Worsening of Psychotic Symptoms in Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia after Switching to or Combining Aripiprazole and Aripiprazole Monthly (Abilify Maintena) / 신경정신의학

Objectives@#Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic that functions as a partial agonist in hypodopaminergic states and a dopamine antagonist in hyperdopaminergic states. @*Methods@#This paper reports a series of five clinical cases of worsening psychotic symptoms in schizophrenic patients related to the initiation of aripiprazole, oral and injection, as combination therapy. @*Results@#In all five cases, the switching of aripiprazole improved the psychotic symptoms. @*Conclusion@#Even with the suggestive relationship between aripiprazole therapy and the worsening of psychotic symptoms, further research is needed.

Serum Levels of Growth Factors in Alcohol-dependent Patients according to Comorbid Depressive Symptoms

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to reveal the relationship of depression with growth factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in inpatients diagnosed with alcohol dependence, and to identify candidate growth factors as biological markers to indicate the comorbid of alcohol dependence and depression. METHODS: This study examined demographic factors in 45 alcohol-dependent patients. The ADS (Korean version of the Alcohol Dependence Scale) and BDI (Korean version of Beck's Depression Inventory) were used. BDNF, NGF, and IGF-1 were measured through ELISA. RESULTS: The average drinking quantity and the ADS score were significantly more severe in alcohol-dependent patients with depression than in those without depression. Linearly comparing BDNF, NGF, and IGF-1 with BDI values, IGF-1 was the growth factor significantly correlated with BDI scores. BDI scores were significantly correlated with ADS scores. IGF-1 was significantly higher in alcohol-dependent patients with depression. Alcohol-dependent patients with depression had greater alcohol use and more severe ADS scores. BDNF and NGF showed no significant difference between alcohol-dependent patients with and without depression, but IGF-1 was significantly higher in those with than in those without depression. CONCLUSION: IGF-1 was found to be associated with depression in alcohol-dependent patients, suggesting that IGF-1 in alcohol-dependent patients could be an important biomarker to indicate whether alcohol-dependence is accompanied by depression.

Obesity and Psychopathology of Inpatients with Schizophrenia / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to examine the relationship between obesity and psychopathology of inpatients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Eighty four inpatients with schizophrenia and 81 control subjects were recruited. Height and weight were measured for calculation of body mass index (BMI). Symptom severity scales [Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale] and Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) were conducted in all patients. Comorbid medical conditions, years of education, smoking status, age of onset, duration of illness, and medication history were collected. RESULTS: Patients with schizophrenia had significantly higher BMI and ratio of obesity than control subjects. Among patients, obese patients scored lower on symptom severity scales and better on functional assessment than not obese patients. Multiple regression analysis revealed an association of late onset and being obese with lower PANSS total score and better GAF score in patients. Late onset and being female were inversely related with negative symptom score. The type and dose of antipsychotics showed no association with obesity. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that patients with schizophrenia are likely to be more obese. Some characteristics of patients with less severe psychopathology, such as late onset, being obese, were coincident with the result of previous studies. In addition, the result showing that the heavier the weight of patients, the lower severity of symptoms was repeatedly reported in previous studies. The type and dose of antipsychotics were not associated with obesity. These results prompt further investigation of the relationship among schizophrenia, antipsychotics, and weight gain.

Public Perspectives on Pharmacological Treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder / 대한정신약물학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine 1) public knowledge and perceptions about attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 2) factors influencing the public's decisions to adhere to ADHD pharmacotherapy. METHODS: In this study, 396 participants responded to the internet survey regarding their experiences, beliefs and treatment preferences about ADHD. RESULTS: 252 respondents (63.6%) were reluctant to pharmacological treatment of ADHD. The respondents chose the functional impairment of the brain as the main cause of ADHD were favorable to pharmacological treatment and scored significantly high on the ADHD Knowledge Questionnaire. On the other hand, the respondents who regarded ADHD as an overly active personality rather than a disease were skeptical to pharmacotherapy and scored significantly low. The respondents who were acquainted with someone who had been diagnosed with ADHD perceived themselves relatively well informed about ADHD. However, the subjective perception of the degree of knowledge of ADHD was not correlated with the objective score of the ADHD Knowledge Questionnaire. CONCLUSION: The public is not well informed about ADHD and its treatments. Culturally appropriate psychoeducational strategies based on the media and the internet are needed. Providing biomedical conceptualization of ADHD to the public may aid with treatment decisions and promote adherence to pharmacological treatment.

