No Association between PAWR Gene Polymorphisms and Tardive Dyskinesia in Schizophrenia Patients

Kim, Il-Soo,Yoon, Ho-Kyoung,Kang, Seung-Gul,Park, Young-Min,Kim, Yong-Ku,Kim, Seung-Hyun,Choi, Jung-Eun,Kim, Leen,Lee, Heon-Jeong Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2012 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.9 No.2

<P>Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a hyperkinetic movement disorder associated with the prolonged use of antipsychotic drugs. Since prostate apoptosis response 4 (Par-4) is a key ligand of the dopamine D2 receptor, the Par-4 gene (PAWR) is a good candidate gene to study in the context of TD susceptibility. We examined the association between PAWR gene polymorphisms and TD. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms of PAWR were selected for the analysis: rs7979987, rs4842318, and rs17005769. Two hundred and eighty unrelated Korean schizophrenic patients participated in this study (105 TD and 175 non-TD patients). Genotype/allele-wise and haplotype-wise analyses were performed. There were no significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies between the two groups. Haplotype analysis also did not reveal a difference between the two groups. Within the limitations imposed by the size of the clinical sample, these findings suggest that PAWR gene variants do not significantly contribute to an increased risk of TD.</P>

Nonsuicidal Self-Injury among Korean Young Adults: A Validation of the Korean Version of the Inventory of Statements about Self-Injury

Kim, Soyeon,Kim, Yoongyeong,Hur, Ji-Won Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2019 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.16 No.4

<P><B>Objective</B></P><P> The purpose of this study was to validate and verify the Korean version of the Inventory of Statements about Self-Injury (ISAS) to better understand the psychopathological characteristics of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) among young adults. </P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P> A total of 539 Korean adults (age: 19 to 30 years; 343 participants with a history of NSSI) completed a self-report online survey regarding NSSI validation research. The test-retest reliability, internal consistency, concurrent validity, and factor analysis of the ISAS behavioral scales and the ISAS functional scales were examined. The factor structure and construct validity were evaluated by performing exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). </P><P><B>Results</B></P><P> The results demonstrated the good internal consistency and temporal stability of the Korean version of the ISAS. The EFA revealed that the NSSI functions exhibited a two-factor structure: intrapersonal functions and interpersonal functions. The CFA also confirmed that the model fitness indicators of the 2-factor structure were appropriate. In addition, the ISAS functional scales were related to increased suicidal ideations and decreased resilience in participants with a history of NSSI. </P><P><B>Conclusion</B></P><P> The current findings suggest that the Korean version of the ISAS is a robust measure of NSSI behaviors. Further research is needed to investigate the causal relationship between clinical symptoms, given the significant correlation between self-reported NSSI and suicidal ideation and decreased resilience.</P>

Review of Machine Learning Algorithms for Diagnosing Mental Illness

Cho, Gyeongcheol,Yim, Jinyeong,Choi, Younyoung,Ko, Jungmin,Lee, Seoung-Hwan Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2019 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.16 No.4

<P><B>Objective</B></P><P> Enhanced technology in computer and internet has driven scale and quality of data to be improved in various areas including healthcare sectors. Machine Learning (ML) has played a pivotal role in efficiently analyzing those big data, but a general misunderstanding of ML algorithms still exists in applying them (e.g., ML techniques can settle a problem of small sample size, or deep learning is the ML algorithm). This paper reviewed the research of diagnosing mental illness using ML algorithm and suggests how ML techniques can be employed and worked in practice. </P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P> Researches about mental illness diagnostic using ML techniques were carefully reviewed. Five traditional ML algorithms-Support Vector Machines (SVM), Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), Random Forest, Naïve Bayes, and K-Nearest Neighborhood (KNN)-frequently used for mental health area researches were systematically organized and summarized. </P><P><B>Results</B></P><P> Based on literature review, it turned out that Support Vector Machines (SVM), Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), Random Forest, Naïve Bayes, and K-Nearest Neighborhood (KNN) were frequently employed in mental health area, but many researchers did not clarify the reason for using their ML algorithm though every ML algorithm has its own advantages. In addition, there were several studies to apply ML algorithms without fully understanding the data characteristics. </P><P><B>Conclusion</B></P><P> Researchers using ML algorithms should be aware of the properties of their ML algorithms and the limitation of the results they obtained under restricted data conditions. This paper provides useful information of the properties and limitation of each ML algorithm in the practice of mental health.</P>

