The Characteristics of Students Who Had Attempted Self-Injury or Suicide in Chungcheongdo ‘Professional School Visits Outreach Project’ / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the characteristics of students who participated in the ‘Professional School Visits Outreach Project’ and evaluated the factors affecting self-injury or suicidal attempts.METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, psychiatrists or mental health professionals conducted a semi-structured interview with 296 students, families, and teachers in Chungcheong province and recorded the socioeconomic status (SES), past psychiatric history, current clinical symptoms, and mental status exams. Logistic regression analysis was performed on the variables with differences between the students who had attempted self-harm or suicide and those who had not.RESULTS: The subjects of this study belonged to a relatively low SES. In addition, their provisional diagnosis was mainly attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (38.5%) or depression (29.1%). Approximately 18.2% of students had attempted self-injury or suicide. The variables with differences between students who had attempted self-harm or suicide and those who had not, were female [odds ratio (OR) 2.878, p=0.002], provisional diagnosis of depression (OR 3.045, p=0.001), and a history of bullying victim (OR 1.927, p=0.048). Although the risks of self-injury or suicidal attempts were not increased by child abuse alone, it was increased in girls who experienced both childhood abuse and bullying victim (OR 4.222, p=0.002).CONCLUSION: The ‘Professional School Visits Outreach Project’ provides therapeutic opportunities for low SES and high-risk adolescents with multiple difficulties, such as child abuse, bullying victim, and suicidal behaviors. In addition, the recurrent experience of trauma in girls appears to increase the risk of adolescent self-injury or suicidal attempts.

Antipsychotics Maintenance Therapy of Schizophrenic Patients: A Survey on the Psychiatrists' Practice in Extended Seoul Metropolitan Areas / 신경정신의학

We investigated the actual status of antipsychotics maintenance therapy(AMT) for schizophrenic patients through a mail survey sent to psychiatrists practicing in Seoul and Kyonggj province who had no less than two years of psychiatric expertise and who were below fifty years of age. Out of 453 questionnaires sent, 215 completed questionnaires were returned (response rate 47%). The majority of respondents considered pharmacotherapy as the most important longterm treatment strategy for schizophrenia. Haloperidol was selected by the majority as their first choice neuroleptics. The proposed mean daily maintenance dosage was 383+/-229(75-1250)mg in chlorpromazine equivalent. The mean duration of AMT was 1.8+/-1.0(0.25-7.5)years after the first episode and 3.6+/-1.8(0.5-10)years after multi-episodes. Psychotherapy was regarded as more important by the resident psychiatrists group than by the certified psychiatrists. There were preferential differences for a particular treatment strategy, dosage and duration of AMT among the different clinics. A great number of respondents(93%) regarded long-term continuous maintenance as their major AMT policy, Only a few respondents(4.3%) were satisfied with the established guidelines for AMT in treatment of schizophrenia. The results show considerable variations in psychiatrists opinions on AMT which was influenced by grades of expertise of the clinician and the working environment of the clinic or the hospital. To decrease these variabilities and make clinically useful guidelines, it will be necessary' to do further pharmacoepidemiological studies as well as other types of related clinical research.