Predictors of Remission in Acute and Continuation Treatment of Depressive Disorders.

Objective: To identify factors predicting remission of depression during acute (12 weeks) and continuation treatment (12 months) using a 1-year, naturalistic prospective study design.

Methods: Patients with depressive disorders were recruited from Chonnam National University Hospital in South Korea from March 2012 to April 2017. At baseline, 1,262 patients received outpatient therapy, and sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained.

Predictors of relapse following a stepwise psychopharmacotherapy regime in patients with depressive disorders.

Background: Real world predictors of relapse following routine treatment for depression remain under-researched. We sought to investigate this in an outpatient clinical sample with depressive disorders receiving stepwise pharmacotherapy based on early clinical decision-making, applying a naturalistic 24-month prospective design.

Methods: Patients were recruited at a University hospital in South Korea from March 2012 to April 2017.

Mindlink: A stigma-free youth-friendly community-based early-intervention centre in Korea.

Aim: In many Asian countries, youth mental health services are not well-developed and access to treatment is generally delayed. Here, we present a community-based service model based on our experience with Mindlink, the first early-intervention centre of its kind in Korea.

Methods: We describe the history of this mental health early-intervention service and the characteristics of users, as well as its intervention programmes and research directions.

Sleep problems associated with long-term mortality in acute coronary syndrome: Effects of depression comorbidity and treatment.

Objectives: The effects of sleep disturbance and its treatment on the prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are not well understood. This study investigated the impact of sleep disturbance on long-term all-cause mortality, according to depression comorbidity and treatment, in patients with ACS.

Methods: A cross-sectional baseline study and a nested 24-week double-blind escitalopram-placebo controlled trial were carried out from May 2007 to March 2013; 5-12-year follow-up for all-cause mortality was conducted.

Standardization of the Discrimination and Stigma Scale-Korean Version (DISC 12-K) in Patients with Depressive Disorders.

Objective: The Discrimination and Stigma Scale (DISC 12), which assesses behavioral and experienced stigma, has not been translated into Korean. We developed and standardized the Korean version of the DISC 12 (DISC 12-K) in patients with depressive disorders.

Methods: The study included 230 patients with depressive disorders who were assessed on the four subscales of the DISC 12-K: Unfair Treatment, Stopping Self, Overcoming Stigma, and Positive Treatment.

Short and long-term treatment outcomes of stepwise psychopharmacotherapy based on early clinical decision in patients with depressive disorders.

Background: To investigate the effects of stepwise pharmacotherapy based on early clinical decision-making on short- and long-term treatment outcomes in outpatients with depressive disorders in a naturalistic one-year prospective design.

Methods: Patients were recruited at a University hospital in South Korea from March 2012 to April 2017. At baseline, 1262 patients received antidepressant monotherapy.

Long-term cardiac outcomes of depression screening, diagnosis and treatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome: the DEPACS study.

Background: To investigate the impacts of depression screening, diagnosis and treatment on major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: Prospective cohort study including a nested 24-week randomised clinical trial for treating depression was performed with 5-12 years after the index ACS. A total of 1152 patients recently hospitalised with ACS were recruited from 2006 to 2012, and were divided by depression screening and diagnosis at baseline and 24-week treatment allocation into five groups: 651 screening negative (N), 55 screening positive but no depressive disorder (S), 149 depressive disorder randomised to escitalopram (E), 151 depressive disorder randomised to placebo (P) and 146 depressive disorder receiving medical treatment only (M).

Association between Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms and Long-Term Cardiac Outcomes in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: Effects of Depression Comorbidity and Treatment.

Objective: The role of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is not well elucidated. This study investigated the association between OCS and the long-term prognosis of ACS in tandem with depression comorbidity and treatment.

Methods: A cross-sectional baseline study and a nested 24-week double-blind escitalopram-placebo controlled trial were carried out between May 2007 and March 2013, and then a 5-12-year follow-up for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) was conducted.

Effect of Escitalopram vs Placebo Treatment for Depression on Long-term Cardiac Outcomes in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Depression has been associated with poorer medical outcomes in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but there are few data on the effects of antidepressant treatment on long-term prognosis.

Objective: To investigate the effect on long-term major adverse cardiac events (MACE) of escitalopram treatment of depression in patients with recent ACS.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted among 300 patients with recent ACS and depression enrolled from May 2007 to March 2013, with follow-up completed in June 2017, at Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, South Korea.