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Background In this study, we report the follow‐up results of reduced dose of craniospinal radiotherapy (CSRT) followed by tandem high‐dose chemotherapy (HDCT) in patients with high‐risk medulloblastoma (MB). Methods Newly diagnosed high‐risk MB patients (metastatic disease, postoperative residual tumor >1.5 cm2, or large cell/anaplastic histology) over 3 years of age were enrolled in this study. Two cycles of pre‐RT chemotherapy, radiotherapy (RT) including reduced‐dose CSRT (23.4 or 30.6 Gy), four cycles of post‐RT chemotherapy, and tandem HDCT were administered. NanoString and DNA sequencing were performed using archival tissues. Results In all, 40 patients were enrolled, and molecular subgrouping was possible in 21 patients (2 wingless, 3 sonic hedgehog, 8 Group 3, and 8 group 4). All patients including two patients who experienced progression during the induction chemotherapy underwent HDCT. Relapse/progression occurred only in four patients (5‐year cumulative incidence [CI] 10.4 ± 0.3%). However, six patients died from treatment‐related mortality (TRM) (four acute TRMs and two late TRMs) resulting in 18.5 ± 0.5% of 5‐year CI. Taken together, the 5‐year event‐free survival and overall survival were 71.1 ± 8.0% and 73.2 ± 7.9%, respectively. Late effects were evaluated in 25 patients and high‐tone hearing loss, endocrine dysfunction, dyslipidemia, and growth retardation were common. Conclusions The strategy using tandem HDCT following reduced‐dose CSRT showed promising results in terms of low relapse/progression rate; however, the high TRM rate indicates that modification of HDCT regimen and careful selection of patients who can benefit from HDCT will be needed in the future study., Tandem high‐dose chemotherapy (HDCT) after reduced‐dose craniospinal radiotherapy resulted in a low progression rate in high‐risk medulloblastoma. However, the high treatment‐related mortality rate indicates the need to modify the HDCT regimen and carefully select patients who may benefit from HDCT.

Objectives: Awareness of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults has significantly increased; however, clinical data specific to the Korean population are insufficient. Clinical experience of ADHD may differ based on whether psychiatrists have received pediatric psychiatry-specific training. In order to prepare a practice parameter for adult ADHD patients in Korea, we examined questionnaire data to observe how pediatric psychiatry training could affect clinical practice for adults with ADHD. Methods: A questionnaire about the diagnosis and treatment process was distributed to both general psychiatrists (GPsy) and child and adolescent psychiatrists (CAP) at the summer and winter workshop meetings of Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Results: In total, 142 psychiatrists participated in the survey (86 GPsy, 56 CAP). GPsy and CAP preferred pharmacotherapy (GPsy 82.40%, CAP 64.30%) as the primary treatment option and answered that the clinical psychiatric interview is the most necessary step in diagnostic assessment (GPsy 22.16%, CAP 19.00%). The GPsy responded with an optimal and average treatment duration that was shorter than that reported by CAP. Conclusion: Identification of the initial presenting symptom as the correct diagnosis and the optimal duration of pharmacotherapy differed between GPsy and CAP in practice, whereas concepts in diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in adults were similar for both groups. These results suggest the urgent need for the Continuing Medical Education program for psychiatrists treating adults with ADHD.

Objective This study aimed to determine the tic aggravation event rate and cumulative incidence rate in the use of methylphenidate (MPH) treatment in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the factors that influence tic aggravation.Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of children and adolescents aged between 6 to 15 years, who were diagnosed with ADHD from January 2017 to December 2019. A total of 121 subjects were included. The MPH dosage, psychiatric family history, comorbidity and past history of tics were assessed through chart review and the psychological examinations data were included. Collected data were analyzed using Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.Results Tic aggravation event rates without a past history of tics were 2.9% with MPH treatment in ADHD. Past history of tics, total MPH dosage and age were the factors associated with tic aggravation ([HR 21.46, p

Background Attention problems and decreased quality of life are frequently accompanied in Cerebral Palsy (CP), which can negatively affect rehabilitation of physical disability. However, the majority of affected children remain untreated in the aspects of attention or psychosocial factors. Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) use horse as a therapeutic modality including grooming as well as mounted riding activities in which patients exercise and experience mounted stimulation. It is known to help improve attention in children with ADHD, so that it can be an exercise therapy that is expected to improvement of attention as well as rehabilitating effects in CP patients. EAA may be a promising strategy to address the unmet need for CP patients. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of EAA for children with CP, those with both CP and ADHD and confirm the comorbidity between CP and ADHD. Methods Forty-six children with cerebral palsy participated in this study. For the exercise group, they participated in a 40-min session twice a week for a 16-week period, while the control group engaged in daily life without any special treatments. Each children individually were assessed on attention and psychological wellbeing at baseline and post-treatment. Comorbidity were identified based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder 5th edition (DSM-5) and confirmed by Korean Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL). Results Perseveration rated using the Conner’s Performance Test (CPT) showed a significant decrease only in the exercise group (p . However, no significant improvement in children’s quality of life was observed after EAA program compared with control group. Among the total participants, fifteen children (31.91%) were diagnosed with ADHD. When conducting an additional analysis with the subsample of CP patients diagnosed with ADHD, the d’, commission error and perseveration showed a significant decrease only in the exercise group. Children with CP and ADHD reported an improvement in quality of life both in exercise and control group, but only in the exercise group social functioning exhibited a significant difference. Conclusion The positive effects of the EAA on attention and quality of life were confirmed. Children with CP in the exercise group were more capable to sustain their attention longer. Those with CP and ADHD showed an increase in attention and perceived to have better social skills after receiving 16 weeks of EAA compared to those in the control group. Considering high comorbidity of CP and ADHD, it seems that the EAA program could be the better alternative treatment for CP with attentional problem. The results of this study will contribute to growing evidence for the efficacy of EAA in children especially with CP and ADHD. Trial registration This trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03870893). Registered 26 July 2017.

