• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.165-178
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• 2010

The present study was to explore the suicide from the perspective of cultural psychology. The result was that: First, the main reason to commit the familial suicide in korea is due to cultural characteristic. Korean people does not think the relationship of parents and children is separate or independent. So, When they can not bring up their child, Korean parents commit the familial suicide. Second, many people commit suicide not individual problems but interpersonal problems. This result reveal that Korean people think relationship between the people is very important. Third, there art too many alcohol problem in korea. The reason is generous attitude about alcohol problem. Fourth, suicide of man due to economic problem on the other hand, women due to personal health problem. The reason of this is cultural characteristics of korea. In traditional Korean culture, the family responsibility rest with man and the household affairs responsibility rest with women. Also, it is suggested that further psychological researches must be performed in the serious consideration of the indigeneous characteristics of Korean culture.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), and its association with suicide attempts among clinically depressed adolescents in Korea. Methods : In total, 113 depressed adolescents aged 12-18 years in South Korea were enrolled in this study. We assessed sociodemographic and clinical characteristics including suicidality and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) using various self-reported scales and semi-structured interview for diagnosis of psychiatric disorders. Demographic and clinical characteristics of the subjects were compared between NSSI and non-NSSI groups. We examined significant predictors of suicide attempts using logistic regression analysis. Results : Among 113 depressed participants, 48 (42.1%) adolescents were classified into the NSSI group. In the NSSI group, there were significantly more females, showed higher depression, higher state-anxiety, and more suicide ideation. The most predictive factors of suicide attempts were history of NSSI, observed suicide/NSSI behaviors of their family or friends, and total state anxiety score. Conclusions : NSSI is more common problem among clinically depressed adolescents and history of NSSI is a significant predictor of present suicide attempts. To include the assessment of NSSI for clinically depressed adolescent may be crucial for intervention programs for high risk adolescents of suicide in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.133-138
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• 1997

Prader Willi Syndrome(PWS) was first recognized and reported by Prader-Willi. The etiology of the syndrome is not fully understood, but 50-70% of the patients show small deletion in chromosome 15. Manifested symtoms vary according to developmental age. In early life, hypotonia, areflexia, feeding difficulties, hypothermia, microgenitalia, hypoplastic scrotum, cryptochordism were observed. But in several years, hypotonia disappears, and polyphagia, decreased satiety, psychomotor retardation, obesity, hypogonadism and short stature become main problems. Behavioural problems including temper and aggressive outbursts, stealing food, hoarding food, and self excoriating skin picking, trichotillomania are more prominent during adolescence and young adulthood. Also, irritable, depressed mood are described. Lots of psychological and behavioural problems explain the reason why psychiatrists have managed and reported this syndrome. However, there has been no official report of PWS in our country. So authors report the clinical characteristics and issues in management of a patient with PWS.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.209-220
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to find out the characteristics of depressive episode about major depression and bipolar disorder in child and adolescent. The subjects of this study were 34 major depression patients and 17 bipolar disorder patients hospitalized at child and adolescent psychiatry in OO university children's hospital from 1st March 1993 to 31st October 1999. The method of this study is to review socio-demographic characteristics, diagnostic classification, chief problems and symptoms at admission, frequency of symptoms, maternal pregnancy problem history, childhood developmental history, coexisting psychiatric disorders, family psychopathology and family history and therapeutic response through their chart. 1) The ratio of male was higher than that of female in major depressive disorder while they are similar in manic episode, bipolar disorder. 2) Average onset age of bipolar disorder was 14 years 1 month and it was 12 years 8 months in the case of major depression As a result, average onset age of major depression is lower than that of bipolar disorder. 3) The patients complained of vegetative symptoms than somatic symptoms in both bipolar disorder and depressive disorder. Also, the cases of major depression developed more suicide idea symptom while the case of bipolar disorder developed more aggressive symptoms. In the respect of psychotic symptoms, delusion was more frequently shown in major depression, but halucination was more often shown in bipolar disorder. 4) Anxiety disorder coexisted most frequently in two groups. And there coexisted symptoms such as somartoform disorder, mental retardation and personality disorder in both cases. 5) The influence of family loading was remarkable in both cases. Above all, the development of major depression had to do with child abuse history and inappropriate care of family. It is apparent that there are distinctive differences between major depression and bipolar disorder in child and adolescent through the study, just as in adult cases. Therefore the differences of clinical characteristics between two disorders is founded in coexisting disorders and clinical symptoms including onset age, somatic symptoms and vegetative symptoms.