Characteristics and Effectiveness of Individual Psychotherapy for Palliative and End-of-Life Care: A Literature Review for Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objective: The introduction of psychotherapy in palliative and end-of-life care settings has become increasingly common and is effective in decreasing many psychological problems. This review reports the characteristics and effectiveness of individual psychotherapeutic interventions for patients receiving palliative and end-of-life care. In addition, the review reports the effectiveness of psychotherapies considering the expected life expectancy.

Attachment Insecurity and Stigma as Predictors of Depression and Anxiety in People Living With HIV.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine whether attachment insecurity, stigma, and certain demographic and medical factors predict depression and anxiety in people living with HIV (PLWH).

Methods: Participants were 147 PLWH who visited the outpatient infection clinic in Kyungpook National University Hospital (KNUH; Daegu, South Korea) between June 2020 and January 2021. We measured HIV-related stigma, attachment anxiety and avoidance, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms.

Association of Sociodemographic and Psychosocial Factors With COVID-19-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Risk Group Among Medical Students.

Objective: Several previous studies have reported the negative psychological impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on medical students worldwide. This study investigated the sociodemographic and psychosocial factors associated with COVID-19-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) risk among medical students in Daegu, a region that experienced a high concentration of infections.

Methods: A total of 270 students completed the self-reported questionnaires including COVID-19 exposure, psychological measurement, and sociodemographic factors.

Predictors Associated With HIV Status Non-Disclosure in Korea.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disclosure provides personal support to people living with HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (PLWH). In addition, it has important implications for disease prevention and treatment. Research on disclosure has been conducted worldwide; however, data from South Korea are insufficient.

Serum-Derived Neuronal Exosomal microRNAs as Stress-Related Biomarkers in an Atopic Dermatitis Model.

Chronic allergic inflammatory skin disease-atopic dermatitis (AD)-is characterized by eczema, pruritus, xeroderma, and lichenification. Psychological stress is one cause of this disease; however, psychological stress will also result from the presence of AD symptoms. Previous studies have shown that psychological stress triggers neuroinflammation in the brain, where microRNAs (miRNAs) in the neuronal exosomes (nEVs) were analyzed to identify the composition of the miRNAs in the nEVs and how they were altered by AD.

Short-term serial assessment of electronic patient-reported outcome for depression and anxiety in breast Cancer.

Purpose: The incidence of depression and anxiety is higher in patients with breast cancer than in the general population. We evaluated the degree of depression and anxiety and investigated the changes in patients with breast cancer during the treatment period and short-term follow-up period.

Methods: Overall, 137 patients with breast cancer were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item depression scale (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7).

Serum-Derived Neuronal Exosomal miRNAs as Biomarkers of Acute Severe Stress.

Stress is the physical and psychological tension felt by an individual while adapting to difficult situations. Stress is known to alter the expression of stress hormones and cause neuroinflammation in the brain. In this study, miRNAs in serum-derived neuronal exosomes (nEVs) were analyzed to determine whether differentially expressed miRNAs could be used as biomarkers of acute stress.

Personality Types as Predictors of Breast Cancer Screening Compliance in Korean Patients: A Mixed-Method Approach.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify personality types that can influence breast cancer screening (BCS) compliance among Korean women with breast cancer using a mixed-method approach.

Methods: The participants consisted of 93 women who underwent surgery for breast cancer between July 2010 and March 2012. The demographic and medical characteristics of the participants were evaluated through structured interviews.

Why and How Have Korean Cities Embraced the World Health Organization's Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Model?

This study examined forces leading Korean cities to join the WHO Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (AFCC) and implement the WHO guidelines, from the perspectives of multiple streams theory and policy transfer theory. We conducted interviews with stakeholders from six member cities and identified relevant themes using directed content analysis. Political motivation was the strongest factor in seeking Network membership, but the lack of political motivations after gaining membership resulted in lackluster local implementation efforts.

Differences in the pattern of cognitive impairments between juvenile and adult onset myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Objective: To understand the different patterns of neuropsychological dysfunction observed between juvenile onset (jDM1) and adult onset (aDM1) myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Method: We enrolled 19 genetically confirmed DM1 patients, and neuropsychological tests-Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised short form; Rey-Kim memory test; and Executive Intelligence Test for evaluating intelligence, memory, and executive function-were performed. Clinical parameters including cytosine-thymine-guanine (CTG) repeats, creatinine kinase level, pulmonary function test, six-minute walk test, motor scales, and cardiac function were evaluated.

