Mental Health Center, Korean Armed Forces Capital Hospital:Development of ‘Model of Everything’ / 신경정신의학

The main purpose of this study was to develop an ideal model to take good care of mentally ill soldiers and strengthen the fighting power of the Korean military. This paper is based on the author’s life-long personal experience on education, research, and clinical services in the field of psychiatry and military psychiatry. The final ideal model is the “Model of Everything.” This model is the integration of the bio-psycho-socio-spiritual model and positive psychiatry. This model can be exemplified as follows: objects, bio-psycho-socio-spiritual aspects; time, past-present-future;space, I-family-society-nation-world-cosmos; attitudes, positive-historical-scientific-artistic-philosophical. This model can be an ideal model for mentally ill soldiers because it helps to take care of them as a “whole, entire person” rather than the diseases or disorders themselves. The ‘Model of Everything’ means that it can be applied to not only psychiatry but also to all academic fields, including politics, economics, social sciences, natural sciences, and culturology.

‘Model of Everything’ to Understand the Children and Adolescents / 신경정신의학

It is essential to understand child and adolescent psychiatric patients as a ‘whole, entire person,’ not just the ‘disorders or diseases’ themselves. For this purpose, in 2013, the author attempted to apply the concept of ‘consilience’ to the field of psychiatry. ‘Consilience’ can be defined as ‘to unify every field of knowledge and science to understand the human being and improve the life of the human being.’ In doing so, the author emphasized that the human being itself is an integrative being and consilient. Second, the author reviewed the developmental processes of psychiatry and concluded that there are three definite developmental phases: ‘period of Consilience,’ ‘period of diverse development,’ and ‘reappearance of the period of consilience.’ Third, the author reviewed the relationship between religion and psychiatry. Finally, the author reviewed the treatment modalities in psychiatry, such as biological, psychological, social, and spiritual treatment. Based on these findings, the author suggested the ‘bio-psycho-socio-spiritual model’ to apply the concept of ‘consilience’ to the field of psychiatry. In this paper, the author combined the concept of positive psychology with the ‘bio-psycho-socio-spiritual model’ and named it the ‘model of everything.’ This means that the ‘model of everything’ can be applied not only to psychiatry and child and adolescents psychiatry but also to all academic fields, including politics, economics, social sciences, natural sciences, and culturology.

The Korean Traditional Culture and Spirituality: Its Application to Psychiatry / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to examine the characteristics of spirituality in Korean traditional culture and to apply these to the basic concepts of psychiatry. METHODS: The author interpreted books concerning traditional culture, including God-concept, death-concept, world-view of afterlife, Shamanistic thinking, traditional religion, as well as traditional culture in general, such as play, music, art, dance, literature, pottery, architecture, naming method, authentic recordings (Shillock), and Hangul. RESULTS: The common characteristic of spirituality reflected in the reviewed materials was ‘Gegensatzvereinigung’ which means the unification of opposing concepts. The unity of the Western and Eastern cultures, the old and the new, death and life, the rich and the poor, and the concrete and the abstract are examples of ‘Gegensatzvereinigung.’ CONCLUSION: The ultimate goal of psychiatric treatment is to maintain the harmonious interaction among thinking, affect and behavior. Furthermore, the most harmonious interaction is to unify into one. Thus, the spirituality of traditional culture can be applied to psychiatric treatment.

Overview of the Unites States Air Force Suicide Prevention Program and Implications for Korean Armed Forces / 신경정신의학

Suicide is a major public health problem among Korean military personnel. As multiple factors and their interactions are related to suicide, multicomponent intervention might be useful for reducing suicide and suicide-related outcomes. The United States Air Force Suicide Prevention Program (AFSPP) launched in 1996 is a good example of an evidence-based multifaceted program focusing on leadership involvement and whole community-level efforts. For early identification and management of an at-risk population, AFSPP aims to encourage help-seeking and reduce stigma by changing the community's social norms regarding mental health and suicide. The present study reviewed the key elements of this successful intervention and made a proposal for improving the suicide prevention strategy in the Korean armed forces. This review might be useful for establishing a comprehensive intervention in local communities and organizations outside of the military.

