The Standardization of the Shortened Premenstrual Assessment Form and Applicability on the Internet / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study are to investigate the reliability and validity of shortened premenstrual assessment form and the applicability to internet interface. METHOD: The total of 55 subjects were included in this study. Among them, 28 subjects had premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and the other 27 subjects did not. All subjects performed the shortened premenstrual assessment form through internet interface in the homepage of Severance Woman Clinic. The diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder was determined by prospective assessment for 2 months. RESULTS: The shortened premenstrual assessment form consists of 3 factors: affect, pain and water retention. The test-retest reliability of this scale was 0.80, and internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) was 0.91. The correlation coeffeciecy between scores of the premenstrual assessment form and the shortened premenstrual assessment form was 0.92. The difference of the scores of the shortened premenstrual assessment form between the group of premenstrual dysphoric disorder and the group of non-premenstrual dysphoric disorder was significant (t=5.57, p<0.001). Discriminant analysis also revealed that the shortened premenstrual assessment form was useful to differentiate between premenstrual dysyphoric disorder and non-premenstrual dysphoric disorder (eigenvalue: 0.60, canonical correlation coefficiency: 0.61, Wilk's lambda: 0.63). The cut-off point to differentiate between two groups was 27, and sensitivity (75.0%) and specificity (76.9%) of this scale for premenstrual dysphoric disorder was acceptable. CONCLUSION: In summary, the shortened premenstrual assessment form appeared to be reliable and valid for the assesment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. And the results of this study also suggest that the shortened premenstrual assessment form is a useful tool for internet interface application.

Relationship among Cognitive Style, Perceived Stress and Premenstrual Symptoms / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The cognitive model has been suggested to explain the pathogenesis of premenstrual syndrome. In this model, it is suggested that negative cognitive style may contribute to the experience of severe premenstrual symptoms. We conducted this study to examine the relationship among cognitive style, perceived stress, and premenstrual symptoms. METHOD: Eighty six reproductive aged women older than 18 years were included in this study, to complete the Premenstrual Assessment form, Korean version of automatic thoughts Ques-tionnaire-Positive, Korean version of Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire-Negative, Korean version of Dysfunctional Attitude Scale, Perceived Stress Questionnaire. Among the subjects, twenty one were diagnosed to have a premenstrual dysphoric disorder which was determined by prospective assessment for two months. The relationships among the variables were analyzed by examining Pearson correlation coefficiency. REULTS: In the subjects without premenstrual dysphoric disorder, there exist significant correlation between the premenstrual symptom and the score of Korean-version of automatic thoughts Questionnaire-Negative(r=.36, p<.01). In the subjects with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, premenstrual symptoms had significant correlation to automatic thoughts Questionnaire-Negative(r=.65, p<.01) and Perceived Stress Questionnaire(r=.52, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Our findings show the significant relationship between negative cognitive style and premenstrual symptoms. This relationship was more prominent in the subjects with premenstrual dysphoric disorder compared to ones without it. Our findings suggest that cognitive style and stress perception may influence on the severity of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome or premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and that cognitive behavior therapy is a possible effective therapeutic strategy for those with severe premenstrual symptoms.

Quality of Life after Stroke: A Two-Month Follow-Up / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Currently, there is a growing interest of Quality of Life(QOL) in stroke patients. This study aimed at describing the temporal change of QOL in stroke patients and identifying factors that influence QOL of stroke survivors 2 month after the event. METHODS: Data were collected on 98 stroke patients using a two month prospective follow-up design, using WHO QOL scale. The difference of the QOL between in acute phase and 2 month after stroke was compared with by t-test. The relationships between sociodemographic variables, depression, anxiety, social support and neurological variables, and QOL were examined by correlation analysis. Multiple regression analyses were performed to explore the predictors of QOL. RESULTS: The overall QOL domains and total scores except the social support domain were left unchanged 2 month after stroke, even though mean anxiety scores had decreased and neurological disabilities had improved during the 2 month course. Depression, anxiety, social support and neurological disabilities were significantly correlated with total QOL and its sub-domains. Among these factors, Depression was of paramount importance in predicting QOL in acute phase and 2 month after stroke. CONCLUSION: Although the mean of QOL in stroke patients had not significantly changed 2 month after stroke, QOL and its sub-domains were significantly correlated with depression and neurological disability. This study suggests that psychiatric intervention and holistic approach would be required after stroke as well as neurological treatment.

