Amitriptyline for PTSD in a torture survivor: A case study

2 Purpose: Functional imaging of dopamine transporter (DAT) defines integrity of the dopaminergic system, and DAT is the target site of drugs of abuse such as cocaine and methamphetamine. Functional imaging the DAT may be a sensitive and selective indicator of neurotoxic change by the drug. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the clinical implications of qualitative/quantitative analyses of dopamine transporter imaging in methamphetamine abusers. Materials and Methods: Six detoxified methamphetamine abusers (abuser group) and 4 volunteers (control group) were enrolled in this study. Brain MRI was performed in all of abuser group. Abuser group underwent psychiatric and depression assessment using brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS) and Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD), respectively. All of the subjects underwent I-123 IPT SPECT (IPT SPECT). IPT SPECT image was analysed with visual qualitative method and quantitative method using basal ganglia dopamine transporter (DA...

2018

The purpose of this study was to examine effects of adjunctive aripiprazole versus bupropion, on depressive symptoms of female depression. Methods : Sixty six female patients with major depressive disorders were enrolled from a six-week, randomized prospective open-label multi-center study. Participants were randomized to receive aripiprazole (2.5-10 mg/day) or bupropion (150-300 mg/day). Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale, 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating scale (HAM-D17), Iowa Fatigue Scale, Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale, Psychotropic-Related Sexual Dysfunction Questionnaire scores, and Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) were obtained at baseline and after one, two, four, and six weeks. Changes on individual items of HAM-D17 were assessed as well as on composite scales (anxiety, insomnia and drive), and on four core subscales that capture core depression symptoms. Results : Overall, both treatments improved depressive symptoms, without causing serious adverse events. There were significant differences in the HAM-D17 total score (p=0.046) and CGI-S (p=0.004), between aripiprazole and bupropion augmentation, favoring aripiprazole over bupropion. Aripiprazole revealed significantly greater effect size in depressed mood (p=0.006), retardation (p=0.005), anxiety psychic (p=0.032), and general somatic symptom (p=0.01). Conclusion : While both treatments were effective, results of this study suggested that aripiprazole may be preferable, in treating general and core symptoms of female depression.

Journal of the Korean Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 2014

In this study, the medication effects of Milnacipran and Pregabalin, as well known as fibromyalgia treatment medicine, in fibromyalgia syndrome patients were compared through the change of BOLD signal in pain related functional MRI. Materials and Methods: Twenty fibromyalgia syndrome patients were enrolled in this study and they were separated into two groups according to the treatment medicine: 10 Milnacipran (MLN) treatment group and 7 Pregabalin (PGB) treatment group. For accurate diagnosis, all patients underwent several clinical tests. Pre-treated and post-treated fMRI image with block-designed pressure-pain stimulation for each group were obtained to conduct the statistical analysis of paired t-test and two sample t-test. All statistical significant level was less than 0.05. Results: In clinical tests, the clinical scores of the two groups were not significantly different at pre-treatment stage. But, PGB treatment group had lower Widespread Pain Index (WPI) and Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) score than those of MLN treatment group at post-treatment stage. In functional image analysis, BOLD signal of PGB treatment group was higher BOLD signal at several regions including anterior cingulate and insula than MLN treatment group at post-treatment stage. Also, paired t-test values of the BOLD signal in MLN group decreased in several regions including insula and thalamus as known as 'pain network'. In contrast, size and number of regions in which the BOLD signal decreased in PGB treatment group were smaller than those of MLN treatment group. Conclusion: This study showed that MLN group and PGB group have different medication effects. It is not surprising that MLN and PGB have not the same therapeutic effects since these two drugs have different medicinal mechanisms such as antidepressants and anti-seizure medication, respectively, and different detailed target of fibromyalgia syndrome treatment. Therefore, it is difficult to say which medicine will work better in this study.

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing, 2015

The purpose of this study was to describe depression, caregiving burden and the correlation of the two variables in the families of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and to clarify factors predicting caregiving burden. A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 139 family members who provided care to patients with ALS. The characteristics of patients and families, Korean-Beck Depression Inventory (K-BDI), Korean version of Zarit Burden Interview (K-ZBI) and Korean-Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale - Revised (K-ALSFRS-R) were used as study measures. The mean score for K-BDI was 19.39 out of 63 suggesting sub-clinical depression and 38.2% of the family members exhibited depression. The mean score for K-ZBI was 66.03 out of 88. The predictors for K-ZBI were K-BDI, age of family member, length of time spent per day in caring, relationship to patient and K-ALSFRS-R. The results of this study suggest that levels of depression and caregiv...

