The Cognitive Profiles of Partial PTSD in Vietnam War Veterans / 신경정신의학

Objectives@#This study identifies the distinct cognitive function profiles of partial posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). @*Methods@#Medical records of Vietnam War Korean Veterans, who visited a psychiatric clinic and underwent a Clinician-Administered PTSD scale (CAPS) and neurocognitive test on the same day, were retrospectively reviewed. Based on the CAPS interview, participants were divided into partial PTSD (n=10) and non-PTSD (n=36) groups. The neurocognitive test score profiles of both groups were compared. Analysis of covariance was performed to adjust the contribution of possible confounders to cognitive function. @*Results@#Cognitive profile analysis displayed significantly poorer performance of executive function and mental flexibility (measured by the Trail Making Test B) and concentration (measured by mini mental status exam) in the partial PTSD group. When adjusted with age, depressive symptom measure, and education level, no significant differences were obtained in the cognitive profiles between both groups. @*Conclusion@#Results of the current study revealed a deficit in executive function and concentration in partial PTSD subjects compared to non-PTSD. However, when adjusted with possible confounders such as depressive symptoms, the cognitive profiles of partial PTSD displayed no significant difference with the cognitive profiles of non-PTSD subjects.

Differences in White Matter Hyperintensity in Elderly Veterans With and Without Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Objective@#Exposure to stressful events is associated with the progression of white matter hyperintensity (WMH). The purpose of this study was to determine the difference in WMH depending on the presence of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). @*Methods@#The patients who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging and clinician-administered PTSD scale (CAPS) at the Veteran Health Service Medical Center were reviewed retrospectively. WMH were evaluated using the Fazekas scale. The patients with PTSD (n=51; age 66.25±10.43 years) were compared with patients exposed to trauma without PTSD (n=67; age 69.45±10.44 years). @*Results@#The scores of Beck Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety scale, and CAPS were significantly higher in the PTSD group. The PTSD group showed a significant difference on the Fazekas scale compared to the trauma-exposed group without PTSD (periventricular white matter, p=0.001; deep white matter, p=0.008). After adjusting for age, smoking and comorbidity, WMH was higher in the PTSD group than in the trauma exposed group (periventricular white matter, p<0.001; deep white matter, p=0.006). @*Conclusion@#The results suggests that there may be an association between PTSD and WMH as well as stressful events.

Age-Limited Effects of Low-Frequency Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation on Insomnia: A 4-Week Multi-Center, Randomized Controlled Study

Objective@#Insomnia disorder is a common condition with considerable harmful effects on health. We investigated the therapeutic efficacy and safety of low-frequency transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (LF-TENS) as an alternative treatment option for insomnia disorder. @*Methods@#A 4-week, multi-center, randomized controlled study was conducted. A total of 160 individuals aged 40 to 80 years with insomnia disorder were included and randomized to the experimental group receiving active device (n=81) or control group receiving sham device (n=79). Both groups used the device for four weeks, more than five days a week. The participants also completed pre- and post-intervention assessment with questionnaires, sleep diaries, wrist actigraphy, and blood tests. @*Results@#There was no significant between-group difference in the changes of mood and sleep parameters and blood test results among the two study groups. Meanwhile, in the exploratory sub-group analysis of patients aged over 60 years, the experimental group showed better improvement after intervention in the change of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score (-2.63±3.25 vs. -1.20±2.28, p=0.039; Cohen’s d=0.99 vs. 0.45) and blood cortisol level (-1.65±3.37 μg/dL vs. -0.16±3.49 μg/dL, p=0.007; Cohen’s d=0.56 vs. 0.05). In addition, no serious adverse reaction occurred during the study period in both groups. @*Conclusion@#The effect of LF-TENS was limited to older patients aged over 60 years, which might be related to the modulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity.

A Review on Sleep Disorders Similar to REM Sleep Behavior Disorder / 수면정신생리

REM sleep behavior disorder is parasomnia characterized by unpleasant dreams and dream-enactment behaviors associated with excessive electromyography activity in REM sleep. This may appear idiopathic or secondary to other neurological or medical conditions. REM sleep behavior disorder, which appears to be idiopathic, most often implies the possibility of later neurodegenerative diseases due to synucleinopathy, so accurate diagnosis is important in predicting prognosis. For the diagnosis of REM sleep behavioral disorder, REM sleep without atonia, which appears in the polysomnography, is essential. Obstructive sleep apnea, trauma-related sleep disorders, and vigorous periodic leg movements during sleep are known as diseases that show dream enactment behavior in elderly patients. Considering that it may be accompanied by other sleep disorders that can mimic REM sleep behavioral disorders, it is important to differentiate sleep

A Review on the Cause of Fever During Clozapine Treatment / 정신신체의학

Clozapine is accepted as the “gold standard” antipsychotics for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Clozapine rarely causes extrapyramidal syndrome and tardive dyskinesia, which are common with other antipsychotics, and only a transient elevation of hyperprolactinemia has been reported. Despite such clinical usefulness, there are limitations to the use of clozapine due to adverse drug reactions (ADR). Fever is a common in adverse drug reactions associated with clozapine. At initiation of clozapine most fatal ADR such as agranulocytosis and neuroleptic malignant syndrome associated with fever, in which case clozapine should be discontinued immediately. However, as benign causes of fever are much more frequent than life-threatening ADR, clozapine should not be discontinued unconditionally in the event of fever during clozapine initiation. In addition, fever may occur at any time during the maintenance of clozapine treatment. In particular, since the risk of pneumonia does not decrease over time, and clozapine has a higher risk of pneumonia than other antipsychotic drugs, it is recommended to adjust clozapine dosage through therapeutic drug monitoring.

