Effects of Virtual Reality-Based Cognitive Training in the Elderly with and without Mild Cognitive Impairment

Seri Maeng,Jin Pyo Hong,Won-Hyoung Kim,Hyeyoung Kim,Seo-Eun Cho,Jae Myeong Kang,Kyoung-Sae Na,Seok-Hee Oh,Jung Woon Park,Jae Nam Bae,Seong-Jin Cho 대한신경정신의학회 2021 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.18 No.7

Objective This study aimed to introduce a 4-week long fully immersive virtual reality-based cognitive training (VRCT) program that could be applied for both a cognitively normal elderly population and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In addition, we attempted to investigate the neuropsychological effects of the VRCT program in each group. Methods A total of 56 participants, 31 in the MCI group and 25 in the cognitively normal elderly group, underwent eight sessions of VRCT for 4 weeks. In order to evaluate the effects of the VRCT, the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Packet was administered before and after the program. The program’ s safety was assessed using a simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ), and availability was assessed using the presence questionnaire. Results After the eighth session of the VRCT program, cognitive improvement was observed in the ability to learn new information, visuospatial constructional ability, and frontal lobe function in both groups. At the baseline evaluation, based on the SSQ, the MCI group complained of disorientation and nausea significantly more than the cognitively normal elderly group did. However, both groups showed a reduction in discomfort as the VRCT program progressed. Conclusion We conclude that our VRCT program helps improve cognition in both the MCI group and cognitively normal elderly group. Therefore, the VRCT is expected to help improve cognitive function in elderly populations with and without MCI.

Central precocious puberty with hypothalamic hamartoma: the first case reports of 2 siblings with different phenotypes of Seckel syndrome 5

Park Jisun,Jeon Minjun,Maeng Seri,Kwon Dae Kyu,Kim Sujin,Lee Ji Eun 대한소아내분비학회 2023 Annals of Pediatirc Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol.28 No.3

Hypothalamic hamartomas (HHs) are nonneoplastic mass lesions located in the hypothalamus that can cause central precocious puberty (CPP) and/or gelastic seizures. Seckel syndrome 5 (OMIM210600, SCKL5) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic spectrum disorder characterized by intrauterine growth retardation, proportionate osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism, a wide range of intellectual disability, "bird-headed" facial features, and microcephaly with various structural brain abnormalities. Two siblings presented with short stature and small head circumference and were diagnosed with SCKL 5. The younger sister had HH with CPP and experienced a slipped capital femoral epiphysis during treatment. The 2 siblings had the same genetic variant but showed different phenotypes, which has not been reported previously; this study also as presents the first cases of SCKL5 diagnosed by genetic confirmation in Korea.

Association between Perceived Parenting Style and Adolescents’ Attitudes toward Suicide

Seo-Hyun Choi,Sang-Eun Lee,Chai Won Lee,Seri Maeng,Jisung Son,Won-Hyoung Kim,Jae Nam Bae,Jeong Seop Lee,Hyeyoung Kim 대한소아청소년정신의학회 2020 소아청소년정신의학 Vol.31 No.4

Objectives: Adolescent suicide, a major cause of adolescent death, is affected by various factors, including attitudes toward suicide. This study investigated the association between parenting style and adolescents’ attitudes toward suicide and the mediating role of attitude toward suicide between parenting style and suicidal ideation. Methods: We surveyed 1,071 adolescents from eight middle schools in Incheon, Korea. The survey included sociodemographic information, attitudes toward suicide, perception of parenting style, depression severity, and suicidality. Results: Students in the authoritarian parenting group had a more permissive attitude toward suicide compared with the democratic and permissive parenting groups. These students considered that suicide is justified in certain situations and that choosing suicide is an individual’s right. They also had a negative attitude toward talking about suicide or intervening in others’ suicide. This association remained statistically significant after adjusting for the impact of confounding factors that could affect attitudes toward suicide, except for suicidal processes and preparedness to prevent suicide. In the mediation analysis, we observed that some factors of the attitudes toward suicide mediated between authoritarian parenting attitudes and suicidal ideation, namely, suicide as a right, preventability, suicide as normal/common, preparedness to prevent suicide, and resignation. Conclusion: This study revealed the significant impact of parenting style on children’s attitudes toward suicide. Educating parents about the appropriate parenting attitudes–sympathetic and rational–can help prevent youth suicide.

