Increased Risk of Developing Depression in Disability after Stroke: A Korean Nationwide Study.

Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and a major cause of disability worldwide. A significant number of stroke survivors suffer from depression, impeding the activities of daily living and rehabilitation. Here, we examined the risk of depression among stroke survivors according to the severity of disabilities and compared its incidence with a matched control group. We included data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service of 207,678 stroke survivors. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate the risk of depression among stroke survivors. Stroke survivors had a greater risk of developing depression than the matched control group with an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.12 (95% confidence interval 2.09-2.15). Stroke survivors with more severe disabilities were associated with a higher risk of depression than those with mild disabilities. The risk of developing depression was prominently high within the first year after a stroke. Males and younger people (<65 years) were independent risk factors for depression in stroke survivors. This study demonstrated an increased risk of developing depression in stroke survivors compared to control subjects, and a higher risk of depression was associated with a more severe degree of disability. Clinicians should be aware of the risk of depression developing in stroke survivors, especially those with disabilities.

Increased metabolic variability in Korean patients with new onset bipolar disorder: a nationwide cohort study.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine associations between changes of metabolic parameters and the development of BD using nationally representative data. Methods: We used health examination data provided by the South Korean National Health Insurance System (NHIS) (n = 8,326,953). The variability of each metabolic parameter including weight circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels was caculated using variability independent of mean (VIM) indices. The presence of metabolic syndrome was associated with new onset BD. Each metabolic parameter with high variability was associated with a higher risk of new onset BD compared to those with low variability after adjusting for age, sex, smoking, alcohol drinking, regular exercise, income status, baseline diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Results: As the number of highly variable metabolic parameters increased, the risk for new onset depression also increased even after covariates adjustment. The associations between new onset BD and metabolic variability were greater in populations with age > 50 years. In addition, these associations remained significant after adjusting for the presence of depression prior to diagnoses of BD. Discussion: Our results suggest possibility of metabolic variability as an independent environmental risk factor for BD even after adjusting for the presence of metabolic syndrome.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Destructive Experiential Avoidance (ACT-DEA): A Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: This study is a preliminary study on an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) program that mitigates destructive experiential avoidance (DEA) behaviors, including self-harm behavior and addiction; Methods: Twenty participants aged 15-25 years who had confirmed DEA behavior within the last month participated in a total of six sessions of ACT. Demographic characteristics, history of psychiatric illness, and TYPES and patterns of DEA behavior were confirmed in the baseline survey. The severity of clinical symptoms, frequency of DEA behavior and impulsivity, characteristics of experiential avoidance (EA) behavior, depression, and quality of life (QOL) were measured before and after the program for comparative statistical tests using the intention-to-treat method. Furthermore, the severity of clinical symptoms was evaluated after each program, along with the frequency of DEA behavior and trends in impulsivity, which were investigated based on the behavior log; Results: After the ACT program, both the frequency of DEA behavior and impulsivity and the severity of clinical symptoms, depression, and anxiety decreased significantly. Furthermore, among the EA characteristics, pain aversion, distraction and inhibition, and delayed behavior significantly improved. Moreover, the overall QOL, psychological and social relationships, and QOL regarding the environment also improved; Conclusions: The results of this feasibility study demonstrate the potential of the ACT program as an effective intervention in DEA behavior. The results of this study may be used as preliminary data for future large-scale randomized studies.

Changes in alcohol consumption and the risk of cardiovascular diseases in patients with depression who had not consumed alcohol: A nationwide cohort study.

Although numerous studies have examined the association between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in the general population, such association in patients with depression has not been reported yet. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the association between changes in alcohol consumption and CVDs in patients with depression who had not consumed alcohol. A national database of medical records in South Korea was used and 375,710 subjects newly diagnosed with depression who had not consumed alcohol within two years after the diagnosis of depression (1st point) were identified. Subjects were categorized into three groups (non-drinkers, mild-to-moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers) based on the status of alcohol intake within two years after the 1st point (2nd point). Subjects were followed up for the occurrence of CVDs including myocardial infarction (MI), ischemic stroke, and all-cause mortality. Among eligible subjects, 329,802 non-drinkers, 43,659 mild-to-moderate drinkers, and 2,249 heavy drinkers were identified. Compared to non-drinkers, heavy drinkers showed increased risks for MI (aHR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.08-1.83), ischemic stroke (aHR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.12-1.99), composite CVDs (aHR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.21-1.80), and all-cause mortality (aHR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.13-1.68). Compared to those who maintained abstinence from alcohol, those who started heavy drinking after the diagnosis of depression had increased risks of CVDs and all-cause mortality. These data highlight the need for alcohol consumption limitations for people who are diagnosed with depression in clinical settings.

Development and validation study of the suicide screening questionnaire-observer rating (SSQ-OR).