Cognitive Processing Therapy as a First-line Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder / 정신신체의학

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is well known to have a limited response to drug treatment. Many recently published clinical care guidelines recommend trauma-focused psychotherapies such as cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure therapy (PE) as first-line treatment and medication such as sero-tonin reuptake inhibitors and venlafaxine as second-line treatment. Current review introduces the session composition and contents of CPT and presents various CPT studies that show therapeutic effect for civilian and veterans/military with PTSD. In order for clinicians to help effectively patients with PTSD, it is necessary to learn and actively use evidence-based trauma-focused psychotherapies including CPT and PE.

Comparisons of Neuropsychological Characteristics of Elderly Subjects With Versus Without History of Agent Orange Exposure / 신경정신의학

Objectives@#Agent Orange is a defoliant chemical that is widely known for its use by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. It is known to be associated with the occurrence of various diseases in exposed subjects. However, few previous studies have focused on the effects of exposure to Agent Orange on cognitive dysfunction. @*Methods@#A total of 387 male subjects participated in the study. They were divided into those who were exposed to Agent Orange (n=301) and those without exposure (n=86). Both were evaluated with neuropsychological batteries, including the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease and the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery-Second Edition. @*Results@#The group exposed to Agent Orange showed significantly higher scores in the Rey Complex Figure Test copy and recognition compared to those without exposure. @*Conclusion@#In this study, we compared the effects of exposure to Agent Orange on cognitive function in groups that had not yet progressed to dementia. The Agent Orange exposure group showed better results in some tests evaluating visuospatial and memory function.

Clinical Characteristics of Bipolar Disorder Patients with Mood Stabilizer-Induced Cognitive Side Effects findings from the REAP-BD Survey in Korea / 신경정신의학

Methods@#This study analyzed 350 Korean adults who were diagnosed with bipolar disorder and prescribed mood-stabilizing drugs. The patients were divided into two groups—patients who experienced cognitive side effects and those who did not experience cognitive side effects.We also compared the demographic and clinical characteristics between both groups. @*Results@#The number of patients with an untreated illness longer than 1 year was higher in the group of patients who experienced cognitive side effects compared to the group of patients who did not experience cognitive side effects. Further, the number of patients with manic symptoms at onset was higher in the group of patients who experienced cognitive side effects compared to the group of patients who did not experience cognitive side effects. In addition, the proportion of patients in remission was higher in the group of patients who experienced cognitive side effects compared to the group of patients who experienced no cognitive side effects. However, there was no significant difference regarding the type of mood stabilizer used between the groups. On the other hand, more people experienced cognitive side effects as the valproic acid dosage increased. @*Conclusion@#Our findings suggest that there are clinical and demographic differences between people who experienced cognitive side effects and those who did not experience cognitive side effects due to prescription of mood stabilizers.

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder among Veterans with and without Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Objective@#Among veterans, the prevalence of rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is higher than among the general population, and some evidence suggests that this is related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this study was to determine whether the frequency of RBD differs depending on the presence of PTSD or trauma. @*Methods@#Patients who underwent nocturnal polysomnography (PSG) and sleep-related questionnaire surveys at the Veteran Health Service Medical Center were reviewed retrospectively. Based on patients with PTSD (n=20; 100% male; 67.9±8.5 years of age), we matched patients exposed to trauma without PTSD (n23; 100% male; age 64.0±13.4) and patients without trauma (n=21; 100% male; age 59.86±10.9). @*Results@#PTSD patients reported dream enactment behavior more than the trauma-exposed group without PTSD or the control group (p=0.006). After adjusting for age, there were more RBD patients in the PTSD group than in the trauma exposed group (p=0.049). @*Conclusion@#The results showed that RBD occurred significantly more in veterans with PTSD than those exposed to trauma, which suggests that there may be a pathophysiological association between PTSD and RBD.

Korean Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Insomnia in Adults

Objective@#We aim to present a clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia in adults by reviewing and integrating existing clinical guidelines. The purpose of this guideline is to assist clinicians who perform evidence-based insomnia treatment. @*Methods@#We selected literature that may be appropriate for use in guideline development from evidence-based practice guidelines that have been issued by an academic or governmental institution within the last five years. The core question of this guideline was made in sentence form including Patient/Problem, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome (PICO) elements. After searching PubMed, EMBASE, and medical guideline issuing agencies, three guidelines were judged to be the most appropriately reviewed, up-to-date, and from trusted sources. @*Results@#The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II tool was used to evaluate the quality of the three clinical guidelines. The final outcome of the guideline development process is a total of 15 recommendations that report the strength of the recommendation, the quality of evidence, a summary of content, and considerations in applying the recommendation. @*Conclusion@#It is vital for clinical guidelines for insomnia to be developed and continually updated in order to provide more accurate evidence-based treatments to patients.