Authors explored grey-matter density in 29 methamphetamine abusers and 20 healthy comparison subjects using voxel-based morphometry. Grey-matter dens

Kim JH, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2015 Nov;30(11):1659-1666. http://dx.doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.11.1659

Objectives – The aim of this study was to investigate gray matter volume changes in narcolepsy. Materials and methods – An optimized voxel‐based morphometry was conducted for 17 young adults with a sole diagnosis of human leukocyte antigen DQB₁ 0602 positive narcolepsy with cataplexy (26.6 ± 5.2 years old) and 17 comparison subjects (24.6 ± 4.9 years old) using 3 Tesla scanner. Gray matter volumes in the bilateral hypothalamic voxel of interests (VOI) were also calculated. Results – Compared with the comparison subjects, narcoleptic patients had gray matter volume decrease in the right hypothalamus and other regions including subcortical, prefrontal, limbic and occipital areas. Narcoleptic patients also had lower gray matter volume on predefined VOI at the bilateral hypothalamus, which correlated with the Ullanlinna Narcolepsy Scale score. Conclusions – Current findings suggest that narcoleptic patients have structural abnormalities in hypothalamus, which might be related to the clinical manifestation of narcolepsy with cataplexy.

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between patterns of temperament and character and self-reported psychopathology in adolescents from the community. Sampling and Methods: The Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI) and Youth Self-Report (YSR) instruments were administered to 623 Korean middle school students (boys/girls = 331/292; age = 13.3 ± 0.9 years old). Multiple linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between temperament and character based on Cloninger’s biogenetic theory of personality and youth psychopathology of internalizing and externalizing problems. Results: Internalizing problems of the YSR (withdrawn, somatic complaint and anxious/depressed scales) were significantly related to high Harm Avoidance and low Reward Dependence (JTCI temperament) and low Self-Directedness and high Self-Transcendence (JTCI character). Externalizing problems of the YSR (delinquency and aggression) were significantly associated with high Novelty Seeking and high Harm Avoidance (JTCI temperament) and low Self-Directedness, low Cooperativeness and high Self-Transcendence (JTCI character).Conclusions: Findings of the current study suggest that specific patterns of temperament and character potentially influence adolescents’ psychopathology in the community.