A Study about Effects of Osmotic-Controlled Release Oral Delivery System Methylphenidate on Regional Cerebral Blood Flow in Korean Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of osmotic-controlled release oral delivery system methylphenidate on changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). METHODS: A total of 26 children with ADHD (21 boys, mean age: 9.2±2.05 years old) were recruited. Each ADHD participant was examined for changes in rCBF using technetium-99m-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime brain SPECT before and after 8 weeks methylphenidate medication. Brain SPECT images of pediatric normal controls were selected retrospectively. SPECT images of ADHD children taken before medication were compared with those of pediatric normal controls and those taken after medication using statistical parametric mapping analysis on a voxel-wise basis. RESULTS: Before methylphenidate medication, significantly decreased rCBF in the cerebellum and increased rCBF in the right precuneus, left anterior cingulate, right postcentral gyrus, right inferior parietal lobule and right precentral gyrus were observed in ADHD children compared to pediatric normal controls (p-value<.0005, uncorrected). After medication, we observed significant hypoperfusion in the left thalamus and left cerebellum compared to pediatric normal controls (p-value<.0005, uncorrected). In the comparison between before medication and after medication, there was significant hyperperfusion in the superior frontal gyrus and middle frontal gyrus and significant hypoperfusion in the right insula, right caudate, right middle frontal gyrus, left subcallosal gyrus, left claustrum, and left superior temporal gyrus after methylphenidate medication (p-value<.0005, uncorrected). CONCLUSION: This study supports dysfunctions of fronto-striatal structures and cerebellum in ADHD. We suggest that methylphenidate may have some effects on the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, and cerebellum in children with ADHD.

The Code of Medical Ethics for the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Why Is It Important?

This article provides an overview of the developmental history and rationale of medical ethics to establish the code of ethics and professional conduct of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (KACAP). Most medical professional organizations have their own codes of ethics and conduct because they have continuous responsibility to regulate professional activities and conducts for their members. The Ethics and Award Committee of the KACAP appointed a Task-Force to establish the code of ethics and conduct in 2012. Because bioethics has become global, the Ethics Task Force examined global standards. Global standards in medical ethics and professional conduct adopted by the World Medical Association and the World Psychiatric Association have provided the basic framework for our KACAP's code of ethics and professional conduct. The Code of Ethics of the Americal Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has provided us additional specific clarifications required for child and adolescent patients. The code of ethics and professional conduct of the KACAP will be helpful to us in ethical clinical practice and will ensure our competence in recognizing ethical violations.

A Validation Study of the Korean Version of Social Communication Questionnaire

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were to examine the reliability and validity of the Korean version of Social Communication Questionnaire (K-SCQ) and to determine cut-off scores for diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: A total of 166 subjects with ASD and their 186 unaffected siblings were recruited through child psychiatry clinics of university hospitals. Board certified child psychiatrists screened all probands suspected to have ASD based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition. To confirm the diagnoses, the Korean versions of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (K-ADI-R) were administered to all the subjects. All parents completed the K-SCQ and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). The non-ASD siblings were evaluated with the same instruments as the probands with ASD. We performed a factor analysis to examine the structure of K-SCQ. For testing the validity of K-SCQ, we compared the difference in Lifetime and Current scores of probands with ASD and their non-ASD siblings using t-test and analysis of covariance. Correlations between the K-SCQ and other measurements of ASD symptomatology, including K-ADI-R totals and domain scores and SRS, were examined. Receiver operation characteristic curve analysis was performed to extract cutoff scores discriminating affection status. RESULTS: Four factors were extracted through factor analysis of K-SCQ ; 1) social relation and play, 2) stereotyped behavior, 3) social behavior, and 4) abnormal language. Cronbach's internal consistency was .95 in K-SCQ Lifetime, and .93 in K-SCQ Current. There were significant differences in total score of K-SCQ, both in Lifetime and Current between the ASD group and non-ASD siblings group (p<.001). K-SCQ scores were significantly correlated with K-ADI-R subdomain scores and SRS total scores (p<.001). The best-estimate cut-off scores of K-SCQ for diagnosis of ASD were 12 for 48 months and over, and 10 for below 47 months. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the K-SCQ is a reliable and valid instrument for screening autistic symptoms in the Korean population. Lower cut-off scores than the original English version might be considered when using it as a screening instrument of ASD.

