Psychiatric Characteristics According to Tinnitus Severity

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the psychiatric characteristics of outpatients with tinnitus. METHODS: A total of 88 subjects were included in this study. According to Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) scores, the subjects were classified into two group ; a mild tinnitus symptoms (mild-tinnitus) group and a severe tinnitus symptoms (severe-tinnitus) group. A questionnaire was used for an assessment of demographic characteristics, and the THI, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) about tinnitus, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) are applied for evaluation of other clinical psychiatric characteristics. RESULTS: Higher THI scores were positively correlated with tinnitus course, the number of accompanying symptoms, and the VAS. BDI total scores, BDI factors, and BAI total scores were significantly higher in the severe-tinnitus group than in the mild-tinnitus group. Also suicidal ideation, interpersonal problems, sleep problems, occupational impairment, and fatigue were significantly higher in the severe-tinnitus group than in the mild-tinnitus group. CONCLUSIONS: Tinnitus is a common disorder of hearing which is associated frequently with psychiatric problems. This study suggests that psychiatric interventions should be taken into consideration in the treatment of patients suffering from tinnitus.

Psychiatric Characteristics of Adolescents with Minor Offenses and Follow-Up after a 6-Month Protective Disposition

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the differences between the psychiatric characteristics of minor juvenile offenders and normal adolescents as well as differences in psychiatric symptoms after a six month protective disposition. Further, the current study aimed at determining psychiatric screening methods for evaluating delinquent adolescents. METHODS: The Latent Delinquency Questionnaire (LDQ), the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS), the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), the Reynolds Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ), the Piers-Harris Children's Self Concept Inventory (SCI), and the Korean Youth Self Report (K-YSR) were administered to 134 normal adolescents (114 males) and 109 minor offenders (97 males) aged 12 to 16 years. After six months, 46 offenders (all males) completed the RCMAS, CDI, SIQ, and SCI again. RESULTS: Adolescents with minor offenses had more delinquent, aggressive behavior and externalizing behavior problems, but were significantly less depressive, anxious, or suicidal than normal controls. Further, recidivists had more anxiety, depression, and delinquent behavior than non-recidivists. Minor offenders reported that their anxiety and depressive mood decreased after six months of protective disposition. CONCLUSION: Adolescents with minor offenses had more delinquent, aggressive behavior and externalizing behavior problems suggesting that psychiatric screening tools for minor offenders should measure disruptive behavior disorder.

Psychiatric Characteristics and Diagnosis of SHE in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis:Cognitive Functions and Evoked Potentials / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to elucidate the psychiatric characteristics and nature of the neuropsychological deficits associated with subclinical hepatic encephalopathy(SHE) in patients with non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis. And also the authors prospectively studied the role of somatosensory evoked potentials(SEP) in the assessment of SHE. METHODS: Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) for measuring depression, State Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) for measuring anxiety, and Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire(HQLQ) for measuring quality of life were administered the 41 non-encephalopathic liver cirrhosis patients(NELC) group and 31 carefully matched normal controls. And a prospective study to compare the performance of NELC group and normal controls on a short but comprehensive cognitive tests was conducted. After several cognitive tests, NELC group was divided into two groups, SHE group and non-SHE group by results of digit symbol substitution test(DSST) and/or trail making test(TMT) A and B. And then median nerve evoked cortical responses in 13 SHE patients group, 11 non-SHE patients group, and 8 normal controls were recorded for latencies of N13, P16, N20, P25, N30, P45, N65, and P95. And also responses for N13-N20 interpeak latency(IPL) and N20-N65 IPL were recorded. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the NELC group and normal controls on BDI, trait anxiety scales in STAI, and almost all HQLQ except for the cognitive function, social interaction and life satisfaction(p<0.05). The NELC group exhibited poor performance in DSST, TMT A and TMT B compared with normal controls(p<0.05). As 17 NELC patients had abnormal cognitive test results, 41.5% of cirrhotic patients had SHE. In SEP assessment, NELC group with SHE and without SHE had higher N20-N65 IPL and only NELC group with SHE had higher N65 latency compared with normal controls(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the patients with liver cirrhosis exhibit relatively selective deficits in complex attentional and fine motor skills, with preservation of general intellectual ability, memory, language and visuospatial perception. DSST, TMT A and TMT B seem to be useful screening tests for the detection of SHE. And also it is expected that late components and N20-N65 IPLs of SEP are helpful in the assessment of SHE.

Characteristics of Delinquent Adolescent's Mothers(III) / 신경정신의학

The present study was performed to identify the socio-psychiatric characteristics of mothers of delinquent male adolescent and thus to use them as basic material for ultimate prevention of adolescent delinquency by comparing their views with preceeding delinquent adolescent's own For this, we surveyed 111 mothers of delinquent male adolescent who had educationed in adolescent correctional institution in Pusan(B.B.S.) and 88 mothers of high school students through questionnaire of family environment and psychologic testings. Results were as follows: 1) By large, mothers of delinquent male adolescent were placed in poorer socio-economic conditions than those of control group's. 2) Degree of mantel harmony was nearly identical with preceeding survey of delinquent's The causes of marital disharmony were significant between delinquent and control group(delinquent group-economic difficulties, control group-personality difference). Types and resolution method of marital disharmony were also significant, delinquent group used more violent fighting type and more passive resolution method. 3) Mothers of delinquent male adolescent had low expectancy to their sons' future because of their own children's continuing delinquent behavior and low academic achievement. 4) For overcoming the difficult socio-economic situation, they participate in social activity This factors made them less attention to their children's life and thus their children's delinquent behavior were increased. 5) On results of MMFI test, both group had normal profiles and no significant differences except for L and Pa scores. On results of SCL 90-R test, both group also had normal profiles and no significant differences except for IS score only. According to above results, it would reasonable to introduce practitical, special socio educational program such as parent education and policy.