Informed Consent in Psychiatry / 신경정신의학

Informed consent is the procedure that respects the autonomy of patients ; doctors protect patients' choices and rights through informed consent. Competence and voluntariness are prerequisite for the informed consent. In recent years, the necessity of informed consent from the Psychiatric department has been raised. Regarding informed consent from the Psychiatric department, there is a need to consider from two perspectives : respect for the patient's decision-making ability and the psychiatrist's legal self-protection. In competence and voluntariness, psychiatric patients were excluded due to lack of decision-making ability and willingness. However, not all psychiatric patients were able to perform the given task. Therefore, informed consent is needed in the point of view regarding the decision-making ability of psychiatric patients. Psychotropic medications, particularly antipsychotics, can cause several side effects, including extrapyramidal syndrome and metabolic syndrome. Therefore, preannouncement of these patients for these side effects is needed. However, when the informed consent is only applied to psychiatric hospitals, it may increase prejudices and misconceptions about psychiatric medications and treatment. Therefore, the informed consent should first be considered carefully and thoughtfully.

Safety and Effectiveness of Long Acting Injectable Antipsychotic Paliperidone Palmitate Treatment in Schizophrenics : A 24-Week Open-Label Study

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effectiveness and safety when treated in schizophrenics with paliperidone palmitate, a long acting injectable antipsychotic. METHODS: This was a 24-week open-label study, performed at one center in Korea. The eligible patients with schizophrenia diagnosed by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria were enrolled. Patients received long-acting paliperidone palmitate injection (234 mg, baseline; 156 mg, week 1 ; then once 4 weeks flexible dosing). Effectiveness assessments were measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), The Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale (CGI-S), The Personal and Social Performance (PSP) at baseline, week 1, every 4 weeks untill 24 weeks or endpoint. Safety assessments were measured by The Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale (ESRS), body weight (BW) and incidence of adverse events. Oral antipsychotics were stopped or tapered off within next 14 days. RESULTS: Of 20 patients recruited, 9 patients (45%) completed the study. Paliperidone palmitate produced a significant improvement in PANSS total score from baseline to endpoint. The response rate was 75% [mean change (+/- SD) -25.9 +/- 14.4, all p or = 10%) in paliperidone palmitate were anticholinergic adverse event, extrapyramidal symptoms, weight gain, akathisia, insomnia, headache, agitation, anxiety and GI trouble. ESRS score is not statistically significant, but tends to get better at the end of the study when compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Our study results demonstrated maintained effectiveness and safety of paliperidone palmitate treatment in schizophrenics. And provides both clinicians and patients with a new choice of treatment that can improve the outcome of long term therapy. Their potential effectiveness and safety should be better addressed by future randomized-controlled trials.

The Characteristics of Bipolar Outpatients in Remission Showing False-Negatives on the Korean Version of Mood Disorder Questionnaire / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) has been validated as a diagnostic screening instrument for the detection of patients with bipolar disorder, but some patients with bipolar disorder obtain false negative screens. So we investigated demographic and clinical characteristics in false-negative MDQ in bipolar patients. METHODS: The participants were 60 DSM-IV bipolar outpatients in remission. All completed the Korean version of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (K-MDQ) and the Korean version of the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (K-BCIS) and were assessed by a trained clinician on the Young Mania Rating Scale, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Global Assessment of Functioning scale. The patients were categorized into two groups according to their K-MDQ score excluding further two questions (MDQ > or =7 : K-MDQ-positives and MDQ <7 : K-MDQ-negatives). Differences in demographic and clinical characteristics between these two groups were analyzed. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between K-MDQ-positives and K-MDQ-negatives on the demographic and clinical variables, except on the K-BCIS where K-MDQ-negatives reported significantly lower scores on the K-BCIS composite index and self-reflectiveness subscale. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that lack of insight is a confounding factor in screening for bipolar disorder using the K-MDQ.