This study's aim was to investigate whether the incidence of neutropenia was higher in subjects who received a combination pharmacotherapy with valproate (VPA), antipsychotics (APs), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication than in those administered only VPA and APs combination pharmacotherapy. We conducted this study through retrospective review of medical records. We collected the records of 231 children admitted to the National Center for Mental Health. The incidence of neutropenia was significantly higher in the VPA–APs–ADHD combination group than in the other groups (55.2% vs. 25% vs. 12%, VPA + AP + ADHD vs. VPA + AP vs. AP). The presence of the combination of VPA, APs, and ADHD medication was a powerful predictor of neutropenia occurrence after adjusting for age, gender, and body mass index (odds ratio, 6.43; 95% confidence interval, 2.26–18.26; P < 0.001) The combination of VPA, APs, and ADHD medication in children with psychiatric disease appears to increase the incidence of drug-induced neutropenia., Graphical Abstract

We investigated the effectiveness and tolerability of aripiprazole in the treatment of irritability in Asian children and adolescents (6-17 years) with autistic disorder in a 12-week, multinational, multicenter, open-label study.Sixty-seven subjects (10.0 ± 3.1 years old, 52 boys) were enrolled and treated with flexibly dosed aripiprazole for 12 weeks (mean dose, 5.1 ± 2.5 mg; range 2-15 mg).Aripiprazole significantly reduced the mean caregiver-rated scores for the Irritability, Lethargy/Social Withdrawal, Stereotypy, Hyperactivity, and Inappropriate Speech subscales of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist from baseline to week 12 (p 0.001 for all subscales). Clinician-rated Clinical Global Impression Severity of Illness scale score also improved from baseline through week 12 (p 0.001). The most common adverse event was weight gain and no serious adverse event related to aripiprazole treatment was noted.Our results suggest that aripiprazole is effective and generally tolerable in the treatment of irritability in Asian children and adolescents with autistic disorder. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer treatment durations are required.

Pharmacotherapy among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is effective, but many patients suffer from secondary psychiatric problems even after improvement of ADHD core symptoms. Hippotherapy have been used as adjunct treatment options for physical and psychosocial rehabilitation as well as to ameliorate core symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Hippotherapy versus pharmacotherapy for children with ADHD.Thirty-four participants with ADHD were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to either 24 sessions of a twice-weekly hippotherapy or pharmacotherapy. To assess therapeutic effects, the ADHD Rating Scale (ARS) was used pretreatment and posttreatment as the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcomes included the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Self-Esteem Scale (SES), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) child and parent report version, Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ), Clinical Global Impressions-Severity (CGI-S), and quantitative electroencephalography.Both groups showed marked improvements in ADHD symptoms, CGI-S. No significant differences between groups were detected regarding treatment outcome except thought problem subscales of CBCL. Twelve weeks of hippotherapy improved attention, impulsivity/hyperactivity, and quality of life.This trial is promising, but further studies are required to evaluate the long-term clinical effectiveness of hippotherapy. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT 02482649.

Objective The aim of this study was to compare the performance of the 18-item Korean version of the World Health Organization adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder self-report scale (ASRS) with the six-item ASRS Screener for predicting attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) group. Methods The study sample included 51 adult patients with ADHD and 158 normal controls. All participants completed the ASRS and were interviewed individually using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare the ASRS (ASRS-18) with the ASRS Screener (ASRS-6) in Korean samples. Results The ADHD group had higher ASRS and ASRS subscale scores than those of the control group. ROC curve analysis revealed the ASRS was more powerful to predict ADHD group than the ASRS Screener, but the ASRS Screener also had strong concordance with clinician diagnoses. Conclusion This study shows that the 18-question ASRS outperforms the six-question ASRS Screener. However, the weighted Screener is also a valid and useful screening instrument both in epidemiological surveys and in clinical settings.

To examine the psychosocial outcomes and impact of attention problems in survivors of pediatric brain tumor.The survivors' cognitive functioning was measured using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. The Child Behavior Checklist-Attention Problems scale was used to screen for attention problems, and participants were classified as having attention problems (n=15) or normal attention (n=36). Psychosocial functioning was examined with the Korean Personality Rating scale for Children (K-PRC) at precraniospinal radiation and at 2-year follow-up.The attention problem group showed significantly higher depression and externalizing symptoms (delinquency, hyperactivity) and more significant impairment in family relationships than did the normal attention group at baseline. At follow-up, the attention problem group demonstrated significantly more delinquency and impaired family and social relationships. With the K-PRC scores, except for the somatization, social relationship subscale, there were significant differences between groups, but not in terms of treatment by time interaction or within time. At follow-up, multiple linear regressions showed that age at diagnosis significantly predicted K-PRC somatization (B=-1.7, P=0.004) and social relationships (B=-1.7, P=0.004), baseline full-scale intelligence quotient predicted K-PRC depression (B=-0.4, P=0.032) and somatization (B=-0.3, P=0.015), and attention problems at baseline predicted K-PRC depression (B=-15.2, P=0.036) and social relationships (B=-11.6, P=0.016).Pediatric brain tumor survivors, in particular, patients with attention problems, had worse psychosocial functioning at baseline and follow-up. Attention problems at baseline need to be carefully evaluated in assessing psychosocial functioning of pediatric brain tumor survivors.

