var. , a new variety of (Asparagaceae) from Taiwan, identified through morphological and genetic analyses.

Ker Gawl. is one of the the most diverse and fastest-growing genera of angiosperm. Most species have been discovered in a limited area or a single site through morphological comparison.

The characteristics of decision making, potential to take risks, and personality of college students with Internet addiction.

This study aimed to identify risk factors involved in Internet addiction. A total of 216 college students (132 males and 84 females) were given the following: (a) the diagnostic interview for Internet addiction, (b) the Iowa gambling test for decision-making deficits, (c) the Balloon Analog Risk Test (BART) to assess risk-taking tendencies, and (d) the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) for personality characteristics. The results revealed the following: (a) 49% of males and 17% of females were addicted, (b) the addicted students tended to select more advantageous cards in the last 40 cards of the Iowa test, indicating better decision making, (c) no difference was found for the BART, indicating that addicted subjects were not more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors and (d) TPQ scores showed lower reward dependence (RD) and higher novelty seeking (NS) for the addicts.

Nurses' perceptions of environmental pressures in relation to their occupational stress.

Aim: The aim of this paper was to explore nurses' stress experiences of working under the current health care system in Taiwan (the context) using a qualitative approach.

Background: Although most global health care institutions have been changing in response to the economic contraction, there is a deficit of information in understanding the changes of the ecology of the health care system in Taiwan from nurses' perspectives.

Design: Grounded theory.

Proposed diagnostic criteria and the screening and diagnosing tool of Internet addiction in college students.

The aims of this study were to develop diagnostic criteria of Internet addiction for college students (DC-IA-C) with diagnostic interviews and to establish the optimal cutoff points of the Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS) for the purposes of screening for and making the diagnosis of Internet addiction. A total of 216 college students (132 male and 84 female) were recruited in the study. The results demonstrated that 5/6 cutoff points of criteria A in DC-IA-C had the best diagnostic accuracy (95.

Brain activities associated with gaming urge of online gaming addiction.

The aim of this study was to identify the neural substrates of online gaming addiction through evaluation of the brain areas associated with the cue-induced gaming urge. Ten participants with online gaming addiction and 10 control subjects without online gaming addiction were tested. They were presented with gaming pictures and the paired mosaic pictures while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning.

Effects of childhood physical abuse on depression, problem drinking and perceived poor health status in adolescents living in rural Taiwan.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate the magnitude and independence of the effects of childhood physical abuse on adolescent depression, problem drinking and perceived poor mental health in Taiwanese indigenous and non-indigenous adolescents living in rural areas controlling for individual and familial characteristics.

Methods: A sample of adolescents was randomly selected from junior high schools in the rural areas of southern Taiwan. The associations between childhood physical abuse and adolescent depression, problem drinking and perceived poor health status were examined on univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Evaluation of effect of cognitive intervention programs for the community-dwelling elderly with subjective memory complaints.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of cognitive training (CT) and cognitive stimulation (CS) programs for the community elderly with subjective memory complaints (SMC).

Method: The single-blind non-randomized controlled study was applied. The numbers of CT and CS participants were 14 and 11.

Childhood physical and sexual abuse: prevalence and correlates among adolescents living in rural Taiwan.

Objective: The aims of this cross-sectional survey study were to examine the prevalence and correlates of childhood physical and sexual abuse in adolescents living in the rural areas of Taiwan.

Method: A sample of indigenous (n=756) and non-indigenous (n=928) adolescents was randomly selected from junior high schools in the rural areas of southern Taiwan. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data anonymously.

A multilevel analysis of the influence of Apolipoprotein E genotypes on depressive symptoms in late-life moderated by the environment.

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the APOE alleles and depressive symptoms of older adults, considering individual characteristics and the effect of neighborhood environment.

Methods: Using a multilevel, stratified sampling strategy, 500 elders were recruited from official household records. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire [TDQ].

ApoE4 allele is associated with late-life depression: a population-based study.

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the epsilon4 allele and late-life depression, taking into account lipid profile, vascular diseases, and sociodemographics.

Methods: Using a multilevel stratified random sampling strategy, a total of 500 subjects aged 65 to 74 years were recruited for this cross-sectional study from the official household records of an entire county in southern Taiwan. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire (TDQ).

Factors predictive for incidence and remission of internet addiction in young adolescents: a prospective study.

The aim of the study is to determine the incidence and remission rates for Internet addiction and the associated predictive factors in young adolescents over a 1-year follow-up. This was a prospective, population-based investigation. Five hundred seventeen students (267 male and 250 female) were recruited from three junior high schools in southern Taiwan.