The Difference of the 2nd to 4th Digit Length Ratio betweenType I and Type II Alcoholism

OBJECTIVES: The second to fourth digit ratio (2D : 4D) is known to reflect testosterone level during intrauterine period. Testosterone is essential for masculinization of brain. Cloninger's type II alcoholism is characterized by early age at onset and largely limited to males. Compared with type I alcoholism, type II alcoholism is thought to be masculine. There is a possibility that the digit ratio of type II alcoholism is low compared with type I. We examined digit length ratio in Cloninger's type I and II alcoholism to understand the effects of intrauterine testosterone on the development of alcoholism. METHODS: The participants were 87 alcohol dependent patients. We divided two subtypes of patients by Irwin's symptom list, based on Cloninger's concept. We captured the images of both palms by the scanner and measured the lengths of digits by the graphic program. Then we analyzed the digit ratios by independent-sample t-test. RESULTS: The mean 2D : 4D of type I was 0.942 (right), 0.952 (left). The mean 2D : 4D of type II was 0.927 (right), 0.940 (left). In both hands, 2D : 4D of type II was significantly lower than type I. CONCLUSIONS: Type II alcoholism showed masculine type of digit length ratio compared with type I. It suggests the exposure of testosterone during intrauterine period might play an important role in determining the course and feature of alcoholism.

Patient-Centeredness Associated with Personality Traits of Medical Students / 한국의학교육

PURPOSE: The patient-centered attitude is an effort to understand patients themselves as well as their disease. The doctor-oriented approach has been shifting to one where patients and participate in the deciding of medical service. We performed this study to investigate the patient-centeredness and influencing variables associated with personality traits. METHODS: We recruited 94 medical students before their psychiatric clinical clerkship, and all subjects were assessed by a structured questionnaire including socio-demographic data, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory(MMPI), Meyers-Briggs type indicator(MBTI), the patient-practitioner Orientation Scale(PPOS), and the Authoritarian Personality scale(AP), The AP and PPOS questionnaires were repeated after the psychiatric clinical clerkship. RESULTS: After the psychiatric clinical clerkship, the AP scores were significantly lower than before, and the PPOS significantly higher than before. The change in the AP scores were related to MBTI, correlated with MMPI subscales, however, inversely correlated with the changes in PPOS after the clinical clerkship. CONCLUSION: The authoritarian personality trait was related to, not only the personality trait including MBTI and MMPI subscales, but also to patient-centeredness in medical students.

The Study on Patient-Centeredness and Influencing Variables in Medical Students / 신경정신의학

INTRODUCTION: The practicing of patient-centered medical services means a change in the pattern of the nature of doctor-patient relationship. The doctor oriented relationship is now moving to the pattern that patients resolve problems autonomously and participate in the decision-making in medical services. Authors performed this study to investigate the patient centeredness and influencing variables in medical students. METHODS: Authors recruited 94 medical students before psychiatric clinical clerkship and all subjects were assessed by structured questionales including socio-demographic data, frequency of receiving doctor-patient relationship lectures, Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory (MMPI), Meyers-Briggs type indicator (MBTI), the authoritarian personality scale (AP), job satisfaction scale (JS), patient practitioner orientation scale (PPOS), problem-solving decision-making scale (PSDM), and Beisecker locus of authority in decision-making scale (BLAS), and the questionnaire of JS, PPOS, PSDM, and BLAS were rechecked after psychiatric clinical clerkship. RESULTS: After psychiatric clinical clerkship, the score of JS, PPOS were higher than before. The group who had a good memory for taking a doctor-patient relationship lecture showed higher scores of the BLAS and PSDM than unexposed group. The AP was related with MBTI, correlated with the subscale of MMPI, however, inversely correlated with PPOS after psychiatric clinical clerkship. CONCLUSION: The authoritarian personality trait was related not only with other personality trait including introversion and psychopathic deviation (Pd) but also with patient-centeredness. Taking a lecture in doctor-patient relationship is positively related to the patient-centeredness.

The Relationship between Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Depression: The Test of Functional Involvement of Frontal and Parietal Lobe Hypothesis / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Regarding the relationship between the laterality of seizure focus and depression in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), previous studies reported inconsistent results. The role of frontal function as moderating variable between laterality and depression had been proposed. We attempted to replicate functional involvement of frontal lobe (FIFL) and, as an effort to extend previous findings, to test the functional involvement of parietal lobe (FIPL) to prove the hypothesis derived from Heller's valencearousal theory of emotion. METHODS: In study 1, patients with TLE (right 19, left 17) performed MMPI-D as a depression measure, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) as a frontal function measure, and block design (BD) as a parietal function measure in the course of pre-operation assessment. Multiple regression model of depression which includes the interaction terms both between laterality and WCST and between laterality and BD were tested. In study 2, patients underwent anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL;right 20, left 25) were assessed and analyzed in the same way as study 1. RESULTS: In study 1, contrary to the FIFL and FIPL prediction, interaction of laterality with WCST or BD were not significant. In study 2, the interaction with frontal function was significant. Consistent with FIFL prediction, depression came to be evident when seizure focus was lateralized to the left side and simultaneously frontal function declined. But the interaction with BD remained insignificant, which suggests the invalidity of FIPL hypothesis. CONCLUSION: We replicated the FIFL hypothesis in the depression of ATL patients. The relation of depression with frontal function was more evident in post rather than pre operation sample. This pattern may be due to the inter-hemispheric interference of frontal functions in pre-operation sample and to the release-of-function phenomenon in post-operation sample. On the other hand, we did not succeed in confirming the role of parietal function in depression. Intactness of the parietal function in TLE was considered as the main cause of the negative finding.

Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Temporoparietal Cortex in Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia with Treatment-Resistant Auditory Hallucinations / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: It has been reported that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), which stimulate the focal region of brain may relieve auditory hallucination in patient with schizophrenia. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of rTMS on left and right temporoparietal cortex in schizophrenic patients with treatment-resistant auditory hallucination. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with chronic schizophrenia with treatment -resistant auditory hallucination were randomly allocated to rTMS group on left and right temporoparietal head regions. The rTMS was applied to TP3/4 region by EEG 10-20 international system at 1 Hz for 20 minutes per day for 10 treatment days. A Figure of eight TMS coil with a solid core was used for rTMS at 100% of individual motor threshold. Efficacy was evaluated with Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (HRS), Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale on 5 and 10 days of treatment. RESULTS: Ten days administration of 1-Hz rTMS to temporoparietal cortex significant improved frequency (p<0.001) and attentional salience (p=0.038) of auditory hallucination, positive (p<0.001) and negative symptom (p=0.02), and CGI-improvement (p<0.001). There were no significant differences between right and left side stimulations. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the low frequency rTMS on temporoparietal cortex may be useful in treating schizophrenic patients with treatment-resistant auditory hallucination and it could be a useful novel treatment option.

Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Temporoparietal Cortex in Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia with Treatment-Resistant Auditory Hallucinations / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: It has been reported that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), which stimulate the focal region of brain may relieve auditory hallucination in patient with schizophrenia. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of rTMS on left and right temporoparietal cortex in schizophrenic patients with treatment-resistant auditory hallucination. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with chronic schizophrenia with treatment -resistant auditory hallucination were randomly allocated to rTMS group on left and right temporoparietal head regions. The rTMS was applied to TP3/4 region by EEG 10-20 international system at 1 Hz for 20 minutes per day for 10 treatment days. A Figure of eight TMS coil with a solid core was used for rTMS at 100% of individual motor threshold. Efficacy was evaluated with Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (HRS), Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale on 5 and 10 days of treatment. RESULTS: Ten days administration of 1-Hz rTMS to temporoparietal cortex significant improved frequency (p<0.001) and attentional salience (p=0.038) of auditory hallucination, positive (p<0.001) and negative symptom (p=0.02), and CGI-improvement (p<0.001). There were no significant differences between right and left side stimulations. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the low frequency rTMS on temporoparietal cortex may be useful in treating schizophrenic patients with treatment-resistant auditory hallucination and it could be a useful novel treatment option.

A Case of Frontotemporal Dementia with Family History

The average age of frontotemporal dementia onset is much younger than that of the Alzheimer's disease. Behavioral disturbances occur at the early stage of frontotemporal dementia, and social dysfunction and personality deterioration may ensue. For this reason, it may be misdiagnosed as other psychiatric disorders. Therefore, more careful observation and concern is required for proper diagnosis. This report is about the case of a patient who had been misdiagnosed of disorders like schizotypal personality disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder etc., and therefore have been treated for those. We reviewed this case based on the data of neuropsychiatric history, family history, neuropsychological test, brain MRI, and SPECT, and considered this case as frontotemporal dementia with family history. This is the first frontotemporal dementia case with family history in Korea, so hereafter we may discover the gene locus associated with this case. This study can be very useful for the following frontotemporal dementia studies in Korea.

