Polymorphisms in 5-HT1Dbeta Receptor Gene and Personality Traits in a Korean Population / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Recently, there has been a growing enthusiasm in biological approach to personality; the identification of genes responsible for particular personality traits. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the 5-HT1Dbeta G861C polymorphism and personality traits. METHODS: We recruited 218 normal subjects. The Korean version of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) was used to assess personality traits. From blood samples taken from the subjects, DNA was isolated using standard techniques and the HT1Dbeta G861C polymorphism was genotyped by means of polymerase chain reaction and Homogeneous MassEXTEND method. We classified the subject into the GG, CG, and GG groups according to their genotypes. The differences in the temperament factors of the TCI between homozygote group (GG+CC genotype) and heterozygote group (CG genotype) were tested. RESULTS: The heterozygote group had significantly lower Harm avoidance (HA) scores and higher Self-directedness scores (SD) than the homozygote group. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we found some associations between the 5-HT1Dbeta G861C polymorphism and the personality dimension HA and SD in a normal population.

Dimensional Analyses of the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale and Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale Checklist / 대한정신약물학회지

OBJECTIVE: Although obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has long been a unitary diagnosis, there is much recent interest in its potential heterogeneity, as manifested by symptom subgroups. Although the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) is a widely used instrument to assess obsessive-compulsive symptomatology, the variables reflecting the pathogenesis of OCD and Y-BOCS subscores usually were not significantly associated. The aims of this study are to clarify identification of dimensional structure of the symptoms from YBOCS checklist and to explore the factor structure of the Y-BOCS. METHODS: Ninety five OCD patients participated in this study and performed the Y-BOCS and Y-BOCS checklist. The 13 main symptom categories from Y-BOCS checklist and 10 items from Y-BOCS were factor analyzed by using principal components analysis, respectively. RESULTS: Using principal component analysis, we derived 4 factors from 13 main contents of YBOCS checklist. Four factors-hoarding/repeating, contamination/cleaning, aggressive/sexual, and religious/somatic- accounted for more than 60% of the variance. And we derived 3 factors from 10 items of Y-BOCS and these 3 factors-severity of obsession, severity of compulsion, and resistance to symptoms-accounted for more than 70% of variance. CONCLUSIONS: The four symptom dimensions from Y-BOCS checklist and three symptom dimensions from Y-BOCS were identified as significant factors accounting for the variance. These factors may be of value in future genetic, neurobiological, and treatment response studies.

Associations between Serotonin Transporter Linked Promoter Region Polymorphism and Personality Traits-Normal Female Population Study / 대한정신약물학회지

OBJECTIVE: The personality traits are substantially heritable, and therefore very likely result from the interplay of genetic variations with environmental influences. Recently, there is a growing enthusiasm for biological approaches to personality, especially genetic research on identifying responsible genes. So, the aim of this study is to investigate the associations between serotonin transporter promoter linked region (5-HTTLRP) polymorphism and personality traits. METHODS: We recruited unrelated normal 114 female subjects. The Korean version of temperament and character inventory (TCI) were used to assess personality traits. From the blood, DNA was isolated using standard techniques and the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction and electrophoresis. We classified the subject as s/s, s/l, and l/l group according to their genotype. The differences of TCI scores between l allele non-carrier group (s/s genotype) and l allele carrier group (s/l+l/l genotype) were tested after inclusion of age as covariate in the analysis of variance (ANCOVA). RESULTS: Under the control of age, there were no associations between harm avoidance, novelty seeking, reward dependence, cooperativeness, and self-transcendence scores and genotypes. But, persistence and self-directedness score of l allele non-carrier group was significantly higher than that of l allele carrier group. CONCLUSION: The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism may be associated with persistence and self-directedness score of TCI in normal Korean female population.

Effects of Group Education Program for the Families of Stroke Patients in Psycho-social Aspect

OBJECTIVE: This paper was designed to develope a group program for the families of stroke patients and examined the effects of the program on mental health, stress coping, and social support of the family caregivers. METHOD: The subjects of this study were 28 family members of stroke patients who had participated in group education program. The program was composed of eight sessions. The aim of this study was to increase understanding of the nature of stroke and treatment procedures, and to enhance family caregivers' ability to take care of patients, and to reduce family caregivers' burden. The program team members included social workers, medical doctors, and nutritionists. The data was analyzed using Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. RESULTS: There were significant differences in all three areas between pre and post groups (p<0.001). It means the program will help the participants improve mental health state, enhance stress coping skills and improve the perception of social support. CONCLUSION: A formalized group education program is an important resource in helping family members understand the stroke and their ability to cope with the rehabilitation process. Since family members provide a critical role in the long-term rehabilitation, family group education should be an essential part in the rehabilitation program.

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.

Normative Data on the Korean ADHD Rating Scales(K-ARS) for Parents and Teacher / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Identifying children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and providing early therapeutic interventions for them are important to prevent secondary problems in academic achievement and emotional disturbances. The aims of the study is to examine the characteristics of K-ARS for parents and teachers, a screening questionnaire to identify children with ADHD, by age and sex of the children, to examine its clinical validity, and to provide norm data of K-ARS for school-aged children which will facilitate the use of K-ARS in clinical practice and research. METHODS: Randomly selected 1st to 6th graders of the two elementary schools (N=1044) in Anyang City participated in this study. Twenty three children diagnosed with ADHD at the child and adolescent clinic at the Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital were included in this study for the analysis of validity. Parents and teachers completed K-ARS. Descriptive statistics, t-test and analysis of variance were performed. RESULTS: K-ARS scores showed significant difference according to the gender, with boys having higher scores than girls. There was no significant difference of the scores by ages. Validity analysis showed that K-ARS distinguishes children with ADHD from children without ADHD well. The normative data were presented by age and sex. CONCLUSION: K-ARS for parents and teachers has an excellent clinical validity to discriminate children with ADHD from children without ADHD. Different normative data of K-ARS need to be used due to the gender difference. K-ARS is a useful tool for screening and identifying children with ADHD. Future studies are required to include larger samples with adolescents in various geographic areas.

Hypersexuality and Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors in a Stroke Patient with the Left Mesial Frontal Cortex and Both Basal Ganglia Lesion

Hyposexuality after stroke has been frequently observed, but hypersexuality as a sequela of stroke has not been commonly documented. We report a patient who exhibited hypersexuality and obsessive-compulsive behaviors after stroke in the region of the left mesial frontal cortex and both basal ganglia. At 2 months after stroke, he visited psychiatric unit due to these symptoms. His motor function was almost full recovered. He was treated with fluvoxamine and perphenazine, With two-month medication, his hypersexuality and obsessive-compulsive behavior disappeared. This case may indicate that basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuit plays an important role in the mediation of sexual behavior and obsessive-compulsive behavior. Since changes in sexual activity may not be spontaneously reported, a systemic inquiry into patient's sexual functioning after infarction in frontal lobe or basal ganglia is warranted.