A prospective, open-label study to evaluate symptomatic remission in schizophrenia with risperidone long-acting injectable in Korea.

This study was designed to investigate long-term clinical outcomes of risperidone long-acting injectable (RLAI) in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. An open-label, 48-week, prospective study of RLAI treatment was carried out at 63 centers in South Korea. Initial and maintenance dosage of RLAI were adjusted according to clinical judgment.

Survey of premenstrual symptom severity and impairment in Korean adolescents: premenstrual dysphoric disorder, subthreshold premenstrual dysphoric disorder and premenstrual syndrome.

Introduction: The aims of the study were to examine the prevalence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), subthreshold PMDD and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) among adolescents, and to assess the nature of symptoms and the impact on daily life functions, especially for PMDD and subthreshold PMDD.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adolescents from an urban area. Participants included 984 girls divided into the following four groups, using a premenstrual symptoms screening tool: PMDD, subthreshold PMDD, moderate/severe PMS and no/mild PMS.

Sensitivity of cognitive tests in four cognitive domains in discriminating MDD patients from healthy controls: a meta-analysis.

Background: We performed a meta-analysis in order to determine which neuropsychological domains and tasks would be most sensitive for discriminating between patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls.

Methods: Relevant articles were identified through a literature search of the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases for the period between January 1997 and May 2011. A meta-analysis was conducted using the standardized means of individual cognitive tests in each domain.

The association of psychosocial factors and obstetric history with depression in pregnant women: focus on the role of emotional support.

Objective: Depression during pregnancy can negatively affect both maternal and fetal health. The benefits of early detection and treatment for antenatal depression have been emphasized. Therefore, we investigated risk factors for antenatal depression with a focus on emotional support.

Standardization of the korean version of the posttraumatic embitterment disorder self-rating scale.

Objective: Embitterment is a persistent feeling of being let down or insulted, feeling like a "loser", or feeling revengeful but helpless. In South Korea, social injustice experienced during rapid industrial development and protracted unemployment during the Asian economic crisis may lead to strong feelings of embitterment. North Korean defectors and victims of industrial disasters may also experience humiliation and feelings of injustice.

Adherence with electronic monitoring and symptoms in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to compare electronic monitoring with other measures of adherence to Osmotic-controlled Release Oral delivery System methylphenidate in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The secondary aim was to analyze the relationships between adherence and clinical factors, including ADHD symptoms.

Methods: Thirty-nine children diagnosed with ADHD were monitored for adherence to medication over the course of eight weeks.

Neuropsychological correlates of the P300 in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Objectives: The P300 is a useful psychophysiological index that reflects cognitive functions; however, the relationship between P300 indices and neuropsychological tests in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients is unclear.

Methods: Thirty-one AD patients and 31 elderly normal control (NC) subjects were recruited. Age and education level were matched between the two groups.

Combination treatment with aripiprazole and valproic acid for acute mania: an 8-week, single-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Despite the fact that combination treatment for patients with acute bipolar is prevalent in clinical practice, the outcomes of adjunct treatment with aripiprazole and a mood stabilizer have rarely been reported. The aim of this single-blind, randomized, controlled trial was to investigate treatment efficacy and safety of aripiprazole as an adjunct to valproic acid (Ari+Val), compared with haloperidol plus valproic acid (Hal+Val), in acute manic patients.

Methods: Treatment efficacy was prospectively assessed for 8 weeks in 42 patients with acute mania using the Young Mania Rating Scale and the Clinical Global Impression-Severity of illness scale.

Gray matter abnormalities in patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder: an optimized voxel-based morphometry.

Background: Although brain neurochemistry is thought to play a role in the development of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), neuroimaging studies of PMDD are sparse. We examined the extent to which gray matter (GM) abnormalities were present in women with PMDD compared to healthy controls.

Methods: 3.

Symptom severity and attitudes toward medication: impacts on adherence in outpatients with schizophrenia.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to compare electronic monitoring with other measures of adherence to antipsychotic medication in outpatients with schizophrenia. The secondary aim of the study was to analyze the relationships between adherence and other clinical parameters.

Method: Fifty-one patients diagnosed with schizophrenia were monitored over an eight-week period.

Dose pattern and effectiveness of paliperidone extended-release tablets in patients with schizophrenia.

Objectives: The objectives of this 12-week multicenter, open-label, noncomparative study were to evaluate the overall effectiveness of paliperidone extended release (ER), the feasibility of maintaining patients on the initial dose of 6 mg, and the relationship between dose pattern and treatment response in schizophrenic patients with inadequate responses to initial treatment in a natural setting.

Methods: All patients received 6 mg of paliperidone ER during the first 2 weeks, and subsequently, the dose was adjusted at each visit based on the patient response. We examined the response rate and the effectiveness of different dose patterns of paliperidone ER such as "early increase (dose increased to 9 mg at week 2)," "late increase (dose increased to 9 mg at week 4)," and "maintenance group.