Journal of Korean Criminological Asscciation, 2023

Using ‘Theory of Coercive Control’ by Stark and ‘Differential Coercion Theory’ by Colvin, this article attempts theoretical integration to explain co-occurrence of spouse violence and child abuse. Women under consistent coercive control might be victims of spouse violence, whereas men under erratic coercive control might be perpetrators. According to the sequential perpetrator model, women who are victims of spouse violence may respond by assaulting their child(ren). In contrast, women/mothers exert consistent coercive control over their daughters, but inconsistent control over their sons. Women are not only victims as wives, but also accomplices as mothers, because patriarchal authority permits women to control their children.

Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, 2014

Objectives: The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), initially developed by Dr. Cloninger in 1986, has been studied from various perspectives in many countries; however, its application in Korea has been limited due to a lack of information regarding the clinical use of integrative medicine. Methods and Results: A systematic review of previous studies on the theoretical development, structure, and content of temperament and character scales, as well as their stability and variability, is presented. In addition, the distinctive features of TCI as a biopsychosocial model and its clinical application regarding well-being, coherence therapy, and person-centered medicine were systematically reviewed. Discussion and Conclusion: The promotion of well-being with Cloninger's personality model and its importance for integrative medicine were discussed. This study would contribute to the clinical application of TCI in Korea.

Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society, 2012

The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between anxiety, anger and fatigue among stress factor in clinical practice of nursing students. The subjects were 197 nursing students who have practiced at the hospital in T city. Data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, t-test and pearson's correlation coefficient. The mean score for stress was 3.82. The mean score for anxiety was 48.82. The mean score for anger was 1.17. The mean score for fatigue was 30.96. The factor of stress was a significant difference of anxiety according to conference, theory and practice, satisfaction of clinical practice. The factor of stress was a significant difference of anger according to report, theory and practice, orientation, nurse, environment. The factor of stress was a significant difference of fatigue according to conference, orientation, environment, patient relationship. In results, This study revealed that there was a significant correlation among stress, anxiety, anger and fatigue of nursing students in clinical practice.

Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine, 2013

In this study, the Sasang Constitutional diagnosis were carried out to Vietnamese subject living in Vietnam, and the external applicability of Sasang Constitutional Medicine was evaluated by analyzing the physiological symptoms and the pathological symptoms according to their constitutions. Methods Total 170 Vietnamese subjects who live in Hanoi were invited from Sep. 2012 to Jun. 2013 for the research, and subjects were diagnosed by 2 Sasang Constitution Medicine specialists. The collected data were analyzed in terms of the physiological symptoms and the pathological symptoms according to the Sasang Constitutions. Results There were significantly different in the physiological symptoms according to Sasang Constitutions, which were 'digest', 'perspiration', 'excrement', 'hot and cold', 'water' and in the pathological symptoms, which were 'sting pain in head' in Soyangin, 'back pain' in Soeumin, 'chest discomfort' in Taeeumin, 'skin discomfort' in Taeeumin, 'fatigue in the afternoon' in Soyangin, 'digestion' in Soeumin. Conclusions The Sasang Constitution Medicine which is a Korean traditional medicine is also applicable to foreign countries, and it can contribute to the health promotion.

Child Neurology, 2018

The use of anticonvulsants can cause side effects such as reduction of bone mineral density, requiring attention in growing children. The aim of our study is to investigate the effects of different anticonvulsants on bone mineral density in epileptic patients treated with monotherapy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 60 subjects who visited the Pediatric Epilepsy Clinic of Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital from January 2013 to December 2017. Bone mineral density was measured with dual photon absorptiometry every 6 months. Results: The number of patients treated with oxcarbazepine, valproate and levetiracetam was 31, 16 and 13, respectively. Reduction of bone mineral density was seen in 8 out of 31 patients (25.8%, P=0.10) treated with oxcarbazepine, 9 out of 16 patients treated with valproate (56.3%, P=0.04) and 4 out of 13 patients treated with levetiracetam (30.8%, P=0.50). Conclusion: There was a significant reduction of bone mineral density in patients treated with valproate compared to the other anticonvulsants in our study. We believe attention to bone mineral density is required in children treated with anticonvulsants.

Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association, 2021