재난 경험자들의 정신건강은 개인적인 측면뿐만 아니라 재난 이후의 지역사회의 회복 측면에서 매우 중요하기 때문에 개인적 수준과 사회적 수준 양쪽에서 접근해야 한다. 또한 재난 경험자들을 이해하고 돕기 위해서는 PTSD, 우울, 불안과 같은 정신 건강 분야뿐만 아니라 심리적 및 사회적 자원 분야, 물질남용 및 중독 분야, 비재난스트레스 분야, 기능상태 분야 등 다양한 방면의 평가가 필요하다. 재난정신건강 평가를 위해서 최소한 1시간 이내에 평가할 수 있는 표준 버전과 30분을 넘지 않는 단축 버전과 같은 기본적인 패키지가 필요하다. 임상 현장보다 재난 현장에서 시간 및 비용이 더 중요한 요소이고 재난 현장의 특성상 실현 가능성도 고려하여야 하기 때문에 이 모두를 고려한 구성을 해야 한다. 적극적인 재난정신건강의 다면적 평가를 통해 조기에 위험군을 선별하고 이를 적절히 관리한다면 재난 이후에 발생하는 외상후스트레스후유증을 최소화할 수 있을 것이다.

In psychodynamic therapy, trauma related symptoms are considered as an attempt to overcome the traumatic experiences. Therefore, psychodynamic psychotherapy regards the symptom not as a patient's defect but as an adaptive reaction. In contrast to other therapies, psychodynamic theory places heavy emphasis on the understanding and resolution of the patient's symptoms. In addition, transference is a distinctive feature of this theory, which plays a significant role of reflecting the realistic evaluation on the therapist's characteristics, and in guaranteeing the therapeutic alliance. The psychodynamic therapist inducts meaning from the patient's unconscious mind. The therapist's task is to help the patient to better understand defense mechanisms guide their management of experiences and reactions, and facilitate a better understanding of their personal experiences.

A conflict of interest is usually defined as a set of circumstances that creates a risk that professional judgments or actions regarding a primary interest will be unduly influenced by a secondary interest. In general, a conflict of interest can be classified as either a financial or a non-financial one. A financial conflict of interest reportedly occurs frequently in medical (and psychiatric) research and practice and is associated with a greater likelihood of reporting results favorable to the intervention being studied. A non-financial conflict of interest may occur in psychiatric research and practice as a result of the so-called "allegiance effect." It is very important that clinicians and researchers in the field of psychiatry be aware that their field is vulnerable to both financial and non-financial conflicts of interest. Considering that it is impossible in modern psychiatry to be completely free from possible conflicts of interest, the best way to manage a conflict of interest is disclosure based on the principles of transparency. Actions that might lead to conflicts of interest should be avoided as much as possible.

Objectives : The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is a commonly used psychological test measuring personality and psychopathology in both clinical and non-clinical population. This study was to evaluate characteristic MMPI-2 profile associated with the risk of suicide among college students. Methods : We analyzed the survey response of 2,964 college students who participated in a health survey from a school health center at a national university in 2011. Those who endorsed any of six items on the suicidaity module of MINI were classified as a suicide risk group and remaining students who did not as a control group. Then we compared the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score, the MMPI-2 Clinical scales and Restructured Clinical (RC) scales. To evaluate the correlation RC scales with suicidality score, Pearson correlation analysis was performed. Results : The suicide risk group was 464 students, and the control group was 2,500. The classification result of suicidality, 255 (8.6%) students were low-risk group, 149 (4.8%) students were moderate-risk group and 60 (2.0%) students were high-risk group. In the suicide risk group, VRIN, F scale, Clinical scale and RC scales were significantly higher. In the control group L, K and S scales were significantly higher. Suicidality score has significant correlation with all RC scales. Conclusion : In the suicide risk group, overall psychopathology was higher than the control group. Taken together, features of depressive symptom, antisocial behavior, aggressiveness, introversion may indicate the risk of suicide in college students. These results display both clinical and public health implications for clinicians and school health professionals.

Objective : Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is implicated in the pathophysiology of several neuropsychiatric disorders. However, there are few studies on BDNF of panic disorder. In this study, we investigated plasma BDNF levels in patients with panic disorder, and evaluated whether there are associations between clinical characteristics of panic disorder and plasma BDNF levels. Methods : We included 110 patients with panic disorder and 110 health controls in the current study. Plasma BDNF levels were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Plasma BDNF level differences were evaluated according to the clinical characteristics, such as duration of illness, recent stressful life event, agoraphobia, and insomnia. Results : The mean plasma BDNF levels of patients with panic disorder were significantly lower, as compared with those of controls (192.50 pg/mL vs. 693.75 pg/mL, t=8.838, p<0.001). The mean plasma BDNF levels of patients who had recent stressful life events were significantly higher, as compared with those who did not ($269.79{\pm}358.96pg/mL$ vs. $136.94{\pm}187.06pg/mL$, t=-2.525, p=0.013). Conclusion : These results suggested that BDNF plays a potential role in the pathophysiology of panic disorder.