Purpose We prospectively evaluated the effectiveness of tandem high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDCT/auto-SCT) in improving the survival of patients with atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors while reducing the risks of late adverse effects from radiotherapy (RT). Materials and Methods For young children (< 3 years old), tandem HDCT/auto-SCT was administered after six cycles of induction chemotherapy. RT was deferred until after 3 years of age unless the tumor showed relapse or progression. For older patients (> 3 years old), RT including reduced-dose craniospinal RT (23.4 or 30.6 Gy) was administered either after two cycles of induction chemotherapy or after surgery, and tandem HDCT/auto-SCT was administered after six cycles of induction chemotherapy. Results A total of 13 patients (five young and eight older) were enrolled from November 2004 to June 2012. Eight patients, including all five young patients, had metastatic disease at diagnosis. Six patients (four young and two older) experienced progression before initiation of RT, and seven were able to proceed to HDCT/auto-SCT without progression during induction treatment. Three of six patients who experienced progression during induction treatment underwent HDCT/auto-SCT as salvage treatment. All five young patients died from disease progression. However, four of the eight older patients remain progression-freewith a median follow-up period of 64 months (range, 39 to 108 months). Treatment-related late toxicities were acceptable. Conclusion The required dose of craniospinal RT might be reduced in older patients if the intensity of chemotherapy is increased. However, early administration of RT should be considered to prevent early progression in young patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the association between current suicidal or violent behavior and deficits of specific neurocognitive variables in child and adolescent inpatient samples diagnosed with mood disorder. Methods: A retrospective review of the charts of mood disorder patients hospitalized at Samsung Medical Center between April 2004 and April 2015 was conducted. Child and adolescent patients aged between 10 and 18 years old and those who finished neurocognitive function testing during their hospitalization were included. Among them patients whose full scale IQ was between 85 and 115 were selected (N=111). Participants were first divided into two age-groups–group Y (10≤age≤15, N=54) and group O (16≤age≤18, N=57)–because neurocognitive function test tools were different according to age [Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) for 10 to 15-year-old patients, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) for 16 to 18-year-old patients]. They were then divided according to their suicidal or violent behavior–non suicidal/violent group (NG), suicidal group (SG), violent group (VG), and both suicidal/violent group (BG). The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was checked for measurement of participants’ behavior and the Gordon Diagnostic System was checked for measurement of their attention efficiency. Kruskal-Wallis Test and Tukey test was used to determine the differences in neurocognitive function between groups. Results: O-SG patients showed lower scores on the comprehension subscale of WAIS-III than O-NG patients (χ2=8.454, p=.015). O-VG patients showed lower scores on the block design subscales of WAIS than O-SG patients (χ2=7.496, p=.024). Y-VG patients showed higher scores in aggressive behavior, externalizing problems, and total problems scores of CBCL. Conclusion: This study showed relationship between specific neurocognitive deficits and suicidal or violent behavior. These relationships were significant in relatively older adolescents.

BACKGROUND In this study, we report the follow-up results of reduced-dose of craniospinal radiotherapy (CSRT) followed by tandem high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) in patients with high-risk medulloblastoma (MB). METHODS Newly diagnosed high-risk MB patients (metastatic disease, postoperative residual tumor > 1.5 cm2 or large cell/anaplastic histology) over 3 years of age were enrolled in this study. Two cycles of pre-RT chemotherapy, RT including reduced-dose CSRT (23.4 or 30.6 Gy), 4 cycles of post-RT chemotherapy and tandem HDCT were given. NanoString and DNA sequencing were done with archival tissues. RESULTS Forty patients were enrolled, and molecular subgrouping was possible in 21 patients (2 WNT, 3 SHH, 8 Group 3 and 8 group 4). All patients including two patients who experienced progression during the induction chemotherapy underwent HDCT. Relapse/progression occurred only in four patients (10-year cumulative incidence 10.4 ± 0.3%). However, six patients died from treatment-related mortality (TRM) (4 acute TRMs and 2 late TRMs) resulting in 18.5 ± 0.5% of 10-year cumulative incidence. Taken together, the 10-year event-free survival and overall survival were 71.1 ± 8.0% and 68.9 ± 8.5%, respectively. Late effects were evaluated in 25 patients and high-tone hearing loss, endocrine dysfunction, dyslipidemia, and growth retardation were common. CONCLUSIONS Strategy using tandem HDCT following reduced-dose CSRT showed promising results in terms of low relapse/progression rate, however, the high TRM rate indicates that modification of HDCT regimen and careful selection of patients who can have benefit from HDCT will be needed in the future study.

Yeon Jung Lee, M.D., Geon Ho Bahn, M.D., Soyoung Irene Lee, M.D., Bongseog Kim, M.D., Soo-Young Bhang, M.D., Seok Han Sohn, M.D., Jaewon Yang, M.D., So Hee Lee, M.D., Un-Sun Chung, M.D., Yoo-Sook Joung, M.D., Minha Hong, M.D., and Jun-Won Hwang, M.D. Department of Psychiatry, Seoul Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Department of Psychiatry, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Department of Psychiatry, Bucheon Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea Department of Psychiatry, Sanggye Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Eulji University, Seoul, Korea Yonsei Clinic of Psychiatry, Seoul, Korea Maum to Maum Clinic, Seoul, Korea Department of Psychiatry, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea Department of Psychiatry, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea Department of Psychiatry, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Department of Psychiatry, Myongji Hospital, Goyang, Korea Department of Psychiatry, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea

Introduction Using the National Health Insurance database in Korea, we examined the diagnostic and treatment incidence and comorbidity of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods During 2007–2011, we chose subjects aged 6–18 years, who had at least one medical claim containing an International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision code for diagnosis of ADHD (F90.0) with no medication use in the previous 360 days. Then, we analyzed the data for 2008–2011 to determine the mean annual incidence and prevalence of newly diagnosed and medicated patients, as well as comorbidity. Results The average annual diagnostic incidence of ADHD was 0.357% (29,310.5/8,218,252), and the incidence of medication use for ADHD was 0.248% (20,340.3/8,218,252) during 2008–2011 with no significant annual difference. The transition rate from diagnosis to medication among newly diagnosed ADHD patients was 69%. The overall prevalence rate of ADHD diagnosis and medication during 2008–2011 was 0.799% (65,702/8,218,252) and 0.610% (50,127/8,218,252), respectively. Among newly diagnosed patients with ADHD, osmotic-controlled release oral delivery system methylphenidate was the most commonly used first medication, and depression was the most common comorbid psychiatric diagnosis. Discussion This is the first report of the nationwide data on the current diagnosis and pharmacotherapy of ADHD in the whole population aged 6–18 years. We need further investigation to find the factors of low diagnostic and treatment incidence compared with high prevalence of ADHD.

