Difference in Cognitive Function by First Onset Age of Alcohol Induced Blackout and Its Duration

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol-induced blackout (blackout) is a typical early symptom of cognitive impairment caused by drinking. However, the first onset age of blackout or the duration after onset of blackout has not been directly compared in previous studies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in cognitive function to the first start age of blackouts and their duration. METHODS: Thirty-one male subjects were included in this study. Their age at the first blackout and the duration after the onset of blackout were investigated. Neuropsychological tests were conducted to determine their attention, memory, and executive function. Subjects were divided into three groups according to their age of the first onset blackout (group O1, 40 years). Subjects were also divided into three groups by duration after the onset of blackout (P1, 30 years). We then examined differences in neurocognitive function among these groups. RESULTS: O1 tended to have a lower memory score than O2 (F = 3.28, p = 0.053). Significant differences were observed in attention and executive function between groups P1 and P3 (Digit Span_backward: F = 6.07, p < 0.05; visual span_forward: F = 4.19, p < 0.05; executive intelligence quotient: F = 3.55, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Greater memory impairment was detected in subjects having an earlier age of the first blackout. The longer the duration after the onset of blackout, the more impaired their attention and executive function skills.

Factors Influencing Drinking Behavior during Pregnancy in Korean Women / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can result in various negative consequences. Nevertheless, few studies have been conducted in Korea to investigate alcohol consumption and factors influencing drinking behavior during pregnancy in Korean women. A survey was therefore conducted on pregnant women to investigate whether they drank alcohol and to identify factors predictive of drinking behavior during pregnancy. METHODS: Pregnant women at less than 30 days before expected delivery were asked to complete a self-report questionnaire. Demographic and obstetric characteristics and smoking history were investigated in addition to their history of alcohol use. RESULTS: Six hundred and sixty five subjects of average age 30.8+/-3.8 years were enrolled. Five hundred fifty five (83.5%) and 163 subjects (24.5%), respectively, consumed alcohol before becoming pregnant and after they were aware of being pregnant. Ninety six (14.4% of 665 subjects) and 20 subjects (3.0% of 665 subjects), respectively, smoked before becoming pregnant and after they were aware of being pregnant. Those who had consumed alcohol before becoming pregnant (OR=12.13, p<0.001), those who smoked before becoming pregnant (OR=2.24, p=0.001) and those with a family history of smoking (OR=1.59, p< or =0.05) were found to be more likely to drink alcohol when pregnant. CONCLUSION: Three factors, alcohol drinking before becoming pregnant, cigarette smoking before becoming pregnant and a family history of cigarette smoking, are predictive of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. These results strongly suggest that an anti-drinking educational program should be devised to target women of child bearing potential and, in particular, those at high risk.

Changes of Depressive Symptoms and Nutritional Indices after Antidepressant Treatment in the Patients with Chronic Hemodialysis and Depression / 대한신장학회지

PURPOSE: Depression is common in patients with chronic renal failure on maintenance hemodialysis, though success rate of treatment is low. This study aimed to investigate the features and severity of the depressive symptoms and nutritional indices, and significant changes after antidepressant treatment. METHODS: The authors assessed 45 patients. Diagnosis of depression was made using DSM-IV-TR and the depressive symptoms were evaluated using Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression via semi- structured interview. Subjective global assessment, anthropometric measurements and nutritional indices such as Kt/V, nPCR were examined. Depressive patients were treated for 8 weeks with SSRI (citalopram), and all the variables were examined again after the treatment. RESULTS: 19 (42.2%) patients were diagnosed as depression. Nutritional status was not different between patients with depression and those without depression. Compared to non-depressed patients, depressed patients showed significantly higher depressed mood, guilty feeling, suicide idea, psychic and somatic anxiety, lower work and activities, psychomotor retardation, sleep disturbances, general somatic symptoms and hypochondriasis. After antidepressant treatment, depressed mood, guilty feeling, suicide idea, psychic anxiety, initial insomnia, middle insomnia, early awakening, work and activities and general somatic symptoms were improved significantly. TSF (p<0.05), handgrip strength (p<0.01) and hematocrit (p<0.05) were significantly increased. CONCLUSION: Antidepressant treatment is helpful not only for the improvement of depressive symptoms such as sleep and somatic symptoms but for the improvement of quality of life. Proper treatment should be more actively attempted for the hemodialytic patients with depression.