Objective : Subjective tinnitus is defined as an acoustic sensation perceived without any external source. Patients with tinnitus have often experienced psychological distress and low quality of life. However, the connection between psychiatric characteristics and tinnitus has not yet been established. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of psychiatric characteristics with tinnitus severity. Method : A total of 124 patients with tinnitus were included in the study. Demographic and clinical characteristics were retrospectively collected in the otolaryngology clinic. The self-reported scales including the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Anxiety Sensitivity Index were used in this study. Results : The Pearson product moment correlation revealed significant correlations between tinnitus severity and psychiatric characteristics including depression (r=0.26, p<0.01), anxiety (r=0.38, p<0.01), anxiety sensitivity (r=0.27, p<0.01). After controlling for age, sex and awareness of tinnitus, tinnitus severity was positively correlated with anxiety (partial r=0.39, p<0.01) and anxiety sensitivity (partial r=0.28, p<0.01). These correlations remained significant in male but not in female patients. Conclusion : Results of the present study indicated that not only anxiety symptoms but also anxiety sensitivity could relate to tinnitus severity. Our findings have implications for the understanding of the psychiatric characteristics in patients with tinnitus.

Objective : This study examined benzodiazepine prescription patterns of outpatients visiting the psychiatry department in a single general hospital in Korea. Methods : A retrospective descriptive analysis of benzodiazepine prescriptions was performed on a database from 2014 in a general hospital in Korea. We analyzed the following factors of adult outpatients: demographic factors such as sex and age, amount of benzodiazepine prescribed, treatment duration, and diagnosis based on the ICD-10. Results : In 2014, benzodiazepines were prescribed to 46.4% of the outpatients. Percentage of benzodiazepine prescription increased with age and was highest in the age group 40-59 years. Prescription was more prevalent in women and the prescription percentage increased by treatment duration. Patients with the F4 diagnosis (neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders) were the most highly prescribed group. For all diagnosis groups, prescription was more prevalent in females or similar for both sexes except for patients with F5 diagnosis (behavioral syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors), with males being more predominant. Conclusion : Despite the concern regarding the rate of benzodiazepine prescription and administration to geriatric patients, long-term prescription and usage among older patients is still prevalent.

Objective : The aim of the study was to investigate the difference in alexithymia between anxiety disorder and depressive disorder. The second was to evaluate the effect of alexithymia on quality of life in patients with anxiety disorder and depressive disorder. Methods : A total of 175 patients with diagnoses of anxiety disorder or depressive disorder were recruited. Demographic, psychosocial, and clinical data were analyzed, as well as results on the 20-item Toronto alexithymia Scale (TAS-20K), the Symptom Checklist-90-Re-vised (SCL-90-R), a quality of life scale, the Beck Depression scale, and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Results : As compared with the patients with anxiety disorder, patients with depressive disorder showed significantly higher total score on the TAS-20K and for factor 1 (difficulties identifying feelings) and factor 2 (difficulties describing feeling) scales of the TAS-20K and showed significantly lower scores of psychosocial well-being on the quality of life scale. Total scores on the TAS-20K correlated significantly with scores for some subscale on the quality of life scale. Conclusion : This study suggest that patients with depressive disorder had more alexithymic symptoms and worse quality of life compared with those with anxiety disorder. Also, alexithymic symptoms are found to be associated with quality of life. Therefore, clinicians should try to focus on relieving symptoms to help patients restore their psychological well-being and improve their quality of life.

Objective : The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of a single-session, positive psychology-based, strength-enhancing workshop for psychiatrists. The program is composed of lecture about positive psychology and workshop activities for identifying and utilizing character strengths. Methods : A total of 42 psychiatrists participated in this study. The program consisted of a lecture about positive psychology and workshop activities for identifying and utilizing character strengths. Results of a positive resources test, given before and after the session, were used to assess changes in the personal positive resources of the participants as a result of the program. Results : We noted significant increases in participants' satisfaction with life, positive affect, gratitude, acceptance, positive and cognitive emotion regulation, orientation of life, growth, spirit, autonomy, social support, and care factors after completion of the program. On additional analysis, spirit and care scores of female participants's were significantly increased than male participants's. Conclusion : The findings are meaningful in verifying the efficacy of a short-term intervention to improve psychiatrists's positive resources.