Development of the Alcohol-Related Visual Stimuli Inducing Alcohol Craving / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Craving is the subjectively experienced motivational states inducing ongoing drug use in addicts. It also proceeds or precipitates relapse episode in drug addicts. Alcohol craving may be triggered by exposure to an object, environment, or emotion that a person has come to associate with alcohol consumption. Such stimuli are called alcohol-related cues. Among alcohol-related cues, alcohol-related visual stimuli are simple and reliable methods in inducing alcohol craving. The object of this study is to develop alcohol-related visual stimuli which induce alcohol craving reliably and to investigate the characteristics of alcohol-related visual stimuli in alcoholics. METHODS: First, the authors developed 27 alcohol and drinking color photos as candidate stimuli. Then, 3 photos which induce alcohol craving most were chosen as alcohol-related visual stimuli respectively by alcoholics, alcoholism high risk group and normal control group. The authors compared characteristics, situation and complexity of selected alcohol-related visual stimuli among three groups. RESULTS: 1) 'A glass of Soju', 'Drinking together' and 'A glass of beer, a bottle of beer and a sidedish' were chosen as alcohol-related visual stimuli which induce most craving in alcoholics, alcoholism high risk group and normal control group respectively. 2) Alcohol photo(stationary object) induced craving most in alcoholics in contrast with drinking photo(situation) in social drinkers. Alcoholics clung to alcohol per se, not to atmosphere or situation of drinking, and alcoholism high risk group felt craving by the expectation of drinking situation. Normal control group showed no consistent finding in choosing alcohol-related visual stimuli. CONCLUSION: With these results, the author suggests classical conditioning as psychopathological model of alcohol craving with alcoholics. In contrast with alcoholics, alcohol craving of alcoholism high risk group may be related to alcohol specific memory or positive expectancies about alcohol use. These finding may support different neurobiological mechanisms of alcohol craving between alcoholics and social drinkers.

Hypersexuality and Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors in a Stroke Patient with the Left Mesial Frontal Cortex and Both Basal Ganglia Lesion

Hyposexuality after stroke has been frequently observed, but hypersexuality as a sequela of stroke has not been commonly documented. We report a patient who exhibited hypersexuality and obsessive-compulsive behaviors after stroke in the region of the left mesial frontal cortex and both basal ganglia. At 2 months after stroke, he visited psychiatric unit due to these symptoms. His motor function was almost full recovered. He was treated with fluvoxamine and perphenazine, With two-month medication, his hypersexuality and obsessive-compulsive behavior disappeared. This case may indicate that basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuit plays an important role in the mediation of sexual behavior and obsessive-compulsive behavior. Since changes in sexual activity may not be spontaneously reported, a systemic inquiry into patient's sexual functioning after infarction in frontal lobe or basal ganglia is warranted.

The Relationship between Mystic Experience and Dissociation / 신경정신의학

Mystic experience is highly evaluated so as to be called as core of experience in the religious world and also becomes the subject of concern among various social groups. Psychologists and psychiatrists are concerned about it, but because of its individuality and subjectivity, the scientific approach was difficult so that only the description of mystic experience has been researched so far. There is a current report saying that mystic experience is the one of the dissociative phenomenon. And there are a lot of reports saying that dissociation is related to childhood trauma experience and rises as much as psychopathological tendencies exist. Consequently, based on the reference that mystic experience is connected with dissociation, the study has been progressed to find out the level of dissociation, psychopathology and trauma experience for religious people who experienced mystic experience but excluding patients. Among them, it has been compared between group of non-mystic experience (n=35) and group of mystic experience (n=42). We used Dissociative Experience scale-Korean version (DES-K), Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), questionnaire about trauma. The result is that the group of mystic experience had a significantly higher tendency to have dissociation and trauma experience than group of non-mystic experience. However, the difference of psychopathology has not been found.