Background: Observer rating scales are necessary to evaluate the risk of suicide because individuals at risk for suicide are often unwilling to seek help on their own. Reliability and validity were evaluated for the newly developed Suicide Screening Questionnaire-Observer Rating (SSQ-OR). Methods: Preliminary items were assessed by 251 experts online and 25 questions were selected. 328 individuals at high-risk and 661 controls from 12 Crisis Response Centers and 5 university counseling centers were recruited to complete SSQ-OR, Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). In a 6 months follow-up, we reached out to 176 participants to ask whether they had experienced a suicidal thought, plan, or attempt since the baseline assessment. Cronbach's α, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman's correlation, factor analyses, Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to verify the SSQ-OR. Results: Structural validity was supported by a two-factor solution using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Excellent model fit indices for the two-factor structure using exploratory factor analysis were confirmed (RMSEA = 0.033, TLI = 0.980, CFI = 0.983). The SSQ-OR demonstrated strong internal consistency. The concurrent validity based on the correlations with other self-reported indicators of suicidal potential-BSSI and PHQ-9- revealed substantial relationships. The high-risk group was effectively characterized by a cut-off point of 4, with a sensitivity of 0.73 and a specificity of 0.79. The SSQ-OR scores were significant predictors of suicidal thoughts and behaviors within 6 months. Conclusions: The SSQ-OR exhibits sound psychometric properties, and could be used as a complement to a self-report or clinical-administered scale to screen suicide risk comprehensively.

Association Among Self-Injury, Suicidal Tendency, and Personality and Psychological Characteristics in Korean Adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To compare mental health problems and personality characteristics between adolescents with self-injury (SI) and suicidal tendency (ST), including suicidal ideation and suicide planning. METHODS: The participants completed the Adolescent Personality and Mental Health Problems Screening Questionnaire, Third version (AMPQ-III), and Korean version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-Kr), and gave their demographic information. Based on the answered SI and ST items in AMPQ-III, the participants were divided into groups: without SI and ST, with SI and without ST, without SI and with ST, and with SI and ST. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc Scheffe test were used to determine group differences, stepwise multiple linear regression, and factors associated with SI and ST. RESULTS: ANOVA yielded results for all categories of mental health problems. Significant differences were observed between the four groups. Conversely, for personality characteristics, only the sense of community item between the group without SI and with ST and the group without SI and ST were significantly different; sense of community was associated with ST (ß=-0.054, p=0.005). Among the mental health subscales, SI was significantly associated with conduct problems (ß=0.211, p<0.001), emotional problems (ß=0.173, p<0.001), peer problems (ß=0.085, p<0.001), and prosocial behavior (ß=0.073, p<0.001). ST was significantly associated with emotional symptoms (ß=0.317, p<0.001), peer problems (ß=0.130, p<0.001), conduct problems (ß=0.106, p<0.001), hyperactivity (ß=0.050, p=0.010), and prosocial behavior (ß=0.062, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The findings highlight the necessity of assessing psychological strength, difficulties, and personality characteristics for the prevention and early intervention of adolescent SI.

Incidence and Direct Medical Cost of Adjustment Disorder and in Korea Using National Health Insurance Service Claims Data From 2011 to 2017.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the annual incidence and direct medical cost of adjustment disorder in general population using the National Health Insurance Service Database (NHID) in Korea. METHODS: To examine the incidence, we selected patients who had at least one medical claim for adjustment disorder and had not been diagnosed in the previous 365 days, from 2010 to 2017. RESULTS: The number of newly diagnosed cases of adjustment disorder from 2011 to 2017 were total 101,922. Annual incidence of adjustment disorder was ranged from 22.0 to 36.8 per 100,000 persons. The incidence of adjustment disorder was found more in female and highest among 70-79 years of age group and medical aid beneficiaries group. Annual prevalence of adjustment disorder was in the range from 95.4 to 116.4 per 100,000 persons. Estimated annual medical cost per person of adjustment disorder was ranged from 162 to 231.4 US dollars. CONCLUSION: From 2011 to 2017, the annual incidence and direct medical cost of adjustment disorder in Korea were increased. Proper information on adjustment disorder will not only allows us to accumulate more knowledge but also lead to more appropriate therapeutic interventions.

Incidence and Direct Medical Cost of Acute Stress Disorder and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Korea: Based on National Health Insurance Service Claims Data from 2011 to 2017.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the annual incidence of trauma and stress-related mental disorder including acute stress disorder (ASD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using the National Health Insurance Service Database. In addition, we estimated direct medical cost of ASD and PTSD in Korea. METHODS: To examine the incidence, we selected patients who had at least one medical claim containing a 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems code for ASD (F43.0) and PTSD (F43.1) and had not been diagnosed in the previous 360 days, from 2010 to 2017. We estimated annual incidence and the number of newly diagnosed patients of ASD and PTSD. Annual prevalence and direct medical cost of ASD and PTSD were also estimated. RESULTS: The number of newly diagnosed cases of ASD and PTSD from 2011 to 2017 totaled 38,298 and 21,402, respectively. The mean annual incidence of ASD ranged from 8.4 to 13.7 per 100,000 population and that of PTSD ranged from 4.2 to 8.3 per 100,000 population, respectively. The incidence of ASD was found more in females and was highest among the 70-79 years of age group and the self-employed individuals group. The incidence of PTSD was also more common in the female group. However, the incidence of PTSD was highest in the 60-69 years of age group and in the medical aid beneficiaries group. The annual estimated medical cost per person of ASD ranged from 104 to 149 US dollars (USD). In addition, that of PTSD ranged from 310 to 426 USD. CONCLUSION: From 2011 to 2017, the annual incidence and direct medical cost of ASD and PTSD in Korea were increased. Proper information on ASD and PTSD will not only allows us to accumulate more knowledge about these disorders themselves but also lead to more appropriate therapeutic interventions by improving the ability to cope with these trauma related psychiatric sequelae.