A considerable amount of research suggests that the frequent use of caffeinated energy drinks may be associated with undesirable effects, particularly so in children and adolescents. This study aimed to investigate the associations between energy drink intake and mental health problems, in isolation or in combination with junk food consumption, in a nationally representative sample of Korean adolescents. Data from the 2015 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey, collected from 68,043 adolescents aged 12–18 years (mean age 15.09 ± 1.72 years), were analyzed. Questionnaires were administered to collect information related to dietary behavior including energy drink intake and junk food consumption. Single item measures of sleep dissatisfaction, stress, depression, suicidal ideation, suicide plan, and suicide attempt were also administered. Associations between energy drink intake and sleep dissatisfaction, perceived severe stress, persistent depressive mood, and suicidality were investigated, and a multivariate approach was taken so that additional variance from demographic and lifestyle factors could be controlled for statistically. Energy drink intake was significantly associated with sleep dissatisfaction (adjusted odd ratios [AORs] = 1.64 and 1.25), severe stress (AORs = 2.23 and 1.38), depressive mood (AOR = 2.59 and 1.51), suicidal ideation (AORs = 3.14 and 1.43), suicide plan (AORs = 4.65 and 1.78), and suicide attempt (AORs = 6.79 and 1.91), with a higher risk for more frequent use of energy drinks (≥5 times/wk) than for less frequent use (1–4 times/wk). The detrimental effect of energy drinks on mental health was particularly prominent in frequent junk food consumers. Our data suggest that energy drink intake had detrimental effects related to stress, sleep dissatisfaction, mood, and suicidality, in isolation or in combination with junk food consumption, in Korean adolescents. However, the cross-sectional study design prevents our ability to assess causal relationships.

Hyun J, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2020 Apr;35(22):e211. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e211

Moon KR, et al. Psychiatry Investig. 2018 Jan;15(1):34-40. https://doi.org/10.4306/pi.2018.15.1.34

Objective More recently, attention has turned to the linkage between childhood trauma and emotional dysregulation, but the evidence in bipolar disorder (BD) is limited. To determine neurobiological relationships between childhood trauma, current anxiety, and impulsivity, we investigated cortical volumetric correlates of these clinical factors in BD.Methods We studied 36 patients with DSM-5 BD and 29 healthy controls. Childhood trauma, coexisting anxiety, and impulsivity were evaluated with the Korean version-Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Korean version-Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Korean version-Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS). Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to assess gray matter volume (GMV) alterations on the brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Partial correlation analyses were conducted to examine associations between the GMV and each scale in the BD group.Results Childhood trauma, anxiety, and impulsivity were interrelated in BD. BD patients revealed significant inverse correlations between the GMV in the right precentral gyrus and CTQ scores (r=-0.609, p<0.0003); between the GMV in the left middle frontal gyrus and BAI scores (r=-0.363, p=0.044). Moreover, patients showed similar tendency of negative correlations between the GMV in the right precentral gyrus and BIS scores; between the GMV in the left middle frontal gyrus and CTQ scores.Conclusion The present study provides evidence for a neural basis between childhood trauma and affect regulations in BD. The GMV alterations in multiple frontal lobe areas may represent neurobiological markers for anticipating the course of BD.

Background: Post-traumatic embitterment disorder (PTED) has recently been introduced as a subgroup of adjustment disorders related to stressful life events. Embitterment is defined as persistent feelings of inadequacy or hoping for revenge after being insulted but feeling helpless after experiencing a life stressor. This study aims to investigate the cumulative and differential effects of negative life events on the risk of developing embitterment among young adults in South Korea. Methods: Data for the present study were collected from a web-based survey of 1,000 young adults aged 18–35 years. All participants completed a list of negative life events, the PTED Self-Rating Scale. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the relationships between the number of negative life events and reactive embitterment. Analyses of the relationships between each negative life event and reactive embitterment were performed using covariates, including childhood trauma, depression, and anxiety symptoms. Results: The total number of participants with reactive embitterment (cut-off scores > 2.5) was 452 (45.2%). Greater exposure to negative life events increased the risk of reactive embitterment compared to no negative events. Negative life events, including financial problems, family problems, and being excluded by friends, had significant associations with the risk of reactive embitterment. Conclusions: The present study revealed a substantial number of young adults with a high level of embitterment. Furthermore, cumulative and differential effects of negative events increased the risk for reactive embitterment. Our findings underlined the crucial role of adverse life events in the development of reactive embitterment.