Relationship between Religious Conversion Experience and Narcissistic Personality Trend / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Although there have been many studies in the academic fields outside theology about religious conversion experience, only a few objective methodological research efforts have been possible because of difficulties in scientific approach due to the subjective's individual and diverse characteristics. Recently, research from a psychological and psychiatric point of view has begun. There are many different viewpoints toward religious conversion: from a psychoanalytic perspective, regarding it as a projection of the father figure; to negative attitudes such as sexual repression, exhibitionism, neurosis, psychosis, dissociation, organic brain disease, aphasia and compensation for deprivation; and also to positive viewpoints that there is no psychopathology, that the experience of religious conversion exert an adaptive effect, and that it is a phenomenon which happens to persons who have a well-integrated personality. From the viewpoint of psychoanalytic self-psychology, religious conversion is self-object seeking behavior in people who have a narcissistic personality trend. In this study we tried to demonstrate the association between religious conversion and narcissistic personality trend. Particularly, we attempted to show the hypothesis that the crisis conversion group has a higher association with the narcissistic personality trend. METHOD: We divided the subjects into 3 groups (crisis conversion group, progressive conversion group, non-conversion group) and analyzed the differences in the scales of narcissistic personality according to the diagnostic criteria (diagnostic criteria for narcissistic personality disorder based on prototypicality rating and narcissistic personality inventory). RESULT: The results showed that the crisis conversion group had a significantly higher value than the other 2 groups for narcissistic personality inventory and factor II (Leadership/Authority) and factor III (Superiority/Arrogance), showing that the crisis conversion group had a higher narcissistic personality trend. CONCLUSION: The crisis conversion group has more narcissistic personality trend than other 2 groups and the narcissistic personality trend which was found in the crisis conversion group may have a more adaptive and functioning dimension in contrast to a pathological and maladaptive one.

Development of a Cognitive Rehabilitation Program for Patients with Schizophrena / 신경정신의학

OBJECTS: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cognitive differentiation training program-Korean version(a training program of attention and conceptual abilities) on cognitive function, psychopathology and problem solving skills in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: A total of patients diagnosed as schizophrenia using DSM-IV were randomly assigned to 2 groups. The training group went through a total of 22 sessions of cognitive differentiation training (60min/sessionX2sessions/wkX11wks). The attention-placebo control group received psychoeducation program during the same period. Arithmetic, vocabulary, similarities, picture completion of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Korean version, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, and Social Problem Solving Scales were administered to all patients, both before and after the training program. RESULTS: In the arithmetic scores(F=6.35, af=1, p=0.018) of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Korean version, and total scores(F=6.35, af=1, p=0.018) and problem solving skill scale scores (F=4.88, af=1, p=0.036) of social problem solving scale, interaction effects of training was significant. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that cognitive differentiation training program-Korean version is effective on improving auditory attention and problem solving skills in patients with schizophrenia.