：Children with feeding disorder and FTT were randomized to the intervention group (N=11) or control group N=8). We administered the Korean standardization of Parent Temperament Questionnaire for Children (K-PTQ) in both groups before intervention, and the Korean version of the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (K-PSI-SF), Korean version of the Parenting Sense of Competence (K-PSOC), Korean version of the Beck’s Depression Inventory (K-BDI), Korean version of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (K-BAI), and Korean version of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (K-MDQ) in both groups before and after the intervention.

Most preschool children in Korea attend kindergarten (KG) or a child care center (CCC). CCCs, which focus on caring for the child, belong to the ministry of health and welfare. On the other hand, KGs are responsible for education, and belong to the ministry of education, science and technology. In order to resolve the decline in population due to low birthrates, the government is expanding the free child care and education policies. CCCs and KGs are combined together to form the `NURI curriculum` and supporting funds have been increased in both governmental departments. In addition, economic support is provided for homeschooling households. Because this is a nationwide policy and applies to every single household, thorough preparation regarding the effect and side effects must be made. This policy is currently being implemented, and as child and adolescent psychiatrists, great consideration should be given to the influence on the population. Therefore, the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry intends to investigate the effects and problems of the nationwide policy by analyzing the current condition of Korea`s free child care and education and foreign policies. In the current paper, we reviewed the developmental process of Korea`s free child care and education policy, as well as suggested future directions.

We explored two different methods of determining adverse events (AEs) among methylphenidate (MPH)-treated adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).We performed a 12-week open label study of osmotic-release oral system (OROS) MPH in adolescents with ADHD who were recruited from four child and adolescent psychiatric outpatient clinics. The AEs were evaluated via a two-step procedure at weeks 1, 3, 6, and 12. The first step was to ask a general question to subjects and their parents regarding AEs. The second step included an AE evaluation process by the investigators, which was performed using a drug-specific checklist. One-way repeated measures ANOVA were used to compare the number of AEs reported by patients and their parents compared with the number reported by clinicians. This statistical technique was also used to compare the number of AEs reported by various sources (i.e., patients, parents, and clinicians) at weeks 1, 3, 6, and 12.Of the 55 participants (43 males, 12 females) between the ages of 12 and 18 enrolled in this study, 47 participants completed the trial. When the number of AEs reported by patients, parents and clinicians were compared, there were no statistically significant differences. When the numbers of AEs obtained from the three different information sources at each study visit were compared, we noted differences. At week 6, the number of AEs evaluated by clinical investigators was higher than those reported by patients and their parents (p=0.003). Although the results did not reach statistical significance, the number of AEs reported by clinical investigators appeared to be greater than those obtained from patients or parents at weeks 3 and 12. The number of AEs reported by patients and their parents were similar at every visit. There were some differences in the pattern of AEs reported between patients and their parents.Clinicians should supplement the subjective report on AEs from patients or their parents with a more drug-specific checklist to obtain drug side effects more effectively. As there are some differences in the pattern of AEs reported by patients and their parents, it is generally recommended that clinicians obtain information from both parties when possible.

Objectives : To investigate the cognitive functions of pediatric cancer patients and to test the hypotheses that the impairment of processing speed and working memory are more prevalent in children with medulloblastoma (MBL) compared to children with neuroblastoma (NBL). Methods : We gave the Korean version of the Wechsler Intelligent Scale for Children-III to 21 children with MBL and 24 children with NBL during outpatient follow-up after the treatment was completed. Results : Children with MBL showed below average performance across most of the sub-tests. The full scale IQ, verbal IQ, and performance IQ of children with MBL were significantly lower than those of children with NBL. There were significant differences between two groups in coding and Digit Span subtest scores. Children with MBL performed especially poorly in the coding subtest. Conclusion : These findings support previous reports of generally low IQ and the dysfunction of processing speed and working memory among children with MBL, a kind of central nervous system tumor. Further investigation is needed to determine how the deficit of processing speed and working memory affect neurocognitive development and general intelligent functions.

Objectives : This study explored the clinical differences in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients with and without developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Methods : Participants were 49 children and adolescents with ages between 6 and 18 years. These subjects were placed into 2 groups: ADHD without DCD (24) and ADHD with DCD (25). We used several evaluation tools on both groups: the Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version- Korean Version (K-SADS-PL), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III (WISC-IIII), Child Behavior Check List (CBCL), Korean Personality Rating Scale for Children (K-PRC), and Bruininks-Osretsky Test of Motor (BOT-2). Results : Patients with both ADHD and DCD had a lower performance intelligence quotient and more internal and external behavioral symptoms than patients with ADHD but not DCD. It is possible that patients with ADHD and motor coordination problems should be noticed earlier and given intensive treatment.

