The Guideline of Diagnosis and Treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Developed by ADHD Translational Research Center

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood psychiatric conditions. In 2007, the Korean Academy of child and Adolescent Psychiatry developed Korean ADHD practice parameter. Advances in the scientific evidence of ADHD caused practice parameter to be modified and updated. The present guidelines developed by ADHD translational research center summarize current literature for the treatment of ADHD in children and adults. This parameter includes the clinical evaluation for ADHD, comorbid conditions associated with ADHD, clinical feature and course, research on the etiology of the disorder, and psychopharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for ADHD.

Development of Korean Adult ADHD Rating Scale

OBJECTIVES: Symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during childhood may persist into adulthood. This study included the development and validation process of the Korean Adult ADHD Rating Scale (K-AARS), which was developed for screening and monitoring treatment of adults with ADHD. METHODS: Preliminary questionnaires of the K-AARS were based on the reviews of previous adult ADHD scales and clinical experiences of the board certified child and adolescent psychiatrists in Korea. For this study, 136 adults (18-50 years old) with inattention, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity symptoms were enrolled as ADHD subjects, and compared with 406 control subjects (18-50 years old) without ADHD symptoms. Construct validity was examined using explorative factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha to obtain internal reliability coefficients. Concurrent validity was evaluated by comparison with the Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS). RESULTS: An explorative factor analysis showed that the K-AARS had 8 factors (inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, antisocial personality disorder/conduct disorder/oppositional defiant disorder, impairment, driving, emotional dysregulation, disorganization). K-AARS was highly reliable in terms of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.77-0.95) and correlation between factors (0.57-0.86). Concurrent validity with the CAARS and discriminant validity were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The K-AARS is a valid and reliable measure for assessment of Korean adults with ADHD.

Utility of Autism Spectrum Disorder Screening Tools Using Network of Community Home Daycare Center Visiting Nurses / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the utility of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screening tools using community network of home childcare center visiting nurses. METHODS: The design of this study is multilevel survey to find the ASD using modified checklist for autism in toddlers (M-CHAT) for first screening by childcare teachers, checklist for autism in toddlers (CHAT) for secondary screening by nurses, Autism diagnostic observation schedule (ADOS) and Autism diagnostic interview revised (ADI-R) for final diagnosis by pediatric psychiatrists. RESULTS: In first screening by using M-CHAT, 61 subjects(0.56%) were detected among 8,926 subjects. Among the first screened 61 subjects, 13 subjects were exempted for normal finding in CHAT. 24 subjects consented participation for final diagnosis and 23 of them were diagnosed ASD. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, M-CHAT and CHAT were verified their utility as screening tools for ASD in the community and the community health networks as a childcare visiting nurses can be useful network in early detection and referral of ASD.

Marital and Sexual Satisfaction among Patients with Schizophrenia / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are to assess marital and sexual satisfaction among patients with schizophrenia compared to the general population and to evaluate the factors that may affect these levels. METHODS: Marital and sexual satisfaction of 66 married schizophrenic patients and 162 married normal controls were assessed with Enriching and Nurturing Relationship Issues, Communication and Happiness and Derogatis Sexual Function Inventory. We compared the differences in marital and sexual satisfaction and influential variables between these two groups through analysis of covariance with adjustment for age and the duration of marriage. Factors associated with marital and sexual satisfaction were identified with multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Patients with schizophrenia showed lower satisfaction with their marriage (p=0.018) and sexual lives (p<0.001) compared to the controls. Marital satisfaction of schizophrenics was influenced by violence from spouse, whereas their sexual satisfaction was affected by age, violence from spouse, conversation frequency after sexual relations, and revealing psychiatric history to spouse before marriage. There was a significant relationship between marital and sexual satisfaction in both groups. CONCLUSION: Patients with schizophrenia may have marital and sexual problems which can be caused directly or indirectly by symptoms and course of the disease. These results suggest that evaluation and appropriate intervention in the marriage and sexual lives of schizophrenics is necessary and important.