Joint Attention Virtual Classroom: A Preliminary Study

Seo, Seung-hun,Kim, Eunjoo,Mundy, Peter,Heo, Jiwoong,Kim, Kwanguk (Kenny) Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2019 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.16 No.4

<P><B>Objective</B></P><P>Previous studies have suggested that a virtual classroom is immersive and ecologically valid neuropsychological assessment, but those studies have limited components for social attentions. Therefore, the objective in the current study is the development of a joint attention virtual reality (JA-VR) classroom to incorporate social attentions between a participant and a virtual avatar teacher. </P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>Fifty-eight participants were recruited for current study (25 for pilot and 33 for main studies; 32.8% female, n=19; age: M=24.5, SD=4.0). We suggested a JA-VR classroom, and compared it with previous methods including a VR classroom without JA components. We conducted attention experiments with AX-version of continuous performance tasks. </P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>Our results suggest that the new JA-VR classroom had convergent validity with previous methods, and that the JA-VR classroom promoted attentional processing among participants better than both old VR and non-VR measures. </P><P><B>Conclusion</B></P><P>We add an important social attention concept to the virtual classroom, and believe that this work is an methodological foundation for the study of social attention in school life. We hope it ultimately help people with mental handicaps in social attention.</P>

Increased Frontal Gamma and Posterior Delta Powers as Potential Neurophysiological Correlates Differentiating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder from Anxiety Disorders

Moon, Sun-Young,Choi, Yoo Bin,Jung, Hee Kyung,Lee, Yoonji Irene,Choi, Soo-Hee Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2018 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.15 No.11

<P><B>Objective</B></P><P>Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is distinct from anxiety disorders in its etiology and clinical symptomatology, and was reclassified into trauma- and stressor-related disorders in DSM-5. This study aimed to find neurophysiological correlates differentiating PTSD from anxiety disorders using resting-state quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG). </P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>Thirty-six patients with either PTSD or acute stress disorder and 79 patients with anxiety disorder were included in the analysis. qEEG data of absolute and relative powers and patients’ medication status on the day of qEEG examination were obtained. Electrodes were grouped into frontal, central, and posterior regions to analyze for regional differences. General linear models were utilized to test for group differences in absolute and relative powers while controlling for medications. </P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>PTSD patients differed from those with anxiety disorders in overall absolute powers [F(5,327)=2.601, p=0.025]. Specifically, overall absolute delta powers [F(1,331)=4.363, p=0.037], and overall relative gamma powers [F(1,331)=3.965, p=0.047] were increased in PTSD group compared to anxiety disorder group. Post hoc analysis regarding brain regions showed that the increase in absolute delta powers were localized to the posterior region [F(1,107)=4.001, p=0.048]. Additionally, frontal absolute gamma powers [F(1,107)=4.138, p=0.044] were increased in PTSD group compared to anxiety disorder group. </P><P><B>Conclusion</B></P><P>Our study suggests increased overall absolute delta powers and relative gamma powers as potential markers that could differentiate PTSD from anxiety disorders. Moreover, increased frontal absolute gamma and posterior delta powers might pose as novel markers of PTSD, which may reflect its distinct symptomatology.</P>

Validation Study of Kim's Smoking Cessation Motivation Scale and Its Predictive Implications for Smoking Cessation

Park, Jae Woo,Chai, Sukhi,Lee, Ju Yul,Joe, Keun-Ho,Jung, Jo Eun,Kim, Dai Jin Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2009 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.6 No.4

