Restandardization of the Korean Personality Assessment Inventory: Comparisons with the Original Korean Version / 신경정신의학

Objectives@#This study examined the results of the restandardization of the Korean Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). The Korean PAI was first standardized in 2001 and then restandardized in 2019 to establish new normative data. On the other hand, differences may exist in the results of the restandardized version considering the time interval, which may include cultural and social differences. Thus, differences between the results of the Korean PAI administered in 2001 and 2019 must be examined to confirm its new normative data followed by restandardization. @*Methods@#Data from 2212 adults who administered the original Korean PAI in 2001 and 1263 adults who administered the Korean PAI in 2019 were collected. The study compared the reliability and mean scores. In addition, the mean scores of the Korean PAI administered in 2019 were converted to T-scores adapted to the normative data of 2001. The collected data was analyzed using a t-test and comparing the T-scores. @*Results@#The internal consistency reliability showed a similar pattern in both versions, but the differences among the mean scores and T-scores appeared to be significant. @*Conclusion@#The significant differences between the scores of the Korean PAI administered in 2001 and 2019 reflect the result of the restandardization. Therefore, the restandardized version of the Korean PAI may bring more precise information that can be adapted to the contemporary era.

Validation of the Korean Version of the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms

OBJECTIVE: Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS) has recently been developed to improve measurement of negative symptoms in schizophrenia. We performed a multi-center study to validate the Korean version of the CAINS (CAINS-K) and explore potential cultural variation. METHODS: One hundred eighty schizophrenia patients diverse in demographic and illness profile were recruited from four centers in Korea. Along with the CAINS-K, the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), a self-report measure of behavioral inhibition and activation (BIS/BAS) and neurocognitive tasks were administered to verify external validities. RESULTS: The CAINS-K showed high internal-consistency (0.92) and inter-rater reliability (0.77). Exploratory Factor Analysis replicated a two-factor structure of the original scale including motivation/pleasure and expression deficits dimensions. Korean patients tended to report lower pleasure compared to American patients in the prior study. The CAINS-K showed an adequate convergent validity with the SANS, negative symptoms of the BPRS, and BAS. A divergent validity was supported as the CAINS-K showed zero or only weak correlations with other symptoms of the BPRS, depression from the CDSS, and neurocognitive tasks. CONCLUSION: The CAINS-K demonstrated high internal consistency and adequate external validities, and is expected to promote studies on negative symptoms in Korean patients with schizophrenia.

The Relation between Anger Management Style and Organ System-Related Somatic Symptoms in Patients with Depressive Disorders and Somatoform Disorders

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to examine the relation between anger management style and organ system- related somatic symptoms in depressive disorder and somatoform disorder patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects included 73 patients with depressive disorders and 47 with somatoform disorders. Anger management styles were assessed by the Anger Expression Scale, while the severity of organ system-related somatic symptoms was evaluated using the Somatic Stress Response Scale (SSRS). The severity of depression and hostility was assessed by the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) depression and hostility subscales. RESULTS: The results of multiple regression analyses showed that, in depressive disorder patients, the level of anger expression was significantly associated with the severity of somatic symptoms related to neuromuscular, cardiorespiratory and gastrointestinal systems. However, in these patients, the level of anger suppression was not significantly associated with the severity of somatic symptoms related to any specific organ systems. In patients with somatoform disorders, there was no significant association between the level of anger suppression or anger expression and the severity of the somatic symptoms related to any specific organ systems. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that, in depressive disorder patients, anger expression is likely to be predominantly involved in the neuromuscular, cardiorespiratory and gastrointestinal organ systems. However, in each of depressive disorder and somatoform disorder patients, anger suppression is not likely to be associated with any specific organ systems.

