The Sex-Related Differences of Relationships between 2D : 4D Ratio and Electroencephalographic Coherence in Patients with Schizophrenia Compared with Controls

OBJECTIVES: Prenatal testosterone is known to influence both cerebral laterality and 2nd to 4th digit ratio (2D : 4D). Epigenetic changes are thought to play some role in it. We studied sex-related differences between 2D : 4D and cerebral laterality in patients with schizophrenia and controls to examine the effects of prenatal testosterone in the development of schizophrenia. METHODS: Forty one men (18 schizophrenic patients and 23 controls) and 40 women (17 schizophrenic patients and 23 controls) were recruited from one psychiatric hospital in Korea. The 2D : 4D and electroencephalographic (EEG) coherence in 19 channels (66 pairs of interhemispheric coherence and 54 pairs of intrahemispheric coherence) were measured. The sex-related statistical analyses between 2D : 4D and EEG coherence in controls and patients with schizophrenia were performed using multiple regression. RESULTS: In male patients, the relationship between 2D : 4D and right intrahemispheric EEG coherence showed mainly positive correlation in delta and theta frequency bands, while it showed negative correlation in male controls. In female patients, the relationship between 2D : 4D and interhemispheric EEG coherence showed stronger positive correlation in alpha and beta frequency bands, while it showed weaker positive correlation in female controls. CONCLUSIONS: Low prenatal testosterone may play certain roles in altered correlation between 2D : 4D and cerebral laterality in schizophrenia and the development of schizophrenia by epigenetic mechanism.

A Study on the Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (K-ISMI) / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) scale designed to measure the subjective experience of stigma with sub-scales measuring Alienation, Stereotype Endorsement, Perceived Discrimination, Stigma Resistance, and Social withdrawal. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Korean version of ISMI. METHODS: The subjects were 194 schizophrenic patients and 205 peoples with depressive disorder. K-ISMI, CES-D (The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) and Self Esteem scale were performed. RESULTS: Results showed that the ISMI had high internal consistence and split-half reliabilities. The internal consistency coefficients (Cronbach alpha) of each subscale ranged from .83 to .93. The validity of the ISMI was investigated by principal axis factoring analysis, yielding 5 factors of alienation, perceived discrimination, negative stereotype, stigma resistance, devaluation and social withdrawal. 5 subscales explained 60.67% of total variance. Concurrent validity was supported by comparisons against scales measuring related constructs. As expected, the ISMI had positive correlations with CES-D, and it had negative correlation with self-esteem scale. Subsidiary analysis showed that schizophrenic patients showed higher internalized stigma than depressed patients. CONCLUSION: Overall, the findings support the utility of ISMI as a tool to evaluate internalized stigma of persons with mental illness. Interventions that can lessen internalized stigma may well hasten the recovery process in individuals with mental illness.

The Effect of the Vocational Rehabilitation Program on the Quality of Life of the Chronic Schizophrenics / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the vocational rehabilitation program on the quality of life of the chronic schizophrenics, and to evaluate how chronic schizophrenics felt about their lives. METHOD: The subjects were 39 chronic schizophrenics who had participated in the vocational rehabilitation program(participant group) and now lived in the community. The control group were 43 chronic schizophrenics who were outpatients without vocational rehabilitation(non-participant group). The scale for quality of life was divided into two subscales, i.e., the objective and the subjective areas. The subscales are composed of living situation, family situations, interpersonal relations, work, health, finances, leisure activities, autonomy, and self-esteem. RESULTS: 1) In the demographic characteristics such as age, sex, duration of illness, and duration of education, two groups were not different significantly. However, dosage of antipsychotics were lower in participant group than non-participant group. 2) In the objective quality of life subscale, the scores of living situation, interpersonal relations, work, health, economic state, and leisures were higher in participant group than non-participant group. But, family relations score were lower in participant group than in non-participant group. autonomy were not different between two groups. 3) In the subjective quality of life subscale, the score of living situation, family relations, interpersonal relations, work, health, economic states, leisure activities, and autonomy were all higher in participant group than in non-partcipant group. 4)Self-esteem was significantly higher in participant group than in non-participant group. CONCLUSION: The results from this study suggest that the objective and subjective quality of life of participant group in the vocational rehabilitation program were higher than those of non-participant group. The vocational rehabilitation program of Yong-In Mental Hospital seems to have been effective for the chronic schizophrenics. And the psychosocial rehabilitation program, vocational rehabilitation program, and family education program should be developed more and implemented in the community.