Clinical Characteristics of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder According to the Presence of Motor Stereotypes

OBJECTIVES: Repetitive and stereotyped behaviors are core symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The purpose of our study was to investigate the frequency of motor stereotypes in ASD children and their clinical features. METHODS: Among 171 ASD children (age range, 3-15), the ASD group with motor stereotypes was defined according to two items in the Korean version of Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (K-ADI-R). We compared the clinical features, behavior problems and severity of other domains in the K-ADI-R and executive functions between the ASD group with motor stereotypes and the ASD group without motor stereotypes. RESULTS: Ninety (52.6%) of 171 ASD children had motor stereotypes. The ASD group with motor stereotypes had a lower intelligence quotient score (62.23 vs. 84.94, p<.001) compared to the ASD group without motor stereotypes. The ASD group with motor stereotypes had more impairments in the social interaction domain [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.11, p=.001] and communication domain (AOR 1.15, p=.008). Thought problems and lethargy were more frequent in the ASD group with motor stereotypes than the ASD group without motor stereotypes (AOR 2.059, p=.034 ; adjusted OR 1.045, p=.046). However, no significant differences in executive function were observed between the ASD group with motor stereotypes and the ASD group without motor stereotypes. CONCLUSION: The ASD group with motor stereotypes showed more impairment in social interaction and communication domains, which are core symptoms of autism. Motor stereotypes may indicate greater severity of ASD.

Clinical Characteristics of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder by Subtype in a Korean Inpatient Sample

OBJECTIVES: We compared the clinical presentations of manic and depressive episodes and the treatment response among children and adolescents with bipolar disorder (BD) types I and II and BD not otherwise specified (NOS). METHODS: The sample consisted of 66 patients, aged between 6 and 18 years, who were admitted for BD to a 20-bed child and adolescent psychiatric ward in a university hospital located in Seoul, Korea. RESULTS: Patients with BD type I were more likely to have lower intelligence quotients and exhibit violent behaviors during manic episodes than patients with BD type II or BD NOS and to show better treatment responses during manic episodes than patients with BD NOS. Patients with BD NOS were more likely to have an irritable mood rather than a euphoric mood during the manic phase than patients with BD type I or II and to exhibit violent behaviors during the depressive phase and chronic course than patients with BD type II. CONCLUSION: Pediatric BD patients are heterogeneous with respect to their clinical characteristics. Implications for the usefulness of the current diagnostic subtype categories should be investigated in future studies.

Clinical Characteristics and Precipitating Factors of Adolescent Suicide Attempters Admitted for Psychiatric Inpatient Care in South Korea

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the rates, correlates, methods, and precipitating factors of suicide attempts among adolescent patients admitted for psychiatric inpatient care from 1999 to 2010 in a university hospital in Korea. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 728 patients who were admitted for psychiatric inpatient care in a university hospital over a 12-year period and who were aged 10-19 years at the time of admission. We retrospectively investigated the information on suicidal behaviors and other clinical information by reviewing the subjects' electronic medical records. Whether these patients had completed their suicide on 31 December 2010 was determined by a link to the database of the National Statistical Office. RESULTS: Among 728 subjects, 21.7% had suicidal ideation at admission, and 10.7% admitted for suicidal attempts. Female gender, divorced/widowed parents, and the presence of mood disorders were associated with a significantly increased likelihood of suicide attempts. Most common method of suicide attempts was cutting, and most common reason for suicide attempts was relationship problems within the primary support group. A diagnosis of schizophrenia was associated with increased risk of death by suicide after discharge. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the role of specific psychosocial factor (e.g., relational problems) and psychiatric disorders (e.g., mood disorders) in the suicide attempts of Korean adolescents, and the need for effective prevention strategies for adolescents at risk for suicide.