Cerebral Functional Localization Related to Attentional Work in Patients with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The attentional deficit is a core symptom in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The major brain areas related to attention are frontal and parietal lobes. Abnormalities of frontal and parietal lobes in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have been reported in previous researches. But, most of the researches are based on comparing patients and controls while they are in resting condition. Further research on funtional changes related to performance of attentional task is needed to understand the attentional dysfuntion in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In this study, the localized functional changes of the brains related to attentional task in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the differences of them between patients and normal controls were examined. Also the effect of the methylphenidate on functional changes related to attentional task in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder was examined. METHOD: Quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) was applied to examine the fuctional changes related to attentional task. Subjects of this study consisted of 20 patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and 20 controls who were matched age, sex, handedness, intelligence. QEEG was recorded on eye open resting condition, and on performing computerized attentional task. In cases of patients, after taking of methylphenidate, QEEG was recorded on both conditions. RESULTS: 1)In attention test, normal controls had better scores in response time and variabilities of response time than those of patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder without taking methylphenidate. After taking medication, scores of omission, response time and variabilities of response time were significantly improved, comparing to scores without taking medication. No differences were recognized between the controls and patients with taking medication in scores of attention test. 2)In resting condition, spectral EEG revealed baseline activity levels of patients were significantly increased comparing to those of controls. 3)Analysis of delta wave revealed that amplitudes of controls were significantly elevated in parieto-occipital area during performance of attentional task. But in patients, localized activated area related to attentional task was not remarkable. 4)Theta activity of controls were significantly elevated in right frontal, right temporal, and both parieto-occipital areas during performance of attentional task. But in patients without taking medication, localized activated area related to attentional work was not remarkable. After taking medication, right frontal, right temporal, and both parieto-occipital areas were significantly activated. 5)Alpha activities of controls were significantly increased in parieto-occipital area during performance of attentional task, but those of patients without taking medication were increased in broad area. 6)Beta activities of controls were significantly increased in frontal area during attentional performance, but those of patients without taking medication were significantly increased in most of the brain areas. After taking medication, significantly increased activities related to attentional task were recognized in left frontal, and both temporal areas. Localized activated patterns similar to those of controls were recognized. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this research, it is suggested that patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have increased baseline brain activity. In controls, brains showed localized response to a attentional stimuli, and functional changes related to attentional stimuli were recognized in frontal, and parieto-occipital areas. But, patients failed in showing appropriate localized activated response to attentional stimuli. It is concluded that frontal and parieto-occipital areas have some deficit responsible for the attentional dysfunction of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Effects of Emotional Management Training in Schizophrenic Patients / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Schizophrenic patients having a disturbance of cognition and emotion are least likely to identify emotional (especially negative) stimuli and cue in tense background stimuli. Also, schizophreinic patients tend to experience relapse if they are exposued to a situation which is emotionally laden. Although emotion itself is important, emotional processing has not been a therapeutic target and skill trainig which improves social competence has provided patients with emotional load. Therefore, we introduced Emotional Management Trainig (EMT) which deal with indirect and direct emotional processing, applied it to schizophrenic patients, and investigated the therapeutic effects. METHODS: We applied the Emotional Management Training (EMT) to 30 schizophrenic patients for 12 weeks, 2 times every week and psychoeducation to 23 schizophrenic patients as control group attention-placebo for 12 weeks, during the same period. Before and after treatment, we used the Trait Meta Mood Scale-short form (TMMS-S) as emotional proper, Social Perception Scale, Verbal Fluency Test, Verbal Paired Associates, and Similarities for cognitive functions. We also used Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) as psychopathology measurement and Social Problem Solving Scale (SPSI) as various kinds of social problem solving function measurement before and after treatment. RESULTS: The results showed that EMT group appeared to be more effective in improving the visual perception of social perception scale, verbal fluencies, positive symptoms, general psychopathology, and total score in PANSS than the control group. Also EMT group seemed to be more effective in total score and Problem Orientation score in SPSI than the control. But there were no differences in abstract function and verbal memory, negative symptoms, and Problem-Solving Skill score between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that despite the limitations of the generalizability and the questions for the persistence of effectiveness, EMT might help schizophrenics get the motivational aspects, the familiarity with emotional-loaded situation, and initial processes, for social problem-solving.