Development of the Stress-induced Cognition Scale

The objective of this study was to develop the stress-induced cognition scale (SCS). A preliminary survey was conducted on 109 healthy adults to obtain cognitive stress responses. Then, 215 healthy subjects completed a preliminary questionnaire. A comparison was made regarding cognitive stress responses among 73 patients with depressive disorders and 215 healthy subjects. Factor analysis of the SCS yielded 3 subscales: extreme thought, aggressive-hostile thought, and self-depreciative thought. The test-retest reliability for the 3 subscales and the total score was significantly high, ranging from 0.87 to 0.95. The Cronbach's alphafor the 3 subscales and total score ranged from 0.82 to 0.94. The convergent validity was calculated by correlating the 3 subscales and total score of the SCS with the total score of the global assessment of recent stress (GARS) scale, the perceived stress questionnaire (PSQ), and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). The correlations were all at significant levels. The depressive disorder group scored significantly higher than the healthy control group in all the subscale scores and total scores of the SCS. Female subjects were significantly higher than males in the total scores of the SCS. These results indicate that the SCS is highly reliable and valid, and that it can be utilized as an effective measure for research related to cognitive assessment.

Development of the Stress-induced Cognition Scale

The objective of this study was to develop the stress-induced cognition scale (SCS). A preliminary survey was conducted on 109 healthy adults to obtain cognitive stress responses. Then, 215 healthy subjects completed a preliminary questionnaire. A comparison was made regarding cognitive stress responses among 73 patients with depressive disorders and 215 healthy subjects. Factor analysis of the SCS yielded 3 subscales: extreme thought, aggressive-hostile thought, and self-depreciative thought. The test-retest reliability for the 3 subscales and the total score was significantly high, ranging from 0.87 to 0.95. The Cronbach's alphafor the 3 subscales and total score ranged from 0.82 to 0.94. The convergent validity was calculated by correlating the 3 subscales and total score of the SCS with the total score of the global assessment of recent stress (GARS) scale, the perceived stress questionnaire (PSQ), and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). The correlations were all at significant levels. The depressive disorder group scored significantly higher than the healthy control group in all the subscale scores and total scores of the SCS. Female subjects were significantly higher than males in the total scores of the SCS. These results indicate that the SCS is highly reliable and valid, and that it can be utilized as an effective measure for research related to cognitive assessment.

Development of the Anger Coping Scale / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop the Anger Coping Scale (ACS). METHODS: First, a preliminary survey was conducted for 123 healthy adults to obtain 23 response items. Second, a preliminary questionnaire was completed by 258 healthy subjects. Third, a comparison was made regarding anger coping between 72 depressive disorder patients and 258 healthy subjects. RESULTS: Factor analysis yielded 5 subscales : behavioral aggression, problem-solving coping, verbal aggression, tensionreleasing coping and anger suppression. Reliability was computed by administering the ACS to 53 healthy subjects during a 2-week interval. Test-retest reliability for 5 subscales was significantly high, ranging between .39-.78. Cronbach's alpha for 5 subscales ranged between .58-.86. Convergent validity was computed by correlating the 5 subscales score with the total score of the Aggression Questionnaire, the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory, the anger and aggression subscale of the Stress Response Inventory and the hostility subscale of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. The depressive disorder group scored significantly higher on the anger suppression subscale than the control group. However, the normal control group scored significantly higher on the behavioral aggression and tension-releasing coping subscale than the depressive disorder group. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the ACS is highly reliable and valid. In addition, depressive disorder patients are more likely to use anger suppression than healthy individuals, whereas healthy individuals are more likely to use both behavioral aggression and tension-releasing coping than depressive disorder patients. Further transcultural study on anger coping is required.