Objective The purpose of this study was to compare psychiatric comorbid disorders and psychological outcomes in children and adolescents with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods Subjects were divided into a child group (aged under 12 years) and an adolescent group (aged 12 years and above). All subjects were diagnosed with ADHD based on the DSM IV diagnostic criteria using the Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Korean Version (K-SADS-PL-K). The K-SADS-PL-K was also used to evaluate those psychiatric disorders comorbid with ADHD. And the Korean version of the Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL) was used to examine the subjects' psychological outcomes. Results The rate of comorbidity in adolescent group was significantly higher than that in the child group. In particular, the adolescent group had a significantly higher ratio of comorbid conduct disorder and mood disorder than the child group. With respect to the predominantly inattentive type and Not Otherwise Specified, the school subscale scores on the K-CBCL for the children were significantly higher than those for the adolescents. Conclusion These results suggest that the psychiatric comorbidity may differ between adolescents and children with ADHD. Therefore when treating adolescents with ADHD, more careful assessment and treatment targeting a range of comorbidities are needed.

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the clinical and demographic variables such as body weight, dosage, family history of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and psychiatric co-morbidity on the side-effects of OROS-Methylphenidate (OROS-MPH), and to evaluate the relationship between drug response and side effect severity. Methods : A total of 144 children (ages 6-18) with diagnosed ADHD were treated with OROS-MPH. Children were examined at baseline and after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks of each treatment condition. The stimulant drug side effect rating scale (SERS), pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and electrocardiogram (ECG) were evaluated to assess side effect profiles. Changes in these parameters from baseline were examined and analyzed. Results : Anorexia (30.95%) and insomnia (13.10%) were the most commonly reported side effects during this study. Insomnia and loss of appetite score increased at one week follow-up, but was sustained or decreased as treatment progressed. Small but significant increases in pulse rate and diastolic blood pressure were observed during treatment ; however, no clinically meaningful changes in ECG parameters were noted during the study. Low body weight, high dosage of OROS-MPH, and family history of ADHD were associated with cardiovascular side effect. In contrast, there was no significant relationship between OROS-MPH treatment response and the severity of side effect and no difference resulted between the responder and non-responder groups with respect to OROS-MPH dosage in the 12 weeks of follow-up. Conclusion : To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first Korean study to investigate comprehensive side effect profiles and their correlates in OROS-MPH treatment for ADHD children. OROS-MPH was well tolerated with no clinically significant side effects during the treatment period. In conclusion, low body weight, high dosage of OROSMPH, and family history of ADHD could be used as predictive factors in increasing pulse rate and blood pressure.

Recent studies showing the improvement of ADHD symptoms obtained with the highly selective noradrenergic reuptake inhibitor, atomoxetine, demonstrate that the noradrenergic system plays the role of pathophysiology in this disorder. It is revealed that the norepinephrine transporter gene (SLC6A2) is a possible candidate gene directly related to ADHD. To determine possible roles of the SLC6A2 as a susceptibility gene for ADHD, we performed the genetic association study for a functional -3081 (A/T) polymorphism, located in the promoter region of SLC6A2. For the present study of association between ADHD and the SLC6A2,103 male patients with ADHD and 103 normal male controls were randomly gathered. Significant differences were found in the allele frequencies (χ 2 = 5.60, P= 0.02) and the odds ratio for the allele T between the ADHD and normal subjects was 1.59 (95% CI: 1.08-2.34) suggesting that T allele is critical to make the group difference. Significant group difference was also found in AA, AT, TT genotypes (χ 2 = 7.1, P = 0.02). The odds ratio for TT and AT genotypes was 4.57 (95% CI: 2.56-8.15) and 1.96 (95% CI: 0.96-3.78), respectively. Findings in the present study provided further evidence of association between ADHD and -3081 (A/T) polymorphism of SLC6A2. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

To investigate clinical effects of equine-assisted activities and therapy (EAA/T) for treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children age 6-13 years.This 12-week, prospective, open-label trial included 24 sessions of EAA/T. Twenty participants (19 boys and 1 girl) completed 12 weeks of EAA/T. Various clinical tests were administered at baseline and after EAA/T. Assessments included the investigator-administered ADHD-Rating Scale (ARS-I), Clinical Global Impressions (CGI)-Severity Scale, Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement Scale (CGI-I), Gordon Diagnostic System, Korea-Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL), Self-Esteem Scale, second edition of the Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency (BOT-2), and quantitative electroencephalography. The primary efficacy measure was the response rate.The response rate was 90% based on a 30% or greater decline in the ARS-I score or 85% based on CGI-I scores of 1 or 2. The mean±standard deviation ARS-I score decreased from 33.65±6.42 at baseline to 16.80±6.86 after 12 weeks of EAA/T (p0.001, paired t-test). EAA/T also resulted in significant improvement in the social problems subscale of the K-CBCL and in the manual dexterity, bilateral coordination, and total motor composite subscales of the BOT-2. The theta/beta ratio on electroencephalography was decreased significantly at the Pz electrode after 12 weeks of EAA/T.This is the first study demonstrating that EAA/T is effective for improving core ADHD symptoms. On the basis of these results, EAA/T could be a viable treatment strategy as a part of a multimodal therapy for children with ADHD.

Failure-to-thrive is defined as an abnormally low weight and/or height for age. The term "nonorganic failure-to-thrive" (NOFT) has been used to describe "failure-to-thrive" without an obvious cause underlying the growth failure. The purpose of the present study was to compare sensory processing abilities between toddlers with NOFT and feeding problems and age-matched controls.Toddlers with NOFT and feeding problems (N = 16) were recruited from the pediatric feeding clinic in a tertiary university hospital, and age-matched controls (N = 16) were recruited from community volunteers. They were evaluated for sensory processing ability using an Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP), and for development of cognition, motor skills, and language using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II and Sequenced Language Scale for Infants. Behavior at mealtime was evaluated using the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale.In the NOFT with feeding problems group, atypical performances were more frequently observed in 3 of 5 ITSP section items (tactile, vestibular, and oral) compared with those in the control group. Significant delayed development of cognition, motor skills, and language was observed in the NOFT with feeding problems group compared with that in the control group. In addition, children who showed 1 or more atypical performances in ITSP had delayed development in cognition, motor skills, and language.Sensory processing problems were more commonly observed in toddlers with feeding problems and growth deficiency. The present study could provide a preliminary evidence for a possible impact of the sensory processing problems on the feeding difficulties in toddlers with NOFT. Future large studies should be conducted to clarify the relation between sensory processing difficulties and feeding problems in toddlers.