The comorbid psychiatric symptoms of Internet addiction: attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, social phobia, and hostility.

Purpose: To: (1) determine the association between Internet addiction and depression, self-reported symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), social phobia, and hostility for adolescents; and (2) evaluate the sex differences of association between Internet addiction and the above-mentioned psychiatric symptoms among adolescents.

Methods: A total of 2114 students (1204 male and 910 female) were recruited for the study. Internet addiction, symptoms of ADHD, depression, social phobia, and hostility were evaluated by the self-report questionnaire.

The development and application of the telemedicine system in psychiatric counseling.

Telemedicine are the application and development of the telecommunication networks. In this study, we try to develop the telemedicine system and to discuss the network application of this system in psychiatric counseling. The preliminary result of this study is that the telemedicine system is more effective than traditional consultation and it can provide teleconsultation service for clients with depression through the internet.

Psychosocial impact among the public of the severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic in Taiwan.

During the 2003 outbreak, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) spread to more than 30 countries. Not only did it cause severe health problems but it also imposed a great psychological impact on the public. SARS emerged in Taiwan during April 2003.

Intimate partner violence and minor psychiatric morbidity of aboriginal Taiwanese women.

Objectives: Experiences of abuse increase the risk of psychiatric morbidity in women. This study assesses the prevalence of intimate partner violence and minor psychiatric morbidity and analyzes their association among aboriginal women in Taiwan.

Methods: Using system random sampling, 840 aboriginal women between the ages of 18 and 50 years old were recruited from four townships with aboriginal communities in southern Taiwan.

Adjunctive treatment of acute mania with risperidone versus typical antipsychotics: a retrospective study.

Few studies have directly compared atypical antipsychotics (e.g. risperidone) with typical antipsychotics as adjunctive therapy in patients hospitalized for acute mania, especially during a lengthy hospital stay.

Employment experience in relation to alcohol, tobacco, and betel nut use among youth in Taiwan.

The aim of this study is to assess the association linking employment experience with alcohol, tobacco, and betel nut involvement among youth in Taiwan. In 2004, an outreach program was conducted during weekdays to recruit youth sample in seven major geographic regions. A total of 5886 youth aged 12-18 years drawn from 26 cities or towns were assessed by a two-page anonymous self-administered questionnaire, including sociodemographic characteristics, employment-, development-, and drug-related experiences.

Quality of life, depression, and stress in breast cancer women outpatients receiving active therapy in Taiwan.

The aims of the present study were to compare the quality of life (QoL), depression and stress between patients with malignant breast cancer and those with benign breast tumors. The present study also examined the factors related to QoL among the patients who were receiving active treatment for breast cancer. Among the 97 patients participating in the study, 73 patients were diagnosed as having malignant breast cancer (malignant group) and 24 as having benign tumors (benign group).

Physical abuse against pregnant aborigines in Taiwan: prevalence and risk factors.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of, and to investigate the risk factors for physical abuse against pregnant aborigines in Taiwan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted. Aboriginal women who had just given birth in hospitals were recruited from January to December 2003.

Zotepine-induced catatonia as a precursor in the progression to neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

A 39-year-old man with schizophrenia developed severe catatonia, hyperthermia, muscle rigidity, tachycardia, leukocytosis, and elevated muscle enzyme levels while receiving zotepine therapy. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) was diagnosed. After withdrawal of zotepine therapy, transfer to a neurologic intensive care unit, provision of supportive care, and administration of adjunctive bromocriptine therapy, the patient's fever and catatonia subsided.

Job strain and minor psychiatric morbidity among hospital nurses in southern Taiwan.

Nursing is recognized as a stressful occupation and has indicated a probable high prevalence of distress. The purpose of this study was to identify the degree of job strain and to investigate the association between job strain and the minor psychiatric disorder in hospital nurses. A total of 907 registered nurses were recruited for this study via stratified random sampling from hospitals in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Religious attendance and depressive symptoms among community dwelling elderly in Taiwan.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the unique association between religious attendance and the prevalence of depressive symptoms among community dwelling elderly persons.

Methods: Employing a multilevel stratified sampling strategy, a total of 1000 subjects, aged 65-74 and living in Taiwan, were recruited for this interview survey during the year 2001. Aside from background information, the Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire (TDQ) and the Neighborhood Quality Index were used to assess degree of depression and its correlates.