Development of the Somatic Stress Response Scale and Its Application in Clinical Practice

The objective of this study was to develop the Somatic Stress Response Scale (SSRS), and then to use the scale in clinical practice. A preliminary survey was conducted using 109 healthy adults to obtain somatic stress responses. Then, 215 healthy subjects completed a preliminary questionnaire. A comparison was made regarding the somatic stress responses among 191 patients (71 with anxiety disorders, 73 with depressive disorders and 47 with somatoform disorders) and 215 healthy subjects. Factor analysis of the SSRS yielded five subscales: the cardiorespiratory response, somatic sensitivity, gastrointestinal response, general somatic response and genitourinary response subscales. The test-retest reliability for the five subscales and the total score was significantly high, ranging from .86 to .94. The Cronbach's yen afor the five subscales ranged from .72 to .92, and was .95 for the total score. By correlating the five subscales and the total score of the SSRS with the somatization subscale scores of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), convergent validity was calculated. The correlations were all at significant levels. Each of the disorder groups was significantly higher in scores of the cardiorespiratory response, gastrointestinal response, general somatic response and genitourinary response subscale, and in the total SSRS score than the healthy group. Only the depressive disorder group scored significantly higher on the somatic sensitivity subscale than the healthy group, and they also scored significantly higher on the genitourinary response subscale than the anxiety disorder group did. These results suggest that the SSRS is highly reliable and valid, and that it can be effectively utilized as a measure for research of the somatic symptoms related to stress. It also implies that somatic sensitivity and genitourinary responses are associated with depressive disorders.

Development of the Cognitive Stress Response Scale / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a cognitive stress response scale (CSRS). METHODS: First, a preliminary survey was conducted for 109 healthy adults to obtain 29 response items. Second, a preliminary questionnaire was completed by 215 healthy subjects. Third, a comparison was made regarding cognitive responses among 73 patients with depressive disorders and 215 healthy subjects. RESULTS: Factor analysis yielded 3 subscales: extreme-negative thought, aggressive-hostile thought, and self-depreciative thought. Reliability was computed by administering the CSRS to 62 healthy subjects during a 2-week interval. Test-retest reliability for 3 subscales and the total score were significantly high, ranging between. 87-.95. Internal consistency was computed, and Cronbach's alpha for 3 subscales ranged between. 82-.91, and .94 for the total score. Convergent validity was computed by correlating the 3 subscales and the total score with the total score of the global assessment of recent stress (GARS) scale, the perceived stress questionnaire (PSQ), and the symptom checklist-90-revised (SCL-90-R). The correlations were all at significant levels. The depressive disorder group was significantly higher than control group in all the subscale scores and total scores of the CSRS. In total scores of the CSRS, female subjects were significantly higher than males. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the CSRS is highly reliable and valid, and that it can be utilized as an effective measure for research related to cognitive assessment.

The Changes of short-term memory and Autonomic neurocardiac function after 4-10Hz sound and light stimulation: A pilot study / 수면정신생리

OBJECTIVES: Sound and light (SL) stimulation has been used as a method to induce some useful mental states in the fields of psychology and psychiatry. It is believed that sound and light entrainment device (SLED) has some specific effects through synchronization of EEG in patients who use it. Theta frequency is believed to stimulate deep relaxation and short term memory processing. This study was conducted to evaluate if 4-10Hz SL stimulation can induce relaxation and improve short term memory function. METHODS: Ten medical students with no medical or psychiatric problems participated in this study. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups. One group was applied with real SLED was applied to one group (R group) and pseudo SLED to the other group (P group). The two groups were exposed to SL stimulation with SLED 15 minutes a day for 5 days, and after two days rest the two groups were switched over. The Korea Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (K-WAIS), Academic Motivation Tests (AMT), Test Anxiety Scale (TAS), Korea Auditory Verbal Learning Test (K-AVLT), and digit span were used to evaluate short term memory. Spielberger's State-Trait anxiety inventory and heart rate variability (HRV) test were used to evaluate degree of relaxation. RESULTS: Compared with S group, R group showed a significant improvement in K-AVLT and digit span after a single application of SL stimulation. But 5-day long application did not reveal any differences between the two groups. A significant change in HRV was observed in 5-day long application of SL stimulation after being switched over to other SLED. CONCLUSION: This pilot study suggests that 4-10Hz SL stimulation has some positive influences on short term memory and relaxation.

