Validity of the Korean Version of the Brief Irritability Test in Psychiatric Patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Brief Irritability Test (BITe) and adapt it for Korean patients with psychiatric disorders. METHODS: A total of 296 patients at the Department of Psychiatry of Hanyang University Guri Hospital completed the BITe, Korean Beck Depression Inventory-II, Korean Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Korean version of the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11. Construct validity was confirmed through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Reliability testing included assessments of internal consistency (Cronbach's α) and item-total correlations. Convergent validity was examined through correlational analyses with variables such as anxiety, depression, anger, and impulsivity. RESULTS: First, the scale had good internal consistency with a Cronbach's α of 0.88. Second, EFA indicated a single dimensionality of the BITe, and CFA demonstrated a reasonable fit for the single-factor model (comparative fit index=0.97, Tucker-Lewis Index=0.95, normed fit index=0.97, goodness-of-fit index=0.96, root mean square error of approximation=0.12, standardized root mean residual=0.03). Finally, the convergent validity analysis revealed a significant positive correlation with depression, anxiety, and anger, except for anger control, which is a sub-variable of anger. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the Korean version of the BITe had good psychometric properties, and might serve as a valuable tool for assessing irritability in Korean patients with psychiatric disorders.

A psychometric evaluation of the National Stressful Events Survey for PTSD-Short Scale (NSESSS-PTSD) among Korean psychiatric outpatients.

The National Stressful Events Survey for PTSD-Short Scale (NSESSS-PTSD) is a brief screening measure for DSM-5 PTSD that has not been evaluated for its psychometric properties in clinical population. We developed a Korean version of the original English scale through translation-back translation process and examined its reliability and validity among treatment-seeking adults at a psychiatric outpatient unit of a university-affiliated hospital in South Korea. The sample comprised adults diagnosed with PTSD (n = 100) and other psychiatric disorders (n = 134). The NSESSS-PTSD, the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used to determine validity and reliability. The findings show modest test-retest reliability (r = .43), good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .81), high convergent validity (r = .78) with PCL-5 and good concurrent validity with the BDI (r = .55) and BAI (r = .50), respectively. A cut-off score of 16 best predicted PTSD from other psychiatric disorders with specificity of .90 and sensitivity of .87. This study reveals sound psychometric properties of the Korean version of the NSESSS-PTSD and supports its use in the clinical population.

La Encuesta Nacional de Eventos Estresantes para PTSD- Escala Corta (NSESSS-PTSD por sus siglas en inglés) es una medida de tamizaje breve para el TEPT del DSM-5 cuyas propiedades psicométricas no se han evaluado en la población clínica. Desarrollamos una versión coreana de la escala original en inglés a través de un proceso de traducción-retrotraducción y examinamos su confiabilidad y validez entre adultos que buscaban tratamiento en una unidad de consulta ambulatoria psiquiátrica de un hospital afiliado a la universidad en Corea del Sur. La muestra incluía adultos diagnosticados con TEPT (n = 100) y otros trastornos psiquiátricos (n = 134). Se utilizaron la NSESSS-PTSD, la lista de Chequeo del TEPT según el DSM-5 (PCL-5), el Inventario de Depresión de Beck-II (BDI-II) y el Inventario de Ansiedad de Beck (BAI) para determinar su validez y confiabilidad. Los resultados muestran una modesta confiabilidad test-retest (r = .43), una buena consistencia interna (α de Cronbach = .81), una alta validez convergente (r = 78) con el PCL-5 y una buena validez concurrente con el BDI (r = .55) y el BAI (r = .50), respectivamente. Una puntuación de corte de 16 predijo mejor el TEPT de otros trastornos psiquiátricos con una especificidad de .90 y una sensibilidad de .87. Este estudio revela sólidas propiedades psicométricas de la versión coreana de la NSESSS-PTSD y apoya su uso en la población clínica.

The Relationship between Stress, Inflammation, and Depression.

A narrative review about the relationship between stress, inflammation, and depression is made as follows: Chronic stress leads to various stress-related diseases such as depression. Although most human diseases are related to stress exposure, the common pathways between stress and pathophysiological processes of different disorders are still debatable. Chronic inflammation is a crucial component of chronic diseases, including depression. Both experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that an increase in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and stress hormones, such as glucocorticoids, substantially contributes to the behavioral alterations associated with depression. Evidence suggests that inflammation plays a key role in the pathology of stress-related diseases; however, this link has not yet been completely explored. In this study, we aimed to determine the role of inflammation in stress-induced diseases and whether a common pathway for depression exists. Recent studies support pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment approaches significantly associated with ameliorating depression-related inflammation. In addition, major depression can be associated with an activated immune system, whereas antidepressants can exert immunomodulatory effects. Moreover, non-pharmacological treatments for major depression (i.e., exercise) may be mediated by anti-inflammatory actions. This narrative review highlights the mechanisms underlying inflammation and provides new insights into the prevention and treatment of stress-related diseases, particularly depression.

Dissociative Identity Disorders in Korea: Two Recent Cases.

Although dissociative identity disorder (DID), the most severe of the dissociative disorders, has retained its own diagnostic entity since its introduction in the DSM-III, cases of DID are rarely seen in South and East Asia, likely due to the higher prevalence of possession disorder. We report two patients with DID who were recently admitted to our inpatient psychiatric unit and demonstrated distinct transitions to several identities. Their diagnoses were confirmed through a structured interview for dissociative disorders and possible differential diagnoses were ruled out by psychological, neuroimaging, and laboratory tests. The rapid transition to a Westernized, individualized society along with an increase in child abuse, might contribute to an increase in DID, previously under-diagnosed in this region.