<P><B>Objective</B></P><P>The purpose of this study was to develop a scale to measure motivation for smoking cessation. Motivation is known to be important for success of smoking cessation. The reliability of the scale was assessed and its predictive validity for smoking cessation was evaluated.</P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>We recruited 333 men aged 20 to 70 that visited smoking cessation clinics at seven public health centers. The demographic characteristics were recorded and the Korean version of Stages of Readiness for Change and Eagerness for Treatment Scale for Smoking (K-SO-CRATES-S) performed. A smoking cessation motivation scale was developed with 10 questions based on the theory of motivation enhancement therapy.</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>The motivation scale was composed of four subscales based on the factor analysis; each subscale had an adequate degree of internal consistency. In addition, the newly developed scale had a high degree of validity based on its significant correlation with the smoking version of SOCRATES. Moreover, the precontemplation level of motivation was found to significantly predict the success of smoking cessation. And one of the subscales of the Korean Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (K-NDSS), stereotypy which also significantly predicted the success of smoking cessation, significantly correlated with the preparation 1 and 2 level of motivation.</P><P><B>Conclusion</B></P><P>The smoking cessation motivation scale with 10 questions that was developed in this study was a highly reliable and valid scale for the prediction of success for smoking cessation for those who wanted to stop smoking.</P>

Acute Effects of Capsaicin on Proopioimelanocortin mRNA Levels in the Arcuate Nucleus of Sprague-Dawley Rats

Lee, Jin-Seong,Kim, Sung-Gon,Kim, Hyeun-Kyeung,Baek, Sun-Yong,Kim, Cheol-Min Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2012 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.9 No.2

<P><B>Objective</B></P><P>Capsaicin, a noxious stimulant and main component of the hot flavor of red peppers, has an analgesic effect when administered to humans. We investigated the expression of proopioimelanocortin (POMC) mRNA in the arcuate nucleus of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats after administering capsaicin, hypothesizing that administering capsaicin activates the central opioid system.</P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>SD rats were divided randomly into two groups; one group received a saline injection and the other received a capsaicin injection. The POMC mRNA level in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus was measured by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction at 0, 20, 40, 60, and 120 minutes after capsaicin administration.</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>Capsaicin administration resulted in a significantly increased POMC mRNA level, compared to that in saline-treated rats at the 20-minute time point (t=-4.445, p=0.001). However, no significant group differences were observed at other times (t=-1.886, p=0.089; t= -0.973, p=0.353; t=-2.193, p=0.053 for 40, 60, and 120 minutes, respectively).</P><P><B>Conclusion</B></P><P>The analgesic effect of capsaicin might be associated with increased activity of the cerebral opioid system. This finding suggests that capsaicin acted for nociception and analgesia and could affect alcohol-intake behavior, which might further imply that a food culture could affect drinking behavior.</P>

Comparison of cognitive function in dementia and major depressive disorders using the 7 minute screen test /

Cheon, Jin Sook,Yoon, Han Cheol,Oh, Byoung Hoon Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2005 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.2 No.2

Unification Is Healing : Psychiatric Contemplation of Korean Peninsula Division and Unification

Korean Neuropsychiatric Association (KAMJE) 2015 신경정신의학 Vol.54 No.4

Relationship between Self-Esteem and Self-Consciousness in Adolescents: An Eye-Tracking Study

Kim, Eun Seong,Hong, Yeon-Ju,Kim, Minwoo,Kim, Eun Joo,Kim, Jae-Jin Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2019 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.16 No.4

<P><B>Objective</B></P><P>Self-esteem and self-consciousness are important determinants of behaviors. This study aimed to explore the relationship between self-esteem and self-consciousness in adolescents using the eye-tracking measurement. </P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>Fifty-five adolescents with high self-esteem and 58 adolescents with low self-esteem participated in self-consciousness-related eye-tracking experiments of selecting happy, disgusted, and angry facial emotions while recognizing one’s own usual expressions and the others’ usual expressions toward oneself. </P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>When recognizing one’s own, adolescents with high self-esteem showed significantly more selection counts and longer fixation time for ‘happy’ than adolescents with low self-esteem. When recognizing the others’, adolescents with low self-esteem showed significantly more selection counts and longer fixation time for ‘disgusted’ and ‘angry’ than adolescents with high self-esteem. </P><P><B>Conclusion</B></P><P>These suggest higher self-esteem is connected to more positive identification of one’s usual expressions and others’ usual expressions toward oneself. There is a close relationship among low self-esteem, suppressing positive emotions, decreased psychological adjustment, and increased negative emotions.</P>