Effects of Brief Symptom Management Module on Inpatients with Chronic Schizophrenia: A Preliminary Study / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine whether Symptom Management Module-Korean Brief Version(SMM-B) is effective as a psychosocial treatment of the inpatients with chronic schizophrenia. We also questioned which of demographic and clinical characteristics could be predictors of differential treatment response. METHODS: The subjects were composed of 30 inpatients with chronic schizophrenia, who were trained with weekly session of SMM-B for 5 weeks. Before and after the training, the level of psychopathology, knowledge about schizophrenia were assessed as dependent variables by using Clinical Global Impression(CGI) and Scale to Assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder(SUMD). RESULTS: Overall, patients showed improvement over the treatment period on psychopathology as well as knowledge about psychosis. Total scores of SUMD were changed from 16.9+/-4.0 before training to 12.9+/-4.2 after training(p<0.01) and scores of CGI were improved from 3.7+/-0.9 to 2.8+/-0.8 (p<0.01). However age, gender, years of education, age of onset, duration of illness, duration of admission, numbers of psychiatric admission, and clinical status evaluated by CGI were not correlated with un-awareness of psychosis. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that SMM-B could be a reliable method to improve self-awareness of psychosis in patients with chronic schizophrenia and one of important elements in rehabilitation.

Therapeutic Factors of Large Group Psychodrama for Psychiatric Inpatients / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to make a model of large group psychodrama suitable for Korean inpatients and easy for psychiatrists trained in the individual psychotherapy and the group psychotherapy to use, to investigate the therapeutic factors after applying this model to inpatients, and then to contribute to the treatment of inpatients. METHODS: The study subjects were all the inpatients and the therapists(the auxiliary ego's) who participated in psychodrama from March 1998 to September 1998. The subjects were composed of 346 inpatients(152 males, 194 females) and 60 therapists. To the inpatients 13-Therapeutic Factors Scale, Scale of General Attitude to Psychodrama, and the Questionnaire describing helpful things in psychodrama were administered. To the therapists 13-Therapeutic Factors Scale and the Questionnaire describing helpful things in psychodrama were administered. The inpatient group were divided into 4 groups(the audience, the auxiliary ego's, the participants in sharing, the protagonists). The therapeutic factors among 4 groups were compared. RESULTS: First, the therapeutic factors described by the inpatient group were as follows: 1) Most inpatients made great account of 'existential factor' and 'the corrective recapitulation of the primary family group' regardless of their roles in psychodrama. 2) The inpatients who participated in psychodrama directly as the protagonists, the auxiliary ego's, or the participants in sharing made much account of 'development of socializing techniques'. The inpatients who participated in psychodrama more directly as the protagonists or the auxiliary ego's made much account of 'catharsis'. 3) All the inpatients except the protagonists made much account of 'instillation of hope'. 4) The audience made much account of 'identification' and 'universality'. Especially, 'identification with members' was much accounted of by the participants in sharing. 'Universality' also was much accounted of by the auxiliary ego's. Next, when we compared the therapeutic factors in the inpatient group with those in the therapist group, the therapist group made much account of 'group cohesiveness' which the inpatient group made little account of. And the therapist group made no account of 'development of socializing techniques' which the inpatient group made much account of. CONCLUSION: By dividing the inpatient group according to their roles, we found the characteristics of the inpatient large group psychodrama and of the therapeutic factors according to the roles of the inpatients. This model could be applied to the treatment for the inpatients easily and was helpful to many inpatients on the whole.

A Day Care Model for Rehabilitation of Chronic Psychotic Patients / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The purpost of this study was to present general system,operation,and program of a day care model managed by a psychiatrist,to evaluate the results of performing this model,and thus to developa day care model applied to Korean situation appropriately for promoting maintenance and rehabilitation of chronic psychotic patients. METHODS: We performed this day care model(hereinafter called as this model) from March 1997 to February 1998. The subjects were composed of 23 psychotic patients. PANSS, Quality of Life Scale,Life Satisfaction Self-Rating Scale were used before beginning this model-and after three months of performing this model. Program Helpfulness Scale,13 Therapeutic Factors Scale were used at one month of day care and after three months of day care. RESULTS: 1) This model helped maintenance and rehabilitation of chronic psychotic patients through reducing their symptoms and increasing quality of life. 2) This model used the various group therapy, especially creative art therapy and activeity therapy, played an important fole,for recovering Physical,psychological,and social functions. 3) Important therapeutic factors at early and late period of this model were identification with therapists,guidance of therapists,and the corrective recatitulation of the primary family group. Important therapeutic factors at early period were group cohesiveness and altruism, and at late period instillation of hope. 4) This model was useful for integration the multidisciplinary therapeutic team and the various therapeutic methods. CONCLUSION: This model would be applied to day care in this country effectively and efficiently for maintenance and rehabilitation of chronic psychotic patients.

