Jungwon Choi

Objective Depression in children and adolescents is a global concern associated with adverse psychological and developmental outcomes. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC) measures depressive symptoms in this population; however, evidence regarding its applicability in Korea remains limited. This study validated the Korean version of the CES-DC and examined its factor structure and associations with other psychological measures.Methods A total of 370 children and adolescents participated; 358 with complete CES-DC data were included, and 301 submitted the CES-DC retest after 2–4 weeks. Internal consistency and test–retest reliability were assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and Pearson correlations. Concurrent validity was assessed using parent-reported Child Behavior Checklist for ages 6–18 (CBCL 6–18) and self-reported Youth Self-Report (YSR) and the Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) evaluated model fit; exploratory factor analysis (EFA) explored variations in factor structure.Results The Korean CES-DC demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α=0.89) and good test–retest reliability (r=0.70), with subscale-level test–retest correlations (0.55–0.66). Significant correlations with the RCMAS and YSR, and weaker correlations with the CBCL, supported concurrent validity. CFA supported the fit of the original four-factor model.Conclusion The Korean CES-DC is a reliable and valid measure for assessing depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. Further validation in broader age and clinical samples would strengthen generalizability.

전혜진, et al. J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc. 2026 Aug;65(3):143-158. https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2026.65.3.143

This study aimed to assess type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)-related avoidable mortality in individuals with developmental disabilities using national claims data, comparing outcomes with those of other disabilities and non-disabled controls. We used de-identified national claims data from the National Health Insurance Service merged with Causes of Death Statistics. The cohort included individuals over 30 years old with developmental disabilities who were newly diagnosed with T2DM between 2012 and 2016. Matched controls (non-disabled, mild, and severe disabilities) were selected based on sex, age, income proxy, and region. T2DM-related avoidable mortality (ICD-10 code "E11") within 1, 3, and 5 years was assessed using multiple logistic regression, adjusted for sociodemographic factors and comorbidities. T2DM-related avoidable mortality rates in the developmental disability group were 0.05%, 0.23%, and 0.55% at 1, 3, and 5 years post-diagnosis, respectively-lower than those in individuals with severe disabilities but higher than those of individuals without disabilities. Multiple logistic regression revealed no significant difference in 1-year mortality between individuals with developmental disabilities and those without disabilities; however, the risk was significantly higher at 3 years (OR = 4.84; 95% CI: 1.80-13.00) and 5 years (OR = 3.82; 95% CI: 2.14-6.81). Compared with individuals with mild disabilities, the 5-year mortality risk was also higher (OR = 2.41; 95% CI: 1.38-4.21). Individuals with developmental disabilities exhibit significantly higher T2DM-related avoidable mortality than non-disabled and mild disability groups, highlighting critical gaps in healthcare accessibility. Strengthening targeted interventions and support services is essential to reducing avoidable deaths and improving health outcomes in this population.

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the utility of the Korean version of the Quantitative Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (Q-CHAT) in hospital settings and to identify items sensitive for detecting autism spectrum disorder (ASD) trait.Methods The Q-CHAT was administered to a clinical sample of children presenting with developmental delays with a high probability of ASD in a hospital setting (n=37), as well as to typically developing community children (n=67), aged 12 to 54 months.Results The mean Q-CHAT total score in the hospital sample (42.0±13.6) was significantly higher than in the community sample (29.9±7.8), with maximized sensitivity and adequate specificity at 32.5 (sensitivity=0.811, specificity=0.687). The internal consistency of Q-CHAT was 0.764 for the overall sample and 0.825 for the hospital sample. Q-CHAT total scores and item scores in the hospital sample remained stable across age groups, indicating age-invariant properties. The hospital sample showed higher endorsement of less favorable development in social interaction and reciprocity items compared to community sample. No difference in the Q-CHAT item scores was present among age groups in the hospital samples. In the community samples, item scores, such as comprehending a child’s speech, using the hand of others as a tool, adapting to a change in routine, repeating the same action, and making unusual finger movements, decreased with the advance of age.Conclusion The Korean version of the Q-CHAT demonstrates good validity and reliability and is effective in discriminating autistic traits even in children older than 24 months. The items endorsed for hospital samples varied from community samples, implying item-specific sensitivity for hospital samples.

박한선, et al. J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc. 2025 Aug;64(3):148-163. https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2025.64.3.148

최정원, et al. J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc. 2025 May;64(2):21-40. https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2025.64.2.21

최정원, et al. J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc. 2023 Feb;62(1):46-53. https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2023.62.1.46

Objective Disruptive behavior disorder (DBD) adversely impacts children and adolescents. However, a comprehensive and cost-effective scale to assess DBD is lacking in Korea. Therefore, this study translated the Disruptive Behavior Disorders Rating Scale (DBDRS) into Korean and analyzed its psychometric properties.Methods Parents and primary caregivers of non-clinical (n=429) and clinical (n=28) children and adolescents aged 6–15 years were included in the analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted; further, concurrent validity and internal consistency were investigated using correlation analysis and Cronbach’s alpha, respectively. Furthermore, discriminative capacity was estimated using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.Results The four-factor model of K-DBDRS showed good model fit indices and factor loadings, which supported the construct validity of the scale. Strong correlations between K-DBDRS and related measurements were observed, and a robust level of Cronbach’s alpha was confirmed (0.891–0.933). The discriminative capacity of the scale was good, based on the area under the curve values (0.933–0.953).Conclusion This study indicated that the K-DBDRS is an appropriate screening tool for Korean children and adolescents. Thus, this scale can be applied in clinical and community settings to identify children and adolescents with disruptive behavior disorders.

최정원, et al. J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc. 2021 Feb;60(1):44-52. https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2021.60.1.44

Objective This study aimed to examine personality profiles and behavioral problems of children with nail biting (NB) to gain insight into the developmental trajectory of pathological NB. Methods 681 elementary school students were divided into non NB (n=436), occasional NB (n=173) and frequent NB group (n=72) depending on the frequency of NB reported in Child Behavioral Checklist (CBCL). Children's personality was assessed using the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI), and behavioral problems were assessed using the CBCL. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was performed using JTCI profiles to classify personalities of the children with NB (belonging to frequent and occasional NB group, n=245). Results For subscale scores of CBCL, the total, internalizing, externalizing, anxious/depressed withdrawn/depressed, depression, thought, rule -breaking, and aggressive behavior problems, were most severe in the frequent NB group followed by occasional NB and non NB group. LPA of personality profile in children with NB revealed four classes ("adaptiveness," "high reward dependence," "low self-directedness," and "maldaptiveness"). The four personality classes demonstrated significant group differences in all of the CBCL subscales. Children who showed low self-directedness and cooperativeness and high novelty seeking and harm avoidance personality profiles demonstrated high- est tendency for problematic behavior irrespective of the frequency of NB. Conclusion Children with NB reported significantly more problematic behaviors compared to children without NB. Children with spe- cific personality profile demonstrated higher tendency for problematic behavior irrespective of the frequency of NB. Therefore, accom- panying personality profiles should be considered when assessing behavioral problems in children with NB.