Although the currently available literature has provided some empirical support for a tripartite model of child and adolescent anxiety and depression, one of the limitations of these studies was that they have been conducted in America, primarily with Caucasians. In order to make this model more applicable to diverse ethnic and cultural groups, this study used a tripartite model for child and adolescent anxiety and depression in Korea, using confirmatory factor analysis with logically selected items from the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS), as well as the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). The results indicated that the model fit of a three-factor model was superior to one- and two-factor models. In addition, the findings of discriminant analysis demonstrated that the correct classification rate with three factors of the tripartite model was superior to the classification rate achievable using CDI and RCMAS. In a departure from Clark and Watson's hypothesis, however, the correlations of three factors were significantly higher than had been expected. The results are discussed on the basis of cultural background.

It is well-known that more than 50% of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) cases also have comorbid psychiatric disorders. We evaluated the comorbid psychopathology of Korean children and adolescents with ADHD using a standardized diagnostic instrument. The Korean Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL-K) was administered and completed in 105 patients who had been referred to the outpatient and inpatient clinics at the Samsung Medical Center from March 2004 to May 2005. All of the cases were diagnosed as ADHD according to DSM-IV criteria. We analyzed their clinical characteristics and psychiatric comorbidities, and assessed the correlation of any comorbidity with gender, age and ADHD subtype. Among our 105 participants, 70 (66.7%) subjects were diagnosed with combined-type ADHD, 22 (21.0%) were the predominantly inattentive type, only 1 (1.0%) was determined to have the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type of ADHD, and 12 (11.4%) were classified as not otherwise specified (NOS) ADHD. Eighty (76.2%) subjects had at least one comorbid disorder such as oppositional defiant disorder (n = 53, 50.5%), anxiety disorders (n = 35, 33.3%) and affective disorders (n = 15, 14.3%). Our patients ranged in age from five to 16 years. Among the factors including gender, age, and ADHD subtype, ADHD subtype was the only one significant to comorbidity in our study. The results of this study suggest that psychiatric comorbidity in Korean children with ADHD is similar to the results of previous studies in western countries. Out of all the ADHD subtypes, the combined-type group had a significantly higher ratio of comorbid disorders and psychopathologies.

Objective Several factors, such as male gender, older age, type of insurance, comorbid conditions, and medication type, have been associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication adherence rates, but the results have been inconsistent. We analyzed data to answer several questions: 1) How old were patients who first refilled their treatment medications used primarily for ADHD, regardless of the medication type? 2) What socio-demographic factors are associated with medication adherence? 3) What medical conditions, such as medication type and comorbid diagnosis, influence adherence? Methods We analyzed National Health Insurance data, which comprised continuously enrolled Korean National Medical Insurance children (6-18 years) with at least 2 ADHD prescription claims (January 2008-December 2011). The persistence of use regarding the days of continuous therapy without a 30-day gap were measured continuously and dichotomously. Adherence, using a medication possession ratio (MPR), was measured dichotomously (80% cut-off). Results The cumulative incidence of index cases that initiated medication refills for ADHD treatment during the 4 year period was 0.85%. The patients who exhibited a MPR greater than 80 comprised approximately 66%. The medication type, high school age groups, physician speciality, treatment at a private clinic, and comorbid conditions were associated with medication adherence during continuous treatment using a multivariate analysis. Conclusion A better understanding of ADHD treatment patterns may lead to initiatives targeted at the improvement of treatment adherence and persistence. Other factors, including the severity, family history, costs, type of comorbidities, and switching patterns, will be analyzed in future studies.

Oseltamivir was developed for prophylactic and therapeutic use against influenza, specifically targeting the viral enzyme's highly-conserved active site. In recent years, there have been case reports of neuropsychiatric events during or after oseltamivir treatment, in Japan and other countries. However, a search of the literature revealed no such cases in South Korea. We present the case of a 15-year-old female adolescent diagnosed with depressive episode after taking oseltamivir. Oseltamivir is generally well tolerated. Its most frequent adverse effects include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In influenza patients taking oseltamivir, neuropsychiatric adverse events include delirium, behavioral disturbance, suicide, delusion, panic attack, convulsion, depressed mood, loss of consciousness, etc. Reportedly, such neuropsychiatric adverse events were more common in children than in adults and generally occurred within 48 hours of administration. Here, we report a retrospective review case of an oseltamivir-related neuropsychiatric event in a female adolescent in South Korea.

In this study, 10 patients with biopsy-proven germinoma with a beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) level >50 mIU/ml received intensive chemotherapy followed by reduced-dose radiotherapy (RT) to reduce late effects from RT. CSF β-HCG levels were >200 mIU/ml in five patients. After endoscopic or stereotactic biopsy, four cycles of induction chemotherapy were administered prior to RT. A CEB regimen (carboplatin + etoposide + bleomycin) and a CyEB regimen (cyclophosphamide + etoposide + bleomycin) were alternated. No residual tumor remained after induction chemotherapy in six patients, only cystic lesions were present at the primary tumor site in three, and a small solid residual tumor was observed in the remaining patient; however, all these patients had normal β-HCG levels. If complete response was achieved before initiation of RT, 19.5 Gy craniospinal RT (CSRT) + 10.8 Gy local RT was administered to the tumor bed. If residual lesion was suspected, the dose of RT was selected according to the presence/absence of tumor dissemination at diagnosis (19.5 Gy CSRT + 19.8 Gy local RT for localized tumors and 24.0 Gy CSRT + 16.2 Gy local RT for disseminated tumors). Eight patients, including four patients with a β-HCG level >200 mIU/ml, received 19.5 Gy CSRT. All patients remain disease free at a median follow-up of 58 (range 35–94) months from diagnosis. Our data suggest that pathologically pure germinoma with a significantly elevated β-HCG level might be cured with reduced-dose RT if intensive chemotherapy is provided.

