cut-off point estimation, and ROC curve analysis were done to investigate the diagnostic validity of GDS and SGDS. RESULTS: Internal consistency-reliability and concurrent validity of GDS, SGDS associated with other depression scales(HRS-D, CES-D) were excellent. Content validity and discriminant validity which differentiate DSM-III-R major depression from non-major depression was also good. The authors suggest the score '17' as the optimal cut-off point of GDS for screening DSM-III-R major depression among clinical populations and the score '8' as optimal cut-off score of SGDS. ROC curve analysis revealed wide AUC of both GDS and SGDS, which indicates its high diagnostic validity in assessing DSM-III-R major depression. The GDS and SGDS were found to be highly correlated(r=0.9594) and any difference of AUC between both scales in ROC curve analysis were not found. This finding suggests that SGDS can be an adequate substitute for GDS. CONCLUSION: The GDS and SGDS are valid and reliable case finding tools for screening DSM-III-R major depression among clinical populations in Korea but relatively high cut-off point demands the further evaluation in the viewpoint of culturally determined style of response for the depression questionnaire in Korea.