Development of the Social Perception Scale for Cognitive Rehabilitation in Patients with Schizophrenia / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This research was performed in order to develop the social perception scale which could detect the deficits of the social perception, composed of visual perception and contextual perception, in the patients with schizophrenia and might have the desirable reliability and discriminating power between the patients with schizophrenia and the normal controls, and so as to be appropriate to the schizophrenics' cognitive rehabilitation strategy of Brenner, et al. METHODS: We selected 10 photographs among 30 photographs which could show the variable social situations according to the consensus of the staff members of the Integrated Psychological Therapy. Then we developed the questions, composed of visual perception subscale and contextual perception subscale, which we called preliminary social perception scale. We tested the above scale to the 20 patients with schizophrenia in the chronic mental hospital. Then we tested the above scale to both the 20 patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia in the closed ward of the university psychiatric hospital and the 20 normal controls. We developed the final social perception scale to exclude the items of inadequate reliability. We compared the item difficulties of social perception scale between the patients in the chronic mental hospital and those in the university psychiatric hospital. finally, we compared the scores of social perception scale between the patients with schizophrenia and the normal controls. RESULTS: The final 6 items were selected to become the social perception scale according to the values of the item-total correlation, test-retest reliability, and interrater reliability. The final social perception scale showed similar rank of item difficulties between two groups with schizophrenia. The patient group differed significantly fiom the normal control group on the scores of contextual perception subscale(t=-3.09, p<.01) and the total scores of social perception scale(t= -3.33, p<.01). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the above social perception scale which has excellent internal consistency, test-retest reliability, interrater reliability and the discriminating power. This scale can be applied to both the cognitive rehabilitation strategy in the patients with schizophrenia and the evaluation of the effectiveness of the cognitive rehabilitation.

Effects of Integrated Psychological Therapy for Schizophrenic Patients / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study, as a preliminary one attempting to develop the Korean version of Integrated Therapy for the rehabilitation of schizophrenic patients, was designed to investigate the results of Integrated Psychological Therapy(IPT) and review the problems during the program application. METHODS: Cognitive Differentiation Scale, Problem-Solving Scale, and PANSS(Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale) were administered to schizophrenic inpatients before and after IPT incorporating cognitive differentiation, social perception, verbal communication, social skill and interpersonal problem-solving skill subprograms. The therapy groups were offered activities three times per week during the 12-week program. The control groups were attention-placebo groups for control ling factors such as group interaction and social attention, and were offered psychoeducation. RESULTS: The 12-week IPT groups, compared with the control groups, demonstrated significant improvements in the general psychopathology and the total symptoms of PANSS, but did not in cognitive functions and problem-solving skill. Significant improvements in cognitive functions were found only after cognitive differentiation subprogram and social skill subprogram had limited effects on social skills. But within 12-week IPT groups significant improvements in the positive symptoms, negative symptoms and general psychopathology were found. CONCLUSION: These findings support some effectiveness of IPT, but do not address the unique contribution by cognitive components. Applied to schizophrenic patients in this country, this modality had the problems such as differences in sociocultural and lingual background, duration of treatment, homogeneity in the level of the functioning among group members, management of emotions in activities, and the therapists' skill in the training of cognitive components. So the modification of this modality will be required.

Cognitive Rehabilitation for Schizophrenia / 신경정신의학

It is widely accepted that patients with schizophrenia show disturbances in their cognitive function. Recently, due to the increase of the possibilities of therapeutic intervention for cognitive deficits, cognitive rehabilitation is being tried by clinicians in the management of schizophrenia. Our study has considered several questions that have been raised in relation to cognitive rehabilitation. 1) What is cognitive rehabilitation? ; 2) What are its strategies? ; 3) What strategy of cognitive rehabilitation is appropriate to several cognitive deficits? ; 4) What kind of cognitive rehabilitation methods are possible according to the information processing model for schizophrenia? ; 5) What is its clinical considerations? ; 6) On what theoretical basis does the critical view of cognitive rehabilitation have its roots? ; 7) Which direction should it follow? Despite its limitation, there are still great possibilities for the future of cognitive rehabilitation, and we feel that it should be tried for patients with schizophrenia in this country.