We evaluated the differences in utilization patterns including persistence and adherence among medications in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The current study was performed using data from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment claims database from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2013. Our study sample consisted of 10,343 children and adolescents with ADHD who were not given their newly prescribed medication in 360 days before the initial claim in 2010. Data were followed up from the initiation of treatment with ADHD medications in 2010 to December 31, 2013. Discontinuation rates for 4 ADHD medications in our sample ranged from 97.7% for immediate-release methylphenidate to 99.4% for atomoxetine using refill gap more than 30 days and from 56.7% for immediate-release methylphenidate to 62.3% for extended-release methylphenidate using refill gap more than 60 days. In the number of discontinued, we found significant differences among medications using refill gap more than 30 days. Among 4 ADHD medications, extended-release methylphenidate and atomoxetine had more days than immediate-release methylphenidate and osmotic-controlled oral delivery system methylphenidate. In logistic regression analyses, extended-release methylphenidate, osmotic-controlled oral delivery system methylphenidate, and atomoxetine showed less discontinuation compared to immediate-release methylphenidate group when a refill gap more than 30 days was used. In logistic regression analysis of adherence, we could not find any differences among 4 medication types. We suggest that the utilization patterns should be assessed regularly in order to improve future outcomes in children and adolescents with ADHD., Graphical Abstract

Background We assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of reduced-dose craniospinal (CS) radiotherapy (RT) followed by tandem high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDCT/autoSCT) in reducing late adverse effects without jeopardizing survival among children with high-risk medulloblastoma (MB). Methods From October 2005 through September 2010, twenty consecutive children aged >3 years with high-risk MB (presence of metastasis and/or postoperative residual tumor >1.5 cm(2)) were assigned to receive 2 cycles of pre-RT chemotherapy, CSRT (23.4 or 30.6 Gy) combined with local RT to the primary site (total 54.0 Gy), and 4 cycles of post-RT chemotherapy followed by tandem HDCT/autoSCT. Carboplatin-thiotepa-etoposide and cyclophosphamide-melphalan regimens were used for the first and second HDCT, respectively. Results Of 20 patients with high-risk MB, 17 had metastatic disease and 3 had a postoperative residual tumor >1.5 cm(2) without metastasis. The tumor relapsed/progressed in 4 patients, and 2 patients died of toxicities during the second HDCT/autoSCT. Therefore, 14 patients remained event-free at a median follow-up of 46 months (range, 23-82) from diagnosis. The probability of 5-year event-free survival was 70.0% ± 10.3% for all patients and 70.6% ± 11.1% for patients with metastases. Late adverse effects evaluated at a median of 36 months (range, 12-68) after tandem HDCT/autoSCT were acceptable. Conclusions In children with high-risk MB, CSRT dose might be reduced when accompanied by tandem HDCT/autoSCT without jeopardizing survival. However, longer follow-up is needed to evaluate whether the benefits of reduced-dose CSRT outweigh the long-term risks of tandem HDCT/autoSCT.

OBJECTIVE To examine the short-term efficacy and tolerability of aripiprazole for children and adolescents with Tourette's disorder. METHOD This 10-week multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted from August 2008 to April 2010. Children and adolescents (aged 6-18 years) with a DSM-IV diagnosis of Tourette's disorder and a Yale Global Tic Severity Scale total tic score of 22 or more were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to placebo or aripiprazole. The primary outcome measure was mean change from baseline in the total tic score on the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (last observation carried forward). Assessments of safety and tolerability included spontaneously reported adverse events, extrapyramidal symptoms, serum prolactin level, metabolic variables, and other laboratory evaluations. RESULTS Of 61 subjects, 89% completed the study. Patients who received aripiprazole demonstrated a significant reduction from baseline to end of study on the mean (SD) total tic score of the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale compared to those who received placebo (-15.0 [8.4] and -9.6 [8.8], respectively, P=.0196). Response rate on the Tourette's Syndrome Clinical Global Impression-Improvement was 66% and 45% in the aripiprazole and placebo groups, respectively. Mean decrease in the Tourette's Syndrome Clinical Global Impression-Severity of Illness score was significantly different between the groups (P=.0321). In general, aripiprazole was well tolerated and there were no early discontinuations due to adverse events. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events between the groups was not significantly different (P=.7550). While aripiprazole decreased serum prolactin concentration (P

Objective This study was aimed to determine effectiveness and tolerability of Osmotic-controlled Release Oral delivery (OROS) methylphenidate (MPH) and its optimal dose administered openly over a period of up to 12 weeks in drug naïve Korean children with ADHD. Methods Subjects (n=143), ages 6 to 18-years, with a clinical diagnosis of any subtype of ADHD were recruited from 7 medical centers in Korea. An individualized dose of OROS-MPH was determined for each subject depending on the response criteria. The subjects were assessed with several symptom rating scales in week 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12. Results 77 of 116 subjects (66.4%) achieved the criteria for response and the average of optimal daily dose for response was to 30.05±12.52 mg per day (0.90±0.31 mg/kg/d) at the end of the study. Optimal dose was not significantly different between ADHD subtypes, whereas, significant higher dose was needed in older aged groups than younger groups. The average of optimal daily dose for response for the subjects aged above 12 years old was 46.38±15.52 per day (0.81±0.28 mg/kg/d) compared to younger groups (p