Signal Transduction of Ras-like GTPase Activation in the Nervous System / 대한해부학회지

Synaptic plasticity has been thought to be a mechanism of synaptic maturation, learning and memory. In this study, the possible involvement of Rac, RhoA, proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in the synaptic plasticity was investigated using PC12 cells and rat brains. The followings are the results. 1. Depolarization induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation but did not activate Rac and RhoA in PC12 cells. 2. ERK activation and c-fos expression were observed after electroconvulsive shock (ECS) but the activity of Rac and RhoA was not changed following ECS. 3. PYK2 not FAK activation was observed after ECS. 4. The activity of PYK2 was increased with postnatal development but that of FAK was decreased with ages. 5. The expression of Rac and PYK2 was clearly observed in the postsynaptic density but that of RhoA and FAK was not. These findings indicate that PYK2 seems to play an important role in activity-dependent synaptic plasticity in vivo brain.

Development of the Stress Response Inventory / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop the stress response inventory (SRI) which includes emotional, somatic, cognitive, and behavioral stress responses, and then to use the scale in clinical pracitice. METHODS: First, a preliminary survey was conducted for 109 healthy adults to obtain 70 response items. Second, a preliminary questionnaire was completed by 215 healthy subjects. Third, a comparison was made regarding stress responses among 242 patients (71 with anxiety disorder, 73 with depressive disorder, 47 with somatoform disorder, and 51 with psychosomatic disorder) and 215 healthy subjects. RESULTS: Factor analysis yielded 7 subscales: tension, aggression, somatization, anger, depression, fatigue and frustration. Reliability was computed by administering the SRI to 62 healthy subjects during a 2-week interval. Test-retest reliability for 7 subscales and the total score was significantly high, ranging between 0.69-.96. Internal consistency was computed, and Cronbach's alpha for 7 subscales ranged between .76-.91 and .97 for the total score. Concurrent validity was computed by correlating the 7 subscales and the total score with the total score of the global assessment of recent stress (GARS) scale, the perceived stress questionnaire (PSQ), and the symptom checklist-90-revised (SCL-90-R). The correlations were all at significant levels. Discriminant validity was computed by comparing the total score and the 7 subscale scores of the patient and control groups. Significant differences were found for 6 subscales and the total score, with the exception being the aggression subscale. The depressive disorder group was highest in total scores of SRI among 4 patient groups, and showed a significant higher scores in total scores of SRI than each of anxiety disorder and psychosomatic disorder groups. In total scores of SRI, female subjects were significantly higher than male ones, and subjects with lower income were significantly higher than those with higher income. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the SRI is highly reliable and valid, and that it can be utilized as an effective measure of stress for research in stress-related fields. It is suggested that depressive disorder group is more susceptible to stress than any other patient groups.

A study on the expression of immediate-early genes by light stimuli in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus using differential display / 대한해부학회지

The hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the mammal is the circadian pacemaker responsible for generation of circadian rhythms. Several immediate-early genes are expressed in the SCN by light stimuli which induce phase shifts of animal activity rhythms. By using differential display-polymerase chain reaction, we investigated expression of several immediate-early genes in the light-stimulated SCN. In addition, we analyzed the light-induced expression changes of two known immediate-early genes, Arc and Rheb, in the SCN. We have screened and cloned 25 differentially expressed genes in the SCN, and identified a gene, a rat homologue of A6 kinase, which expression was regulated by light stimuli. One hour light stimuli during the subjective night dramatically induced the gene expression in the SCN, whereas light stimuli during the subjective light phase did not. This finding implies that a rat homolgue of A6 kinase may be involved in the photic entrainment of the circadian clock. On the other hand, Arc and Rheb mRNA expressions were not increased in the SCN by light stimuli.