The Impact of Depressive Symptoms in Adults with ADHD Symptoms on Family Function and ADHD Symptoms of Their Children

OBJECTIVE: People with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exhibit considerable impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning. The present study aimed to examine the patterns of associations between ADHD symptoms, depression, and family functioning. METHODS: The sample consisted of 1,022 adults randomly selected from a district in Seoul, South Korea. Several self-assessment scales were utilized to rate ADHD symptoms (both past and current), current symptoms of depression, and level of family functioning. ADHD symptoms in the children of these participants were also assessed. Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were performed; structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to determine the best fitting model. RESULTS: Adult ADHD symptoms were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms, in turn, mediated the relationship between adult ADHD symptoms and cohesion among family members. In addition, depressive symptoms mediated the relationship between adult ADHD symptoms and their children's ADHD symptoms. CONCLUSION: The relationship between adult ADHD symptoms and family dysfunction may be influenced by depressive symptoms. When treating ADHD in adults, clinicians should pay attention to the presence or absence of depression.

Prescribing Patterns for Treatment of Pediatric Bipolar Disorder in a Korean Inpatient Sample

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted in order to describe prescribing practices in treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder in a Korean inpatient sample. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of 66 youths who had been hospitalized and diagnosed with bipolar disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition criteria. Demographics, clinical characteristics, medications used, doses, and related adverse events were examined. RESULTS: Mood stabilizers and/or atypical antipsychotic medications were the primary treatment. Risperidone, valproate, and lithium were the most commonly used. Thirty seven patients (58.1%) were treated with combination therapy of an atypical antipsychotic and mood stabilizer for improvement of manic/mixed symptoms. CONCLUSION: Combination pharmacotherapy was necessary for most patients in this admission sample group. Conduct of further studies will be needed for evaluation of treatment response according to the clinical characteristics, and the safety and efficacy of treatment for child and adolescent bipolar disorder.

A Comparison Study of Clinical Characteristics in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder without and with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

OBJECTIVES: It is known that adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often concurrently exhibit attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The objective of this study is to investigate how ADHD symptoms modify clinical characteristics in adolescents with ASD. METHODS: Subjects were recruited from the Program for the Education Enrichment of Relational Skills program, which is a program for adolescents with ASD to promote and train social skills. The study participants and their parents completed the study questionnaires, such as the ADHD rating scale, Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, and Korean version of Child Behavior Checklist. RESULTS: Adolescents with ASD and ADHD (N=19) were found to have more impaired sociality, less open communication with their parents, and more behavioral and emotional problems compared with adolescents with ASD, and without ADHD (N=28). CONCLUSION: Although further research is needed, the results of our study suggest that adolescents with ASD present different clinical characteristics when comorbid with ADHD.

Psychotrophic Drug Therapy of the Tourette's Disorder / 대한정신약물학회지

Tic disorder is a childhood neuropsychological disorder which has the characteristics of abrupt, involuntary, and repetitive stereotyped muscle movement or voice. Tourette's disorder shows a chronic prognosis, and can last for life if no medical treatment is applied. Though the tic disorder has been known for a long time, the underlying cause is still not well known. Psychotropic drugs have long been used for the tic disorder or Tourette's disorder, but few clinical studies were carried out. However, the European Society for the Study of Tourette's syndrome recently reported the clinical guideline of Tourette's syndrome and other tic disorders based on the research findings obtained so far. Also, the guideline for the evidence-based treatment was reported in Canada, and North America. By synthesizing the newly reported foreign guidelines for treatment and review articles, this study aims to investigate the psychotropic drug therapy used for the tic disorder or Tourette's disorder.