Effects of Cognitive Differentiation Training of Intergrated Psychological Therapy to the Basic Cognitive Functions in Schizophrenic Patients / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cognitive differentation training of Integrated Psychological Therapy(a training program of executive function,concept formation,language,and abstraction) on micro-level cognitive function such as attention,memory and reaction time in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Twenty-four inpatients diagnosed as schizophrenia using DSM-lV were randomly assigned to 2 group. The training group went through a total of 12 sessions of cognitive differentiation training for 4 weeks. The control group received psychoeducation Timer of Vienna Test System were administered to all patients, both before and after the training program. RESULTS: 1) In the attention and concentration scores of Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised, between group, within group and interaction effects of training were not significant. 2) In the short-term memory scores of Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised, within group effect of training was significant(F(1,24)=15.09,p<0.05), but the between group and interaction effects did not reach significance. 3) In the long-term memory scores of Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised, within group effect of training was significant(F(1,24)=15.09,p<0.05), but the between group and interaction effects did not reach significance. 4) In the reaction time scores of Decision-Reaction Timer,interaction effect of training was significant(F(1,24)=5.18,p<0.05). 5) In the motor time scores of Decision-Reaction Timer,between group,within group and interaction effects of training were not significant. 6) In the decision time scores of Decision-Reaction Timer,interaction effect of training was significant(F(1,24)=6.00,p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that cognitive differentiation training of Integrated Psychological Therapy is partly effective on improving micro-level cognitive functions such as reaction time(especially,decision time)in patients with schizophrenia.

Ethnographic Study on Concept of Alcoholism in Korea(II): Focus Group Study / 신경정신의학

The purpose of this study is to establish the Korean concept of the terms related to the use of alcohol and to use those terms in order to replace the terminologies which are inadequate within the Korean culture in diagnosing alcohol abuse. To achieve our intent, the Focus Group Study ethnographic research method was used in this study. The results are as follows: 1) Alcohol is generally perceived as a food rather than a substance in Korea. Alcohol-related behaviors are judged to be problematic according to the problems f311owing the drinking behavior rather than the drinking behavior itself. 2) Repetitive drinking in spite of interpersonal problems was found to be a significant diagnostic guideline of alcoholism in Korea. This finding befits the concept of diagnostic criteria of DSM-III-R and ICD-10. 3) It would be to be appropriate to add some of the typical symptoms rather than change the whole diagnostic concept of ICD or DSM to establish the medical concept of withdrawl phenomenon. 4) Alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are two separate disease entities. Thus, education of the concepts would allow Koreans to distinguish and to use these two terms. 5) The concepts of acute intoxication, abuse, harmful use and dependence in ICD and DSM should be used after an appropriate revision.

A Study on the Diagnosis of Hwabyung / 신경정신의학

OBJECTS: The aim of this study was to find out the differences in co-morbidity of DSM-III-R diagnosis and in symptom patters between Hwabyung and non-Hwabyung groups. METHODS: The DSM-III-R diagnosis and somatic symptoms related with Hwabyung were studied in 287 patients with depressive, anxiety and somatization disorders: patients were divided into two groups, Hwabyung and non-Hwabyung groups according to the opinions of themselves and their neighbors. Diagnostic criteria was DSM-III-R and instruments for collecting data were Korean version of DIS-III, which included culturally related 21 additional items in somatization disorder. RESULTS: Hwabyung was more prevalent in women and in older ages. Hwabyung group had higher categorized scores of somatization disorder, panic disorder and major depression than non-Hwabyung group. Odds ratio showed that somatization disorder, dysthymia and panic disorder had highest possibility to co-exist with Hwabyung. Somatic symptoms which proved to be characteristics in Hwabyung were headache, blurred vision, palpitation, lump in throat, stomach rumble, chest tightness and stifling, pushing-up in the chest, urinary frequency, facial flushing, frequent sighing, heaviness in the head, shaking in head and pain on eyeballs. factor analysis with somatic symptoms yielded 4 factors. Discrimination analysis with scores of flour factors and categorized scores of DSM-III-R diagnosis showed that somatization factor II (pushing-up in the chest, heaviness in the head, and chest tightness and stifling), major depression and generalized anxiety were most highly related variables with Hwabyung which discriminate Hwabyung from non-Hwabyuag in 73.5% accuracy. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that Hwabyung is an atypical psychiatric syndrome combined with characteristic somatization symptoms, depression and anxiety.