The present study evaluates the feasibility and effectiveness of tandem high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDCT/autoSCT) in very young children with anaplastic ependymoma. We aimed both to improve survival and to avoid unacceptable late adverse effects of radiation therapy (RT) by avoiding or deferring RT until 3 years of age. Five consecutive patients younger than 3 years of age with anaplastic ependymoma were enrolled from April 2006 to November 2008. Tandem HDCT/autoSCT was given following six cycles of induction chemotherapy. RT was either not given or deferred until 3 years of age if the patient was in complete response after tandem HDCT/autoSCT. Median age at diagnosis was 16 (range 12-28) months. Four patients had significant residual tumor (1.5 cm(2)) after initial surgery, and three had leptomeningeal seeding. Toxicities during induction chemotherapy and tandem HDCT/autoSCT were manageable. No tumor progressed during induction chemotherapy and tandem HDCT/autoSCT, and RT was thus avoided or deferred until 3 years of age in all patients. All patients are alive at median follow-up of 45 (range 31-62) months from diagnosis, although tumor progressed in one patient. No significant endocrine dysfunction occurred except for hypothyroidism in one patient. Cognitive function was also acceptable in all patients but one who had significant neurologic injury during surgery. Our results indicate that treatment with tandem HDCT/autoSCT is feasible in very young children with anaplastic ependymoma and may improve the survival of patients with acceptable long-term toxicity.

The aim of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics of prepubertal- and adolescent-onset bipolar disorder (BD) and to identify any clinical differences between patients with prepubertal- and adolescent-onset BD. We analyzed the clinical records of 53 inpatients with BD. These patients were divided into prepubertal-onset and adolescent-onset groups. We also divided the subjects into narrow, intermediate, and broad phenotypes according to the definitions proposed by Leibenluft and colleagues. Of the total sample, 16 patients (30.2%) were in the prepubertal-onset group and 37 (69.8%) were in the adolescent-onset group. Patients with prepubertal-onset BD were more likely to display an insidious clinical presentation, atypical features, and comorbid psychopathology. And the majority of the subjects, especially in the prepubertal-onset group, were classified under the intermediate and broad phenotypes. These results suggest that the clinical presentation of BD with prepubertal-onset is different from that of adolescent-onset BD. It is inferred that a significant number of patients with prepubertal- and adolescent-onset BD do not meet DSM-IV criteria for mania or hypomania from the results of this study.

Objectives ZZThere is evidence that Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical (HPA) system dysregulation plays a role in the pathophysiology of depression. However which psychiatric symptoms are related to HPA system dysregulation has not been studied well. The primary aim of this study was to investiga...

Objective Motor function critically influences daily activities and academic performance. We compared motor function in school-aged children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to that of normal children. Methods Participants were 58 children with ADHD [51 males, 7 females; mean age 9 years 6 months±2 years 0 months (SD)] and 70 normal controls [56 males, 14 females; mean age 9 years 2 months±1 years 7 months (SD)]. We assessed motor function with the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition. Results The ADHD group had a significantly lower total motor composite score (t=-9.32, p

Purpose: Our study aimed to examine the relationship between intelligence and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children (6-13 years old) diagnosed as having a brain tumor. Materials and Methods: We administered a Korean version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III, the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, version 4.0 (PedsQL), the Korean version of the Parenting Stress IndexShort Form, and the Korean Version of the Parenting Sense of Competence (KPSOC) scale before or after initial radiotherapy (T1) and after treatment termination (T2). In total, 13 patients completed both the T1 and T2 interviews. Results: Scores significantly declined between T1 and T2 on the full-scale intelligence quotients (FIQ), verbal intelligence quotients (VIQ), performance intelligence quotients (PIQ), similarity and coding tests, as well as the K-PSOC, which measures parental anxiety. FIQ scores at T1 were correlated with the self-reported PedsQL total scores (r=0.739) and the parent proxy-report PedsQL scores for school functioning (r=0.706) at T2. Also, the FIQ scores at T2 were correlated with the self-reported PedsQL total scores (r=0.748) and scores for physical health (r=0.728) at T2. Conclusion: The cognitive ability and intelligence level of the patients significantly de clined between on and off treatment periods, and higher intelligence functioning at both on and off treatment was correlated with long-term higher HRQOL. Further investigations that monitor intelligence, HRQOL and parenting stress over a longer period, using a greater number of participants, are needed.

Purpose: Methylphenidate (MPH) is an effective medication for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, about 30% of patients do not respond to or are unable to tolerate MPH. Based on previous findings, we hypothesized that great variability in response time (RT) among Korean children with ADHD on a computerized continuous performance attention test would be related to poor MPH treatment response. Materials and Methods: Children (ages 6-18 years) with ADHD were recruited for a prospective 12-week, openlabeled, multicenter study to examine optimal dosage of OROS methylphenidate. Of the 144 subjects selected, 28 dropped out due to adverse events, medication noncompliance, or follow-up loss, and an additional 26 subjects with comorbid disorders were excluded from statistical analyses. We defined ‘responders’ as subjects who received a score of less than 18 on the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder rating scale (ARS; Korean version, K-ARS) and a score of 1 or 2 on the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement scale (CGI-I). RT variability was assessed with the ADHD diagnostic system (ADS). Results: Fifty-nine (67%) subjects responded to MPH treatment. The nonresponders showed greater RT variability at baseline (Mann Whitney U = 577.0, p < 0.01). Baseline RT variability was a significant predictor of MPH response (Nagelkerke R 2 = 0.136, p < 0.01). It predicted 94.9% of responder, 17.2% of non-responder and 69.3% of overall group. Conclusion: High RT variability may predict poor response to MPH treatment in children with ADHD.