Nocturnal Enuresis Is Associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Conduct Problems

OBJECTIVE: There are no published prevalence estimates of elimination disorders and their association with disruptive-behavior disorders among children in the Asian region using standardized diagnostic interviews. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of elimination disorders and its association with disruptive-behavior disorders in a representative sample of children in Seoul, Korea. METHODS: The diagnosis of enuresis and encopresis was derived from parent-reported data for "enuresis and encopresis," collected using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, from a representative sample of 6- to 12-year-old children (n=1,645) who participated in the 2005 Seoul Child and Adolescent Mental Health Survey. Prevalence data for attention deficit and disruptive-behavior disorders were collected from the same sample. RESULTS: The overall 12-month prevalence of nocturnal enuresis and encopresis was 1.8% and 0.6%, respectively. Enuresis and encopresis prevalence in boys was significantly greater than that in girls. Enuresis and encopresis was most common at 7 to 9 years of age. Enuresis was significantly associated with ADHD (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.0-6.9) and conduct disorder (CD; OR 4.7, 95% CI 1.0-22.4). CONCLUSION: Enuresis is significantly associated with ADHD and CD, so these conditions must be assessed together during the evaluation of children with enuresis.

Regional Brain Perfusion before and after Treatment with Methylphenidate According to the MspI Polymorphism of the Alpha-2A Adrenergic Receptor Gene in Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

OBJECTIVES: Dysregulation of the central noradrenergic system may be involved in the pathophysiology of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of this study was to examine the differences in pre- and post-treatment cerebral perfusion according to the MspI polymorphisms of the alpha-2A-adrenergic receptor gene (ADRA2A) in children with ADHD. METHODS: Thirty seven drug-naive ADHD children (8.9+1.8 years old, M=32, F=5) were genotyped. Baseline single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and clinical assessments were performed for ADHD children. After treatment with methylphenidate for eight weeks, SPECT and clinical assessment were repeated. RESULTS: No differences in baseline clinical assessments or cerebral perfusion were observed according to the MspI genotype. However, after treatment, ADHD children with the G/G genotype at the MspI polymorphism showed hyperperfusion in the right cerebellar declive (p=.001, uncorrected) and hypoperfusion in the left lentiform nucleus and left cingulate gyrus (p<.001 and p=.001, uncorrected), compared to children without the G/G genotype. CONCLUSION: Although the results of this study should be interpreted cautiously, they suggest a possible role of the MspI polymorphisms of the ADRA2A gene in methylphenidate-induced changes in cerebral perfusion.

Serotonin 2A Receptor Gene Polymorphism in Korean Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the T102C polymorphism in the serotonin 2A receptor gene and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Korean patients. METHODS: A total of 189 Korean children with ADHD as well as both parents of the ADHD children and 150 normal children participated in this study. DNA was extracted from blood samples from all of the subjects, and genotyping was conducted. Based on the allele and genotype information obtained, case-control analyses were performed to compare the ADHD and normal children, and Transmission disequilibrium tests (TDTs) were used for family-based association testing (number of trios=113). Finally, according to the significant finding which was showed in the case-control analyses, the results of behavioral characterastics and neuropsychological test were compared between ADHD children with and without the C allele. RESULTS: In the case-control analyses, statistically significant differences were detected in the frequencies of genotypes containing the C allele (chi2=4.73, p=0.030). In the family-based association study, TDTs failed to detect linkage disequilibrium of the T102C polymorphism associated with ADHD children. In the ADHD children, both the mean reaction time and the standard deviation of the reaction time in the auditory continuous performance test were longer in the group with the C allele compared to the group without the C allele. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that there is a significant genetic association between the T102C polymorphism in the serotonin 2A receptor gene and ADHD in Korean children.