Genetic Frequencies of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 in Korean patients with Alcohol Dependence / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the association of ALDH2 genetic types with the risk and clinical variables of alcohol dependence in Korean patients. METHODS: ALDH2 genotypes were typed with restriction fragment length polymorphism method in 141 patients with alcohol dependence and 144 normal controls. The frequencies of ALDH2 genetic types were compared between patients and controls. Among the patients, the frequencies of ALDH2 genotypes were compared in terms of clinical variables. RESULTS: 1) The genotypic frequencies of the subjects with ALDH2*1/1 were higher and those with variant ALDH2, that is, ALDH2*1/2 and ALDH2*2/2 were lower in patients than in normal controls. 2) The genetic frequencies of the patients with ALDH2 were not related to family history of alcohol dependence. 3) There were no differences for the age of first drink and onset age of alcohol dependence between the patients with ALDH2*1/1 and those with ALDH2*1/2 or ALDH2*2/2. CONCLUSION: These results suggest ALDH2 genotypes might be associated with the risk of alcohol dependence.

A Comparative Study on the Therapeutic Factors of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama Applied to Psychotic Patients / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the therapeutic factors of group psychotherapy and psychodrama which were applied to psychotic patients, and to compare the therapeutic characteristics of two therapies. METHODS: The subjects of this study were patients of a day hospital from September 1996 to May 1997. The subjects were composed of 35 psychotic patents(22 males, 13 females). Both of group psychotherapy and psychodrama were done to the patients of the day hospital. After these therapeutic factors were checked by the members of group psychotherapy, the protagonists of psychodrama, and the audience of psychodrama using 13 therapeutic factors scale. All three groups divided into higher functioning group and lower functioning group by mutual consent of the therapists in the treatment team meeting according to the patient's life of the day hospital, the attitude in programs, and the state during the interview with the therapist. And then therapeutic factors of higher and lower functioning group were compared. By the mean score of each therapeutic factor the rank of therapeutic factors was decided. By these ranks we compared the important therapeutic factors on the members of group psychotherapy, the protagonists, and the audience. RESULTS: The results were as follows : 1) The protagonists of psychodrama set a very high value on 'catharsis' and 'the corrective recapitulation of the primary family group', regardless of their functional level. 2) The protagonists with a higher function set a higher value on 'guidance of therapists', while those who had a lower function set a higher value on 'guidance of members'. 3) The audience of psychodrama set a very high value on 'identification with therapists', 'identification with members', and set a high value on 'universality'. 4) The higher functioning group of the group psychotherapy, the audience, and the protagonists set a high value on 'interpersonal learning', especially the patients of group psychotherapyset a very high value on 'interpersonal learning' 5) The lower functioning group of the protagonists and the group psychotherapy set a high value on 'development of socializing techniques'. CONCLUSION: From the results of this study, we can draw some suggestions. First, if therapists take the above-mentioned therapeutic factors into consideration during the sessions of group psychotherapy or psychodrama, they can obtain more effective therapeutic outcome. Second, it is desirable that both group psychotherapy and psychodrama should be used more extensively as important methods of treatment in clinical settings. Third, the combination of group psychotherapy and psychodrama would be more effective than the separate application of each therapy.

The Cognitive and Cerebral Functions of Patients with Conduct Disorder / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: In oder to investigate the cognitive and cortical functions of patients with conduct disorder, the present study was carried out with the neuropsychological test battery and Event-Related Potentials(ERPs:P300). METHODS: The subjects were consisted of 18 patients with conduct disorder who fulfilled DSM-IV criteria and 18 normal controls. For all subjects the neuropsychological test battery and ERPs were administered. The neuropsychological test battery consisted of attention tests, memory tests and Card Sorting Test which is used to evaluate the problem-solving and hypothesis-testing. The P300 was measured by oddball paradigm in which 1,000Hz tone was served as standard stimulus and 2,000Hz tone as target stimulus. The task of the subject was to press response-button whenever the target stimulus was presented. K-WAIS was administered in order to control the intelligence of the subjects. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1) Among subtests of the neuropsychological test battery, only the result of Card Sorting Test showed significant difference between conduct disorder group and control group. The conduct disorder group showed significant low hit-rate compared with control group. 2) The conduct disorder group showed decreased P300 amplitude compared with control group on Fz and Cz. Among 18 patients with conduct disorder, 12 patients showed negative potentials on Fz. 3) The conduct disorder group showed prolonged P300 latency compared with control group on Fz. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the patients with conduct disorder seem to have retarded functions of problem-solving and hypothesis-testing, and this retardation seems to be related to the frontal dysfunction.