Research Aims
The Psychopathology and Social Neuroscience (PSN) Lab is dedicated to advancing psychiatric diagnostic understanding and exploring the neuroscientific bases of psychopathology, with a particular focus on how social processes and brain mechanisms contribute to mental health challenges. Through integrated, transdisciplinary research, we connect basic science with applied, evidence-based practice. Our work concentrates on nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), suicide, and internalizing disorders (including depression and anxiety), examining them from the perspective of phenotypic manifestations (e.g., alexithymia, camouflaging) to the underlying transdiagnostic psychopathology (e.g., emotion dysregulation, distress tolerance).
Our Research Focus and Approach
The PSN Lab investigates psychopathological abnormalities by integrating foundational research in nosology and pathology with cutting-edge methodologies. We also leverage ICT to develop and suggest evidence-based interventions. Our long-term aim is to build an empirically grounded, clinically applicable diagnostic system that supports early identification and timely intervention for individuals at elevated risk for mental health difficulties. Our ongoing research projects include:
– Self-Report Studies: We conduct cross-sectional and longitudinal studies to refine the nosology of NSSI and explore its developmental, functional, and affective correlates. Our work also involves developing and validating culturally adapted measures for NSSI and various psychological constructs like emotion regulation, camouflaging, and fear of happiness.
– Neuroimaging Studies: We employ structural MRI (including volumetric analysis and diffusion tensor imaging) and functional MRI (resting-state fMRI and task fMRI) to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying psychopathology, especially NSSI and suicidality.
– Digital Interventions & Therapeutics: We develop and evaluate innovative digital interventions, including app-based and Virtual Reality (VR)-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approaches for individuals experiencing depression and/or anxiety. This also encompasses exploring the efficacy of online platform-based self-help groups to enhance mental well-being and aid recovery.
Projects
- NSSI (Nonsuicidal Self-Injury) (funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare; 2024-2026)
- VR-based Anxiety Symptom Regulation (funded by NRF, ICT & Future Planning; 2022-2026)
- NSSI (Nonsuicidal Self-Injury) (funded by NRF, Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning; 2022-2024)
- Psychological Assessment Report for Bereaved Families (funded by Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention; 2024)
- Mental Wellness Multiverse Platform Through Digital Phenotyping (funded by Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy; 2022-2024)
- AI & EQ (Emotional Intelligence) for Human (funded by NRF; 2017-2022)
- AI & EQ (Emotional Intelligence) for AI (funded by NRF; 2017-2022)
- CBT Application and Self-help Guidebook (funded by Ministry of Health and Welfare; 2020)
- NSSI (Nonsuicidal Self-Injury) (funded by NRF; 2017-2018)
- Scenario-based CBT for Depression (funded by Ministry of Health and Welfare; 2015-2017)
- VR & Haptic-based Mindfulness Intervention (funded by National Mental Health Intervention; 2017-2019)