Empty Sella Syndrome Associated with Growth Hormone Deficiency: the First Case Report of Weiss-Kruszka Syndrome

Park Jisun,Ha Dong Jun,Seo Go Hun,Maeng Seri,Kang Sung Mo,Kim Sujin,Lee Ji Eun 대한의학회 2021 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.36 No.18

Weiss-Kruszka syndrome (WSKA), caused by heterozygous loss-of-function variants in ZNF462 gene, is a recently described and extremely rare genetic disorder. The main phenotypes include characteristic craniofacial features, ptosis, dysgenesis of the corpus callosum, and neurodevelopmental impairment. We report the first Korean boy with molecularly confirmed WSKA presenting with an atypical manifestation. A 16-year-old boy with a history of bilateral ptosis surgery presented with short stature (−3.49 standard deviation score) and delayed puberty. The patient showed characteristic craniofacial features including an inverted triangular-shaped head, exaggerated Cupid's bow, arched eyebrows, down-slanting palpebral fissures, and poorly expressive face. He had a mild degree of intellectual disability and mild hypotonia. Endocrine studies in the patient demonstrated complete growth hormone deficiency (GHD) associated with empty sella syndrome (ESS), based on a magnetic resonance imaging study for the brain that showed a flattened pituitary gland and cerebrospinal fluid space herniated into the sella turcica. To identify the genetic cause, we performed whole exome sequencing (WES). Through WES, a novel de novo heterozygous nonsense variant, c.4185del; p.(Met1396Ter) in ZNF462 was identified. This is the first case of WSKA accompanied by primary ESS associated with GHD. More clinical and functional studies are needed to elucidate this association.

COVID-19의 자가격리로 인한 영향

서유리(Yuri Seo),이정섭(Jeong-Seop Lee),김원형(Won-Hyoung Kim),김양식(Yang-Sik Kim),맹세리(Seri Maeng),최서현(Seo-Hyun Choi),배재남(Jae-Nam Bae) 대한사회정신의학회 2023 사회정신의학 Vol.28 No.2