Bidirectional Association between First-Episode Panic Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder in a Nationwide General Population Survey in Korea.

Background: Panic disorder (PD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) can occur concurrently, despite different clinical manifestations. Because MDD and PD patients tend to have more complicated conditions, understanding the co-occurrence and pattern of these conditions is important. Here, we investigated the influence of PD and MDD on each other, with respect to time interval.

From Gut to Brain: Alteration in Inflammation Markers in the Brain of Dextran Sodium Sulfate-induced Colitis Model Mice.

Objective: Neuropsychiatric manifestations like depression and cognitive dysfunction commonly occur in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In the context of the brain-gut axis model, colitis can lead to alteration of brain function in a bottom-up manner. Here, the changes in the response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and inflammation-related markers in the brain in colitis were studied.

Avoidant Insecure Attachment as a Predictive Factor for Psychological Distress in Patients with Early Breast Cancer: A Preliminary 1-Year Follow-Up Study.

Objective: To identify attachment insecurity as an associative factor with unresolved psychological distress 1 year after surgery in the early breast cancer (BC) population.

Methods: One-hundred fourteen participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Experiences in Close Relationship (ECR-M36) questionnaire within 1 week (baseline) and at 1-year post-surgery (follow-up). Participants were categorized into the distress and the non-distress groups based on a HADS-total score cut-off of 15.

The Quality of Life of Hemodialysis Patients Is Affected Not Only by Medical but also Psychosocial Factors: a Canonical Correlation Study.

Background: The quality of life (QoL) of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is very poor, plausibly due to both psychosocial and medical factors. This study aimed to determine the relationship among psychosocial factors, medical factors, and QoL in patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis (HD).

Methods: In total, 55 male and 47 female patients were evaluated (mean age, 57.

Hypomania in Bobble-Head Doll Syndrome: A Case Report of Surgically Treated Stereotypy and Hypomania.

A 22-year-old man was admitted with gradually aggravating stereotypic head movement with hypomania. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed a large suprasellar arachnoid cyst extending into the third ventricle, with obstructive hydrocephalus, characteristic of bobble-head doll syndrome. Endoscopic fenestration of the suprasellar arachnoid cyst was performed.

Five Month-Persistent Extrapyramidal Symptoms following a Single Injection of Paliperidone Palmitate: A Case Report.

Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics are useful in the treatments for schizophrenic patients with poor adherence due to their maintaining feature of therapeutic plasma level without daily administrations. However, their long-lasting property can cause complicated problems such as a long-lasting side effect. We report a patient who experienced LAI-induced extrapyramidal symptoms (EPSs) for 5 months after a single injection.

Validation of the Korean-Version of the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia (CAINS).

The Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS) was developed to overcome the limitations of existing instruments and reflect the current view of negative symptoms. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (K-CAINS). Inpatients (n = 49) and outpatients (n = 70) with schizophrenia were recruited from three institutions.

Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the Modified Adult Attachment Scale for the Use of Medically Ill Patients.

Objective: The Modified Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR-M36) scale was developed for medically ill, older individuals in 2008 (Toronto, Canada, department of psychosocial oncology and palliative care, Princess Margaret Hospital). The scale has displayed satisfactory reliability and validity. This study aimed to test the reliability and validity of the Korean version of Modified Experiences in Close Relationships (K-ECR-M36) questionnaire in female patients with breast cancer.

The Korean Version of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist: Psychometric Properties in Korean School-aged Children.

Psychosocial problems increase the risk for mental health problems and increase the need for health care services in children and adolescents. Primary care practice is a valuable avenue for identifying the need for more specialized mental health care. We hypothesized that Korean version of the pediatric symptom checklist (PSC) would be a useful tool for early detection of psychosocial problems in children and adolescents in Korea and we aimed to suggest cut-off scores for detecting meaningful psychosocial problems.

Clinical and psychosocial factors predicting health-related quality of life in hemodialysis patients.

Many patients with end-stage renal disease have significant impairment in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Most previous studies have focused on clinical factors; however, quality of life can also be affected by psychosocial factors. The aim of this study was to identify the possible predictors of HRQoL among clinical and psychosocial factors in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Acamprosate-induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms in an Elderly Patient with Alcohol Dependence.

Acamprosate reduces the craving for alcohol by decreasing glutamate activity and increasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) action in patients with alcohol dependence. Acamprosate has tolerable side effects that include diarrhea, headache, dizziness and pruritus. In this study, we report acamprosate-induced extrapyramidal symptoms in an elderly patient with no history of neurologic disease.