Comorbid Depression Interferes with Emotional Regulation in Adolescents with Internet Gaming Disorder / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of depression on emotional regulation in adolescents with internet gaming disorder. METHODS: A stroop Match-to-Sample task with emotional interference was applied to 36 male adolescents to investigate how emotional stimuli (angry faces) interfered with performance of the stroop task in male adolescents with internet gaming disorder. For evaluation of psychiatric symptoms and personal characteristics, participants were asked to complete self-reports, including Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and the Aggression Questionnaire. RESULTS: In emotionally interfered conditions, there was no significant difference of reaction time between the internet gaming disorder group and the healthy control group. However, the internet gaming disorder group showed a tendency of longer reaction time and lower accuracy rate in emotionally interfered condition, which can account for emotion regulation difficulties in the internet gaming disorder group. According to analysis of covariance and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, BDI score showed association with reaction time of results. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that adolescents with internet gaming disorder may experience more difficulties in emotion regulation during attention-required situations than those in the control group, and comorbid depression contributes to faulty emotional regulation in adolescents with internet gaming disorder.

Comorbid Depression Interferes with Emotional Regulation in Adolescents with Internet Gaming Disorder / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of depression on emotional regulation in adolescents with internet gaming disorder. METHODS: A stroop Match-to-Sample task with emotional interference was applied to 36 male adolescents to investigate how emotional stimuli (angry faces) interfered with performance of the stroop task in male adolescents with internet gaming disorder. For evaluation of psychiatric symptoms and personal characteristics, participants were asked to complete self-reports, including Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and the Aggression Questionnaire. RESULTS: In emotionally interfered conditions, there was no significant difference of reaction time between the internet gaming disorder group and the healthy control group. However, the internet gaming disorder group showed a tendency of longer reaction time and lower accuracy rate in emotionally interfered condition, which can account for emotion regulation difficulties in the internet gaming disorder group. According to analysis of covariance and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, BDI score showed association with reaction time of results. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that adolescents with internet gaming disorder may experience more difficulties in emotion regulation during attention-required situations than those in the control group, and comorbid depression contributes to faulty emotional regulation in adolescents with internet gaming disorder.

Disruption of Orbitofronto-Striatal Functional Connectivity Underlies Maladaptive Persistent Behaviors in Alcohol-Dependent Patients

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol dependence is characterized by persistent alcohol-seeking despite negative consequences. Previous studies suggest that maladaptive persistent behaviors reflect alcohol-induced brain changes that cause alterations in the cortico-striatal-limbic circuit. METHODS: Twenty one alcohol dependent patients and 24 age-matched healthy controls performed a decision-making task during functional MRI. We defined the medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) as a region-of-interest and performed seed-based functional connectivity analysis. RESULTS: Healthy controls were more flexible in adapting an alternative behavioral strategy, which correlated with stronger mOFC-dorsal striatum functional connectivity. In contrast, alcohol dependent patients persisted to the first established behavioral strategy. The mOFC-dorsal striatum functional connectivity was impaired in the alcohol-dependent patients, but increased in correlation with the duration of abstinence. CONCLUSION: Our findings support that the disruption of the mOFC-striatal circuitry contribute to the maldaptive persistent behaviors in alcohol dependent patients.

Screening and Treating Wernicke's Encephalopathy among Alcoholic Patients in a University Hospital / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) patients in alcoholics and to evaluate the utility of Caine's criteria as a screening test. METHODS: We made an admission note including Caine's criteria and applied it to patients who were admitted to an alcohol treatment unit. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected on 204 alcoholics. Our alcoholics who met more than one of Caine's criteria were considered at risk for WE and were given high-dose thiamine IV therapy. RESULTS: We was diagnosed in 15.2% of the alcoholic patients. Age and head trauma history were risk factors of WE. The sensitivity of Caine's criteria was 97% and specificity was 54%. High-dose thiamine IV therapy appeared to be a safe and cost-effective method to prevent the serious complications of WE. CONCLUSION: Caine's criteria is useful as a screening test for WE among alcoholic patients. High-dose thiamine IV therapy is cost-effective for alcoholic patients who are considered to be at risk for WE.