목적 : 본 연구는 2019년 12월 중국 우한에서 발생한 코로나바이러스감염증-19(coronavirus disease-19, 이하 COVID-19)을 억제하기 위해 시행된 격리 조치 대상자들이 겪은 심리적인 영향을 조사하기 위해 시행되었다. 또한 이러한 심리적 영향과 자아존중감 사이의 연관성을 확인하고자 하였다. 방법 : 2022년 4월 25일부터 2022년 7월 14일까지 인천시 중구 정신건강복지센터에 COVID-19 자가격리 관리 대상자로 등록된 자에게 온라인으로 설문링크를 전송하였고, 이 중 설문에 응답한 사람을 806명을 대상으로 이들의 정신건강 특성을 연구하였다. 평가 도구로 자가 보고식 설문 Patient health questionnaire-9(PHQ-9), Generalized anxiety disorder-7(GAD-7), ISI-K(Korean version of the Insomnia Severity Index), Patient health questionnaire-15(PHQ-15), P4 suicidality screener scale(P4), Perceived stress scale(PSS), IES-R-K(The Korean Version of Impact of event scale-revised), RSES(Korean version of the Rosenberg Self-esteem scale)를 사용하였다. 위험군의 사회인구학적 요인의 차이를 알아보기 위하여 로지스틱 회귀분석을 시행하였다. 부정적인 정신건강 특성과 자아존중감과의 관련성을 확인하기위하여 Pearson 상관분석을 시행하였다. 결과 : 본 연구 결과 여성에서 우울감, 수면장애, 신체증상을 호소하는 비율이 높았으며, 20-30대 연령대에서 40-50대에 비하여 불안감이 높게 나타났다. 또한 20-30대 연령대에서 60대 이상에 비하여 신체증상을 호소하는 비율이 높게 나타냈다. 고학력자에서 자살사고, 신체증상 호소하는 비율이 낮았으며, 스트레스 척도는 여성에서, 그리고 미혼에 비해 결혼 또는 동거상태에서, 그보다 이혼 또는 별거상태에서 더 높게 나타났다. 자아존중감과 정신건강척도의 상관분석 결과, 우울, 불안, 수면장애, 신체증상, 자살사고, 신체증상, 외상 후 스트레스 장애 모두와 약한 정적 상관관계를 나타내었다. 결론 : COVID-19로 인한 격리를 경험한 대상자 중 정신건강 취약집단으로는 여성, 20-30대 연령층, 기혼 상태 또는 이혼이나 별거의 혼인상태, 고졸 이하의 학력자로 나타났으며 이들을 적극적으로 지원할 수 있는 정책의 수립이 필요할 것이다. Objectives: This study investigated the psychological impact experienced by individuals subjected to quarantine measures in response to the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) outbreak that originated in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Specifically, we examined the association between this psychological impact and self-esteem. Methods: From April 25 to July 14, 2022, an online survey was administered to 806 individuals registered as home-based treatment recipients at the Mental Health Welfare Center in Jung-gu, Incheon. Various assessment tools were used, including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Korean version of the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI-K), Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), P4 suicidality screener scale (P4), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R-K), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES, Korean version). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the sociodemographic differences among the high-risk groups, and Pearson correlation analysis was performed to explore the relationship between negative mental health characteristics and self-esteem. Results: Depression, sleep disturbances, and physical symptoms were more prevalent among females than males. Increased anxiety was observed among individuals aged 20-30 compared to those aged 40-50. Furthermore, participants aged 20-30 reported higher rates of physical symptoms compared to those aged 60 and above. Participants with higher education exhibited lower rates of suicidal ideation and physical symptom complaints. Stress levels were higher among females and individuals who were married or cohabitating status than in single, and higher in those who were divorced or separated than married or cohabitating status. Correlation analysis demonstrated weak positive correlations between self-esteem and various mental health indicators, including depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, physical symptoms, suicidal ideation, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Conclusion: Among individuals who experienced quarantine measures due to COVID-19, vulnerable groups in terms of mental health included females, individuals aged 20-30, married or divorced/separated individuals, and individuals with low educational attainment. These findings highlight the importance of actively supporting these groups.

Significant Domains of Life Satisfaction That Affect Suicidal Behavior in Adolescents

Ji Soo Kim,Seo-Hyun Choi,Sang-Eun Lee,Chai Won Lee,Won-Hyoung Kim,Jae Nam Bae,Jeong Seop Lee,Seri Maeng,Jisung Son,Hyeyoung Kim 대한소아청소년정신의학회 2021 소아청소년정신의학 Vol.32 No.3

Objectives: Adolescent suicide is a serious national issue in Korea. Recently, life satisfaction has been recognized as a major factor related to this issue. The main purpose of this study was to identify the domains of life satisfaction that affect suicidal behavior in adolescence. Methods: Data were collected from eight middle schools in Incheon, Korea. A total of 1297 students answered questions regarding their demographic characteristics, happiness, self-related life satisfaction domains (appearance, leisure time, physical health, and mental health), depressive symptoms, and suicidal behavior. Results: In the Spearman correlation analysis, female sex, perceived socioeconomic status (SES), happiness, and all four self-related satisfaction scores showed significant correlations with depression and suicidality. Multivariate regression analysis suggested that suicidality was significantly affected by perceived SES, satisfaction with appearance, mental health satisfaction, and depression. Finally, depression was identified as a partial mediator of the association between mental health satisfaction and suicidality, and a complete mediator of the association between female sex and suicidality. Conclusion: Perceived SES, satisfaction with appearance, and mental health satisfaction significantly affected students’ suicidality, with or without the effect of depression. Health authorities, educators, and family members must be aware of this to identify adolescents at suicide risk earlier.