Validation Study of Behavior Problems Inventory-01 among Korean Children and Adolescents

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Behavior Problems Inventory (BPI-01) among children and adolescents aged between 3 and 18. METHODS: The control group consisting of one hundred children and adolescents was recruited from schools and the patient group consisting of forty one children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder were recruited from a hospital. We compared the measurements of both groups. To assess the concurrent validity of the BPI-01, we compared the problem behavior index of the Korean Scale of Independent Behavior-Revised (K-SIB-R) and, to assess the discriminant validity, we compared the Korean version of the Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL). The Cronbach's alpha of the BPI-01 was measured to assess its reliability. Correlation analyses between the BPI-01 and the other scale were carried out to examine the former's concurrent and discriminant validity. RESULTS: The patient group showed a significantly higher score for all three subscales of the BPI than the control group. The Cronbach's alpha was 0.92 for the total severity score of the BPI and ranged between 0.67–0.89 for each subscale in the patient group. All subscales of the BPI-01's, i.e., self injurious behavior, stereotyped behavior and aggressive/destructive behavior, were significantly correlated with the corresponding subscales of the K-SIB-R. The BPI-01 generally did not demonstrate any significant correlation with emotional items such as anxiety/depression in the K-CBCL. Especially, the BPI-01's stereotyped behavior subscale showed little correlation with externalizing behaviors such as social problems and aggressive behaviors. CONCLUSION: This study found that the Korean version of BPI-01 is a reliable and valid behavior rating instrument for problem behavior in developmental disabilities among children and adolescents.

Physical, Psychological, and Social Risk Factors Affecting Suicidal Ideation among the Elderly / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to examine the physical, psychological, and social factors influencing suicidal ideation among elderly Koreans. METHODS: Community Health Survey data obtained in 2013 were used for this study with a sample of 4367 elderly who reside in Gangwon province. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test and the logistic regression test to examine the relationship between suicidal ideation and other variables. RESULTS: Depression was the single most influential variable, both directly and indirectly increasing suicidal ideation. In particular, the increase of suicidal ideation among those with severe disease was affected by depression. Perceived poor social support and perceived poor health status were the two highest risk factors after depression, implying that subjective assessment of the elderly affects suicidal ideation significantly. Poor economic status and current smoking showed significantly higher risk for women only, although poor health, poor social support, and poor social activity commonly attributed to the risk of suicidal ideation in both genders. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that suicidal ideation among the elderly should be approached in a multi-perspective way considering depression, social support, and physical health. It is notable that not only lack of resources but also perceived sense of poor social and physical well-being significantly affect suicidal ideation.