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We investigated whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, in conjunction with public health measures, influenced the incidence of gastrointestinal diseases according to age and sex during the pandemic. Changes in the monthly incidence rates (January 2018 to June 2021) of common gastrointestinal diseases were assessed using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service by comparing the data of two periods: before COVID-19 (January 2018–February 2020) and during COVID-19 (March 2020–June 2021). The Mann–Whitney U test and Levene's test were used to compare the differences in the incidences before and during the pandemic. In the pandemic period, compared to in the pre-COVID-19 period, the incidence rates of ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, cholelithiasis, and esophageal reflux significantly increased, whereas those of infective enteritis and irritable bowel syndrome decreased, regardless of age or sex. There were no significant changes in the incidence rates of pancreatitis, acute appendicitis, liver cirrhosis, and hemorrhoids. No seasonal variations in gastrointestinal disease occurrence were observed. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic may have had unprecedented and long-term impacts on the epidemiology of gastrointestinal disease. These changes may indicate a substantial future burden on healthcare resources during the recovery phase of the pandemic and thereafter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronotypes are classified as morning, evening, or intermediate, but there are reports of a bimodal type. This study was undertaken to describe the characteristics of the bimodal chronotype and to explore relationships between the bimodal type and psychiatric disorders, fatigue, and quality of life. A total of 2389 subjects from a Korean national epidemiological survey of psychiatric disorders responded during face-to-face interviews. The Korean Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to diagnose psychiatric disorders, and the Composite Scale of Morningness was used to assess chronotypes. Among intermediate-type subjects, those with a positive bimodal index were classified as bimodal type. In the present study, the proportions of bimodal, morning, intermediate, and evening types were 4.8%, 10.8%, 73.3%, and 11.1%, respectively. Distributions of sociodemographic variables were similar for the bimodal and intermediate types. After controlling for sociodemographic variables, any mood disorder and major depressive disorder were found to be significantly more associated with the bimodal type than the morning type, and dysthymic disorder was significantly more associated with the bimodal type than the intermediate type. For quality-of-life domains, moderate or extreme pain/discomfort was complained about more by subjects with the bimodal type than other types. In summary, the study shows chronotypes differ with respect to their relationships with mood disorder and quality of life. Before the bimodal type is classified as a clinically valid type, further investigations are needed to examine its psychological, physiological, and genetic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We aimed to investigate the association between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and morningness-eveningness in adulthood. Subjects without psychiatric comorbidity on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders ( n = 344) completed the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and the Adult Self-Report Scale for ADHD. MEQ showed an independent and negative association with ADHD symptoms ( P < 0.0001). In male subjects, both inattention ( P < 0.0001) and hyperactivity-impulsivity were associated with MEQ ( P = 0.01). In female subjects, only inattention was associated with MEQ ( P < 0.001). Our findings suggest that eveningness may be strongly associated with inattention of adult ADHD and that it may be associated with hyperactivity-impulsivity of adult ADHD in male subjects only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with subthreshold bipolar disorder (Sub-BP) experience severe clinical courses and functional impairments which are comparable to those with bipolar I and II disorders (BP-I and -II). Nevertheless, lifetime prevalence, socioeconomic correlates and diagnostic overlaps of bipolar spectrum disorder (BPS) have not yet been estimated in the general population of South Korean adults.Methods: A total of 3013 adults among the 2011 Korean Epidemiologic Catchment Area survey (KECA-2011) completed face-to-face interviews using the Korean versions of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview 2.1 and Mood Disorder Questionnaire (K-CIDI and K-MDQ).Results: The lifetime prevalence of BPS in the South Korean adults was measured to be 4.3% (95% CI 2.6-6.9). Nearly 80% of the subjects with BPS were co-diagnosed with other DSM-IV non-psychotic mental disorders: 35.4% (95% CI 24.2-48.5) for major depression and dysthymic disorder, 35.1% (95% CI 27.7-43.3) for anxiety disorders, and 51.9% (95% CI 40.5-63.1) for alcohol and nicotine use disorders. Younger age (18-34 years) was the only sociodemographic predictor of BPS positivity (P=0.014), and the diagnostic overlap patterns were different between men and women.Limitations: The prevalence of BPS and other mental disorders could have been influenced by recall bias due to the retrospective nature of this study.Conclusions: Positivity for BPS was estimated to be much greater than the prevalence of DSM-IV BP in South Korea. Most of the respondents with BPS were diagnosed with other major mental disorders and this might be related with mis- and/or under-diagnosis of clinically relevant Sub-BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although several studies have detected differences in clinical features among specific phobias, there is a shortage of detailed national data on the on the DSM-IV SP subtypes, particularly in the Asian population. To examine the prevalence, demographic and other correlates, and co-morbidities of DSM-IV SP subtypes in a nationwide sample of Korean adults. We recruited 6510 participants aged 18–64 years for this study. Lay interviewers used the Composite International Diagnostic Interview to assess participants. We analyzed socio-demographics, health-related correlates and frequencies of comorbid mental disorders among participants with SP and each subtypes compared to unaffected adults. The prevalence of lifetime DSM-IV SP was 3.8%, and animal phobias were the most prevalent type of SP. Blood–injection–injury phobia was negatively associated with education, whereas situational phobia was positively associated with education. The strongest mental disorder comorbidity was associated with situational phobia; there is a higher probability of comorbid mood (OR=5.73, 95% CI=2.09–15.73), anxiety (OR=7.54, 95% CI=2.34–24.28), and somatoform disorders (OR=7.61, 95% CI=1.64–35.22) with this subtype. Blood–injection–injury phobia was highly associated with alcohol dependence (OR=9.02, 95% CI=3.54–23.02). Specific phobias are heterogeneous with respect to socio-demographic characteristics and comorbidity pattern. Implications of the usefulness of current subtype categories should continue to be investigated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We examined the prevalence, correlates, and comorbidities of adult attention-deficit hypersensitivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in a Korean community using data from the National Epidemiological Survey of Psychiatric Disorders in Korea conducted in 2006. A total of 6081 subjects aged 18 to 59years participated in this study. Diagnostic assessments were based on the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale Screener and Composite International Diagnostic Interview administered by lay interviewers. The frequencies of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) disorders, sleep disturbances, and suicidal tendency were compared in the ADHD and non-ADHD groups. Odds ratios and significance levels were calculated. The 6month prevalence of adult ADHD symptoms was 1.1%. Associations between ADHD symptoms and alcohol abuse/dependence, nicotine dependence, mood disorders, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, obsessive–compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social phobia, specific phobia, somatoform disorder, sleep disturbances, and suicidality were overwhelmingly positive and significant (P <0.05), after controlling for gender and age. Adult ADHD symptoms are highly associated with substance abuse, mood and anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, sleep disturbances and suicidality, suggesting that clinicians should carefully evaluate and treat such psychiatric disorders in adults with ADHD symptoms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]