Adjustment of North Korean Defectors in South Korea / 신경정신의학

The authors interviewed with 21 North Korean defectors who detected from North Korea in 1990-1995 and investigated their adjustment to South Korean society. The main categories of their problems in adjustment were a poor social network, financial difficulties, problems in social competency, problems resulting from their indoctrinated way of thinking, some psychological problems such as excessive self-consciousness and guilty feelings, and some social-structural problems such as poor education system in the government shelter. But, generally speaking, inspite of their problems, they have adjusted to South Korea society rather successfully In the view of short term adjustment, the reasons for their success were thought to be the characteristics and merits of a capitalistic economy ; their compliant personalities resulting from an educational system that emphasized obedience to authority and Kim Il Sung, and the dualism of North Korean lifts. Four points were discussed to assist a successful adjustment in the long term ; Fostering of the ability to make individual choices with internal principles, overcoming a judgemental, moralizing attitude, overcoming of overfull thought centered attitude and rebounding thought-lacking attitude, overcoming the effect of negative collectivism. Three things have been suggested to foster their healthy adjustment ; development and running of resocialization program for the each period of settlement ; building up a network of accessible support organizations who work for the adjustment of defectors ; systemic studies of North Korean people and defecters for the successful adjustment to unified Korean society. It is said that the division of Korean people has been the most tragic thing happen to Korea. But there can be a greater tragedy and that would be the unification of land but not the unification of people. failure to understand the real problems of the North Korean population can potentially produce conflicts and confusion which can only lead to funker re-division and greater tragedy. It is very important to study the adjustment to problems of North Korean defectors to help prepare far the unification of the Korean people.

Relationship between Symptom Profiles and a Part of Neuropsychological Test in Patients with Schizophrenia / 대한정신약물학회지

The Psychopathology of schizophrenia is composed of many heterogeneous symptom complex, and multifaceted approaches have been done on this subject. It is so simplified a method that the complex symptoms of schizophrenia are classified into only positive and negative symptoms. Preceded studies of other researchers said cognitive deficit of the schizophrenics played important roles in the symptom formation. The purpose of this study is the evaluation of the relationship between the symptoms of schizophrenia and the memory function and low level of cognitive function. In this study, 30 subacute and chronic schizophrenic patients were included. PANSS(Positive and Negative Symptom Scale) was applied to evaluate the clinical symptoms in each subject. The memory function and low level cognitive function were evaluated using WMS-R(Wechsler Memory Scale-revised version) and Decision-reaction timer. The results showed negative correlations between cognitive factor of PANSS(5 factor model) and delayed recall of WMS-R. These results suggest the possibility that symptom evaluation using PANSS can be a preliminary estimation of cognitive function in schizophrenia.

Prevalence of depression and somatic symptoms among Korean elderly immigrants

Forty-one Korean immigrants in Washington, D.C. (of the United States) metropolitan area over age 60 were interviewed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (Korean version) with additional questions about culture-specific somatic symptoms identified in previous research with Korean populations. The lifetime and current prevalence were 29.27 percent and 14.63 percent, respectively, for major depression; 9.76 percent and 2.44 percent for generalized anxiety disorder; and 9.76 percent and 7.32 percent for somatization disorder. The lifetime and current rates of co-occurrence of major depression and somatization disorder were 25 percent and 33.33 percent. Subjects who met criteria for depression were more likely to experience culture-specific Korean somatic symptoms than subjects who did not meet those criteria.

Defense style of neurotic patients: focused on the Christian / 신경정신의학

No abstract available.