The Correlation between Maternal Adult Attachment Style and Postpartum Depression and Parenting Stress / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine whether the adult attachment styles of pregnant women could predict development of postpartum depression. METHODS: Korean version of Revised Adult Attachment Scale, State Trait Anxiety Inventory-State/Trait (STAI-S/T), and Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) were administered at baseline. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Parenthood Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), STAI-S, and CES-D were assessed at week 2 and 6 postpartum. Participants were categorized into the secure-mom (SM ; n=48) or insecure-mom (IM ; n=9) group. RESULTS: While STAI-S scores in SM showed a continuous decrease during the entire observation period, STAI-S scores in IM decreased during the first two weeks but increased during the next four weeks. While SM showed decreased CES-D scores from week 2 to 6, IM showed increased CES-D scores from week 2 to 6. Although SM showed decreased EPDS scores from week 2 to 6, IM showed increased EPDS scores from week 2 to 6. In SM, the change in EDPS score from week 2 to week 6 showed positive correlation with PSQ-ability and PSQ-social subscale scores. CONCLUSION: Assessing the maternal adult attachment style before giving birth appears to be helpful for screening the high-risk group who are vulnerable to development of postpartum depression.

The Effects of Adjuvant Therapy of Atypical Antipsychotics on the Change of Clinical Symptoms in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder in a University Hospital: 1 Year Follow-Up Study / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study is to assess the effects of adjuvant therapy of atypical antipsychotics on the change clinical symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder. METHODS: We conducted a chart review of patients, who visited a university hospital. Ninety seven patients were divided into two groups : patients with adjuvant use of antipsychotics with antidepressants (AD+AAP ; n=32) and patients with only antidepressants (AD ; n=65). We compared and analyzed three clinical domains including depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and sleep qualities between two groups. Depressive symptoms, Anxiety symptoms, and sleep pattern were evaluated by Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at baseline (first day of admission) and 1 year later. RESULTS: During 1 year, the BDI scores of AD+AAP group has been greatly decreased, compared to AD group (F=5.87, p=0.02). In the comparison of patients with severe symptoms of major depressive disorder (BDI score >21), there was significant difference in the change of BDI score between AD+AAP and AD (F=4.14, p=0.04). After 1 year, there were no significant differences in BAI score change (F=0.51, p=0.47), PSQI score change (F=0.89, p=0.35) between two group. However, the duration of adjunctive therapy and the type of atypical antipsychotics would not impact the results. CONCLUSION: Current study suggested that adjuvant therapy of atypical antipsychotics would be effective on depressive symptoms in patients with severe major depressive disorder, compared to the treatment with antidepressants alone.

Performance Enhancement with Low Stress and Anxiety Modulated by Cognitive Flexibility

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare cognitive flexibility abilities, stress, and anxiety between starters and non-starter athletes. METHODS: A total of 30 male professional-soccer and 40 professional-baseball athletes were recruited. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Trail Making Test A & B (TMT A & B) were administered to assess cognitive flexibility during competition. The Korean version of the STAI form Y (STAI-KY) and Visual analogue scale for anxiety and stress were used to assess the anxiety and stress. RESULTS: The starter group had better cognitive function (fewer perseverative errors and rapid TMTB times) (Z=3.32, p<0.01; Z=2.20, p=0.03, respectively) and lower stress and anxiety (F=4.34, p=0.01; F=6.61, p<0.01, respectively) during competition than the non-starter group. CONCLUSION: The better cognitive performances were negatively correlated with stress and anxiety. Current results suggested that cognitive flexibility would enhance human performance by modulation of the anxiety and stress during competition.

Effects of Smoking on Drinking Behavior / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This survey study was conducted to investigate the effect of smoking on drinking alcohol, depression, anxiety and impulsiveness. METHODS: The survey participants were 925 residents over 20 years of age in Gwanak-gu, Seoul. Subjects were divided into smoking and non-smoking groups, and all completed the Korean Version of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT-K), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Barret Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to identify patterns of the alcohol consumption and smoking, and to assess levels of depression, anxiety and impulsiveness. RESULTS: The number of subjects with problem drinking was significantly higher in smokers (n=58, 37.2%) than non-smokers (n=81, 11.1%), and there was also a significant difference between smokers and non-smokers on the BDI. However, there were no significant differences between smokers and non-smokers on either the BIS or the STAI. When smokers with problem drinking (Smk_Alc) and smokers without problem drinking (Smk_non-Alc) were compared, the Smk_Alc subjects were found to have higher BDI and trait anxiety scores than the Smk_non-Alc group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that smoking is closely related to drinking alcohol and suggests that the more frequently people smoke, the more likely they will drink alcohol due to depression and anxiety. It may therefore important for smokers to control depressive mood, anxiety and impulsivity.

