Reliability and Validity of Korean Version of the Conners Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Scale in General Population / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted in order to determine the validity and reliability of the Korean Version of the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales-42 items & 26 items (K-CAARS-42 & K-CAARS-26) in nonclinical adult subjects. METHODS: The K-CAARS-42 & K-CAARS-26 was tested in non-clinical (n=270) native Korean-speakers. Internal consistency reliability was calculated using Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability was measured using Pearson correlations. To see validity, we performed the confirmatory factor analysis for determination of whether the four-factor model fit the data. RESULTS: The results showed that the subscales had acceptable internal consistency reliability and high test-retest reliability ; and the second-order scores showed significant correlation with the Korean version of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11-Revised and Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire. The Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a four-factor structure of both K-CAARS-42 and K-CAARS-26. CONCLUSION: The K-CAARS-42 & K-CAARS-26 is reliable and has possible utility for symptom assessment of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder in nonclinical adult subjects. Further research is needed in order to determine the cutoff score for administration of the K-CAARS-42 & K-CAARS-26 to clinical adult subjects.

The Study on Reliability and Validity of Korean Version of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11-Revised in Nonclinical Adult Subjects / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted in order to determine the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11-Revised (K-BIS-11-R) in Nonclinical Adult Subjects. METHODS: The K-BIS-11-R was tested in non-clinical (n=270) native Korean-speakers. Internal consistency reliability was calculated using Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability was measured using Pearson correlations. To see external validity, we performed confirmatory factor analysis for determination of whether the three-factor model, proposed by the previous report, fit the data. RESULTS: According to the results, the K-BIS-11-R had an acceptable test-retest reliability and internal consistency reliability. In addition, the K-BIS-11-R total score and second-order subscale score showed significant correlation with Conners' Adult attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder Rating Scale-Korean and Buss & Durkee Hostility Inventory. In addition, no significant difference was observed between the K-BIS-11-R total score and demographic variables. Thus, the K-BIS-11-R total score was transformed to standard score. CONCLUSION: K-BIS-11-R is a reliable and valid measure and has possible utility for assessment of impulsiveness in nonclinical adult subjects. Further research is needed in order to determine the cutoff score for administration of K-BIS-11-R to clinical adult subjects.

The Change of Bone Mineral Density in Relation to Stroke Duration and Affected Sides

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mode of the development of osteoporosis in hemiplegic stroke patients and to study the change in bone mineral density (BMD) in relation to stroke duration and affected sides. METHOD: The subjects were 79 hemiplegic stroke patients (39 males, 40 felames, mean age 61.9 years). We measured the BMD of the subjects, compared the BMD of affected sides with that of unaffected sides, and evaluate the BMD in connection with stroke duration and affected sides. RESULTS: The reduction of the BMD in affected sides was highly correlated with the duration of hemiplegia, but the correlation was not shown in the case of those in unaffected sides. In addition, the difference of BMD in affected sides between those in unaffected sides had an obvious negative correlation with the stroke duration of left hemiplegia, but not with that of right hemiplegia. CONCLUSION: Stroke patients have a high prevalence of osteoporosis and this findings were particularly prominent in people who suffer from left hemiplegia. Early rehabilitative care, including weight-bearing exercise and outdoor ambulation, is essential for left side hemiplegic patients in order to prevent possible complications.

The Characteristics of Visuospatial Working Memory in Alzheimer's Disease

OBJECTIVES: Mild Alzheimer's disease(AD) is uncertain to be related to visuospatial working memory subsystem dysfunction. We used the self ordered pointing test(SOPT) to find the characteristics of visuospatial working memory in mild AD. METHODS: We compared the visuospatial working memory abilities of 20 patients with mild AD and 20 normal elderly controls(NC) using SOPT, of which stimuli consisted of two stimuli types(A: abstract, C: concrete) and two stimuli numbers(8 and 12). Therefore, working memory was tested using C8, C12, A8, and A12 stimuli conditions in SOPT. Mixed-model ANOVA was conducted with the AD and NC groups as between-subjects factor, with stimuli types and stimuli numbers as the within-subjects factors and with SOPT error rates as the dependent variable. RESULTS: The AD group showed higher error rates in SOPT than the NC group. The NC group showed low error rates in concrete stimuli than in abstract stimuli and in small stimuli numbers than in large stimuli numbers. And the AD group showed no differences between stimuli types or stimuli numbers. CONCLUSION: AD patients showed a poor performance in visuospatial working memory using concrete stimuli. The result suggests that there is a non-transformation from visual input to phonological working memory in AD. Patients with AD showed a poor performance although in small stimuli number condition of SOPT. It suggests that in AD, visuospatial working memory is not working well although in low central executive loads.