Psychosocial Support during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Korea: Activities of Multidisciplinary Mental Health Professionals

As of April 18, 2020, there have been a total of 10,653 confirmed cases and 232 deaths due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Korea. The pathogen spread quickly, and the outbreak caused nationwide anxiety and shock. This study presented the anecdotal records that provided a detailed process of the multidisciplinary teamwork in mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. Psychosocial support is no less important than infection control during an epidemic, and collaboration and networking are at the core of disaster management. Thus, a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals was immediately established and has collaborated effectively with its internal and external stakeholders for psychosocial support during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Prevalence and Severity of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Alzheimer's Disease and Subcortical Vascular Dementia : the CREDOS Study

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the prevalence and severity of clinically relevant neuropsychiatric symptoms between subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and subcortical vascular dementia (SVD). METHODS: The CREDOS (Clinical Research for Dementia Of South Korea) is a multicenter longitudinal cohort study organized to evaluate the long-term outcome of dementia patients. Out of a total 3,080 subjects, we selected 1,392 AD subjects and 247 SVD subjects with mild to moderate levels of dementia. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR), and CDR sum of box scores were used for evaluation. RESULTS: After controlling for severity of dementia and duration of education, SVD subjects had relatively more symptoms of apathy compared to AD subjects (OR : 1.397, p=0.025). SVD subjects also had relatively higher NPI composite scores in the apathy domain compared to AD subjects, after controlling for severity of dementia, age and duration of education (F=7.88, p=0.01). Subjects with moderate levels of dementia had more frequent and severe neuropsychiatric symptoms compared to those with mild dementia. CONCLUSION: Symptoms of apathy were more prevalent and severe in subjects with SVD, compared to subjects with AD.

Comparing Biological Markers of Alcohol Dependence in the Patients of an Alcohol Counseling Center

OBJECTIVES: Biochemical markers can provide an objective evidence of heavy alcohol drinking. The purpose of this study was to compare and evaluate the usefulness of biological markers detecting alcohol dependence, such as mean corpuscular volume(MCV), gamma-glutamyl transferase(GGT), and carbohydrate-deficient transferrin(CDT) in the patients of an alcohol counseling center. METHODS: This study was done with 64 patients with alcohol dependence and 36 healthy subjects. Relative values(%) of CDT were determined in their sera with turbidimetric immunoassay(Bio-Rad %CDT assay, Axis-Shield ASA, Oslo, Norway), and were compared with conventional markers of alcohol consumption, GGT and MCV. RESULTS: Among the patients with alcohol dependence, 78.1% showed abnormal %CDT levels compared with GGT(61.9%) and MCV(20.7%). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves(95% confidence interval) for %CDT, GGT, and MCV were 0.934(0.866-0.973), 0.871(0.789-0.930), and 0.575 (0.472-0.673), respectively. CONCLUSION: %CDT seems to be the most reliable biological marker for the detection and monitoring of alcohol consumption in the patients with alcohol dependence of the alcohol counseling center.

Correlates of Depression and Anxiety in Acute Stroke Patients

BACKGROUND: This study is aimed at the pathoanatomic correlates of depression and anxiety in acute stroke patients including subcortical lesion(periventricular hyperintensity, deep white matter hyperintensity, subcortical gray matter hyperintensity). METHODS: Sixty nine patients with acute stoke were recruited. Their brain lesions were measured using Brain MRI. Depressive or anxiety symptoms were rated by Beck depression inventory(BDI) or Beck anxiety inventory, respectively. RESULTS: There were significant correlation between depression and periventricular hyperintensity and deep white matter hyperintensity in acute stroke patients. There are no significant pathoanatomic correla- tions between anxiety and brain lesions on MRI. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the white matter lesion may increase the risk of depression after stroke. Prevention of asymptomatic cerebrovascular lesion could decrease the risk of depression in acute stroke patients as well as the risk of stroke.

Correlates of Depression and Anxiety in Acute Stroke Patients

BACKGROUND: This study is aimed at the pathoanatomic correlates of depression and anxiety in acute stroke patients including subcortical lesion(periventricular hyperintensity, deep white matter hyperintensity, subcortical gray matter hyperintensity). METHODS: Sixty nine patients with acute stoke were recruited. Their brain lesions were measured using Brain MRI. Depressive or anxiety symptoms were rated by Beck depression inventory(BDI) or Beck anxiety inventory, respectively. RESULTS: There were significant correlation between depression and periventricular hyperintensity and deep white matter hyperintensity in acute stroke patients. There are no significant pathoanatomic correla- tions between anxiety and brain lesions on MRI. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the white matter lesion may increase the risk of depression after stroke. Prevention of asymptomatic cerebrovascular lesion could decrease the risk of depression in acute stroke patients as well as the risk of stroke.