The Relationships between Online Game Player Biogenetic Traits, Playing Time, and the Genre of the Game Being Played

OBJECTIVE: Psychobiological traits may be associated with excessive Internet use. This study assessed the relationships between biogenetic traits, the amount of time spent in online game playing, and the genre of the online game being played. METHODS: Five hundred sixty five students who enjoyed one of the four types of games included in this study were recruited. The types of games examined included role playing games (RPG), real-time strategy games (RTS), first person shooting games (FPS), and sports games. Behavioral patterns of game play, academic performance, and player biogenetic characteristics were assessed. RESULTS: The amount of time that the participants spent playing online games was significantly greater on weekends than on weekdays. On weekends, the types of games with the largest numbers of participants who played games for more than three hours were ranked as follows: RPG and FPS, RTS, and sports games. The Young's Internet Addiction Scale (YIAS)score for the RPG group was the highest among the groups of the four types of game players. The time that participants spent playing games on weekdays was negatively associated with academic performance, especially for the RPG and FPS groups. Compared with the other groups, the RPG and RTS groups had higher novelty seeking (NS) scores and self-directedness (SD) scores, respectively. Additionally, the sports game group had higher reward dependency scores than the other groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that RPGs may have specific factors that are attractive to latent game addicts with higher NS scores. Additionally, excessive playing of online games is related to impaired academic performance.

The Association of Cognitive Dysfunction with White Matter Hyperintensity in Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES : We investigated the relationship between periventricular and deep white matter hyperintensity and cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS : T2-weighted MRI scans were performed in 41 subjects with AD 38 subjects with mild cognitive impairment and 38 control subjects. Periventricular and deep white matter hyperintensities were rated on a Fazekas 0-3 scale by a medical specialist of the department of radiology blind to clinical diagnosis. Cognitive function was assessed by using Cognitive Assessment and Reference Diagnoses System. RESULTS : No significant differences between demographic characteristics and vascular risk factors were revealed comparing AD, MCI and controls. The frequencies of AD were significantly higher than those of MCI and normal control in Grade 2 and 3 of periventricular hyperintensity and Grade 3 of deep white matter hyperintensity. The scores of amnesia, executive function and attention were significantly lower in Grade 2 and 3 of periventricular hyperintensity than in Grade 0 and 1. The scores of attention were significantly lower in Grade 3 of deep white matter hyperintensity than in Grade 0, 1 and 2. CONCLUSION : Periventricualr hyperintensities are associated with cognitive decline in amnesia, executive function and attention, while deep white matter hyperintensities are associated with cognitive decline in attention.

The Association of Cognitive Dysfunction with White Matter Hyperintensity in Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES : We investigated the relationship between periventricular and deep white matter hyperintensity and cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS : T2-weighted MRI scans were performed in 41 subjects with AD 38 subjects with mild cognitive impairment and 38 control subjects. Periventricular and deep white matter hyperintensities were rated on a Fazekas 0-3 scale by a medical specialist of the department of radiology blind to clinical diagnosis. Cognitive function was assessed by using Cognitive Assessment and Reference Diagnoses System. RESULTS : No significant differences between demographic characteristics and vascular risk factors were revealed comparing AD, MCI and controls. The frequencies of AD were significantly higher than those of MCI and normal control in Grade 2 and 3 of periventricular hyperintensity and Grade 3 of deep white matter hyperintensity. The scores of amnesia, executive function and attention were significantly lower in Grade 2 and 3 of periventricular hyperintensity than in Grade 0 and 1. The scores of attention were significantly lower in Grade 3 of deep white matter hyperintensity than in Grade 0, 1 and 2. CONCLUSION : Periventricualr hyperintensities are associated with cognitive decline in amnesia, executive function and attention, while deep white matter hyperintensities are associated with cognitive decline in attention.