Neurobiology of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and the Action Mechanism of OROS Methylphenidate

This article is to review neurobiology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and pharmacological properties of Osmotic-Controlled Release Oral delivery System Methylphenidate (OROS MPH)(Concerta Oros(R)) in celebration of its one-decade clinical experiences in Korea. ADHD is a highly heritable neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by age-inappropriate inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. The symptoms of ADHD are consistent with dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The PFC functions such as working memory and executive function are powerfully modulated by the catecholamine neurotransmitters, dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE). Methylphenidate (MPH) is a first line treatment for children and adolescents with ADHD in Korea. MPH improves the PFC functions with the mechanism of action being modulation of DA and NE tones by blocking both dopamine transporter (DAT) and norepinephrine transporter (NET). Stimulation of D1 and NE alpha2 receptors on the postsynaptic neurons may be its main mechanisms of action which improve working memory and behavioral inhibition in patients with ADHD. OROS MPH, one of long-acting MPH, employs an osmotic-releasing oral system (OROS), which has been designed to have 12 hour duration of effect, which permits oncedaily dosing, which has been shown to be as effective as 3-times-a-day immediate-release formulation of MPH (IR MPH). Recently there is growing evidence that OROS MPH has positive effects even on adults with ADHD, in multidimensional aspects; cognitively, emotionally and functionally.

Neurobiology of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and the Action Mechanism of OROS Methylphenidate

This article is to review neurobiology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and pharmacological properties of Osmotic-Controlled Release Oral delivery System Methylphenidate (OROS MPH)(Concerta Oros(R)) in celebration of its one-decade clinical experiences in Korea. ADHD is a highly heritable neurodevelopmental disorder, characterized by age-inappropriate inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. The symptoms of ADHD are consistent with dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The PFC functions such as working memory and executive function are powerfully modulated by the catecholamine neurotransmitters, dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE). Methylphenidate (MPH) is a first line treatment for children and adolescents with ADHD in Korea. MPH improves the PFC functions with the mechanism of action being modulation of DA and NE tones by blocking both dopamine transporter (DAT) and norepinephrine transporter (NET). Stimulation of D1 and NE alpha2 receptors on the postsynaptic neurons may be its main mechanisms of action which improve working memory and behavioral inhibition in patients with ADHD. OROS MPH, one of long-acting MPH, employs an osmotic-releasing oral system (OROS), which has been designed to have 12 hour duration of effect, which permits oncedaily dosing, which has been shown to be as effective as 3-times-a-day immediate-release formulation of MPH (IR MPH). Recently there is growing evidence that OROS MPH has positive effects even on adults with ADHD, in multidimensional aspects; cognitively, emotionally and functionally.

Change of Quality of Life in Children with ADHD after 12 Weeks OROS-Methylphenidate Treatment

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of treatment with osmotic-release oral system methylphenidate (OROS-MPH) on quality of life (QOL) in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Another aim is to assess the relationship between change in QOL and other factors including children's symptoms and academic performance or parents' depression and parenting stress. METHODS: A total of 111 medication-naive children with ADHD in a multicenter, open-label, 12-week trial of OROS-MPH completed an evaluation using diverse rating scales at two time points; at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment. Scales for investigation of children included the Parent Report Form-Children's Health and Illness Profile-Children's Edition (PRF-CHIP-CE) on QOL, the ADHD Rating Scale-IV on symptoms, and the Academic Performance Rating Scale (APRS). The Beck Depression Inventory and Parenting Stress Index were used for assessment of their parents. RESULTS: Total scores for mean PRF-CHIP-CE increased from 207.9+/-26.7 at baseline to 226.3+/-25.9 after 12 weeks of treatment (p<.001). The change of APRS showed the strongest correlation with the increment of PRF-CHIP-CE scores (Pearson coefficient= 0.561, p<.001), even after controlling for other factors (partial correlation coefficient=0.420, p<.001). CONCLUSION: Treatment with MPH-OROS results in improvement of QOL in children with ADHD in Korea. The advance in academic performance plays a key role in this change of QOL.