DRD2/ANKK1 TaqI A polymorphism affects corticostriatal activity in response to negative affective facial stimuli.

DRD2/ANKK1 TaqI A polymorphism has been suggested to be involved in a reward-related psychiatric disorders. However, the effect of Dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) on emotional processing has not been investigated yet. We investigated the possible relationship between DRD2/ANKK1 TaqI A polymorphism and corticostriatal response to negative facial stimuli using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Neural substrates of affective face recognition in alexithymia: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Background: Alexithymia is a condition characterized by deficits in cognitive processing and the regulation of emotions. Several theories have been proposed for the underlying neurobiology, but the etiology of alexithymia remains unclear.

Methods: Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated brain activation measured on the scale of alexithymia in 38 individuals who were presented with neutral, sad, or angry affective facial stimuli.

Association between tryptophan hydroxylase 2 polymorphism and anger-related personality traits among young Korean women.

Background/aims: It has been suggested that the serotonergic systems are associated with anger and aggressive behaviors. We investigated the association between several single nucleotide polymorphisms in the serotonergic genes and anger-related personality traits.

Methods: A total of 228 healthy female Korean women participated in this study.

Psychometric properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) for measuring the somatic symptoms of psychiatric outpatients.

Background: About 2% to 5% of all primary-care patients have a somatization disorder, and somatic symptoms are strongly associated with comorbid depression and anxiety disorders.

Objective: The authors evaluated the validity of the 15-item Somatization module of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-15) among psychiatric outpatients.

Method: The PHQ-15 was administered to patients with somatic complaints; it was compared with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12).

Effect of bromocriptine on antipsychotic drug-induced hyperprolactinemia: eight-week randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study.

Aim: The objective of the present study was to assess the efficacy and safety of bromocriptine treatment for patients with antipsychotic-drug-induced hyperprolactinemia in clinical practice.

Methods: This was an 8-week randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. Sixty female schizophrenia patients were enrolled and were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: bromocriptine 2.

Zonisamide-induced weight loss in schizophrenia: case series.

Weight gain and metabolic disturbances constitute bothersome problems in schizophrenic patients treated with atypical antipsychotics. Several medications, exercise regimens, and lifestyle changes have been used in attempts to ameliorate these problems. We describe 3 patients with schizophrenia who manifested distinct weight loss and reduction in waist circumference during medication with zonisamide.

Manganese superoxide dismutase gene Ala-9Val polymorphism might be related to the severity of abnormal involuntary movements in Korean schizophrenic patients.

Objective: This study examined whether the manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) gene Ala-9Val single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is associated with neuroleptic-induced tardive dyskinesia (TD) and the severity of the abnormal involuntary movements in Korean schizophrenic patients.

Method: We investigated whether the MnSOD gene Ala-9Val SNP is associated with TD in Korean schizophrenic patients with (n=83) and without (n=126) TD who were matched for exposure to antipsychotics and other relevant variables.

Results: Logistic regression analysis revealed that being older (p=0.

No association between the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene Val66Met polymorphism and tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenic patients.

Objective: This study investigated whether the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene Val66Met single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is associated with antipsychotic-induced tardive dyskinesia (TD) in schizophrenia.

Methods: Genotyping was performed for the BDNF gene Val66Met SNP in Korean schizophrenic patients with (n=83) and without TD (n=126) who were matched for antipsychotic drug exposure and other relevant variables.

Results: The frequencies of genotypes (chi2=2.

Paroxetine for patients with undifferentiated somatoform disorder: A prospective, open-label, 8-week pilot study.

Background: Forty-eight percent of somatic symptoms encountered in the primary care setting are medically unexplained. Such symptoms have been associated with negative impact on quality of life and with functional impairment.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the potential utility and tolerability of paroxetine for the treatment of undifferentiated somatoform disorder (USD), using the 15-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-15) to assess the severity of somatic symptoms.

Association study between antipsychotics- induced restless legs syndrome and polymorphisms of dopamine D1, D2, D3, and D4 receptor genes in schizophrenia.

Objective: The cause of restless legs syndrome (RLS) is not yet clear, but more promising theories involve dopaminergic deficiency and genetic causes. This study investigated whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the genes of dopamine receptors DRD1, DRD2, DRD3 and DRD4 are associated with antipsychotics-induced RLS in schizophrenia.

Methods: We evaluated 190 Korean schizophrenic patients using the diagnostic criteria of the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group and its rating scale for RLS.

Val158Met polymorphism in the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene is not associated with tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenia.

Objective: This study investigated whether the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene V158M single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) influences susceptibility to tardive dyskinesia (TD).

Methods: We examined 209 Korean schizophrenic patients using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS), with genotyping performed for the COMT gene V158M SNP.

Results: The logistic regression analysis showed that old age [p = 0.