• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.429-433
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• 2009

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is defined as burning pain in the tongue or other oral mucous membrane associated with normal sign and laboratory findings at least 4 to 6 months. There are many factors that affect this condition and the pain characters are various among the sufferers, so it is difficult to diagnose exactly and treat properly. The cause of BMS is currently unknown. The etiology is presumed to be that it is related with local, systemic and psychogenic factor. The BMS is related with local factor such as allergic reaction, oral fungal infection(candidiasis), parafunctional oral habits and systemic factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, nutritional deficiencies(vitamin $B_{12}$, folic acid), hyposalivation and psychogenic factor such as depression, anxiety, cancerphobia. So clinicians must be aware of these factors and can give proper treatment options to patients. The management of BMS are pharmacologic management, cognitive behavioral therapy and psychotherapy treatment. Clonazepam, gabapentin, amitriptyline, alpha-lipoic acid and capsaicin are used to manage the BMS. Among these, topical clonazepam is reported that the effect is higher than systemic medication and the complications are rare. This case report is about some cases of the effect of topical clonazepam on BMS.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 1999

Objectives: Patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder(or PMDD) have impairments of the social, occupational or academic function due to psychological or somatic symptoms, which have the characteristic pattern of symptom exacerbation in the week before menses begin and remission shortly after the onset of menses. In the chronobiological view, many researchers have assumed that the etiology of PMDD is the advanced circadian rhythm. It has been suggested that light has a therapeutic effect on PMDD, because evening light results in phase delay of circadian rhythm through the biochemical changes including melatonin. Methods: The authors investigated the therapeutic effect of light therapy on four patients with prospectively diagnosed PMDD by DSM-IV criteria using clinical psychiatric interview, Premenstrual Assessment Form(PAF) and Daily Rating Form(or DRF). In the evening(6:30pm-8:00pm), the 2,500 lux light administered for seven consecutive days during the symptomatic late luteal phase of menstrual cycle. Beck Depression Inventory(or BDI), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression(or HAM-D), Spielberg State Anxiety Inventory(or SA), and DRF were evaluated before and after seven days of light therapy. Results: Premenstrual symptoms of PMDD could be effectively treated with the evening bright light therapy, especially in PMDD patients with atypical symptoms. In addition, the light therapy seemed to more effective on the psychologic symptoms than the somatic symptoms of PMDD. There was no significant side-effect of light therapy, except the transient and mild eye-strain in one case. Conclusions: In spite of the results of limited data from our clinical trial, the authors suggest that the potential use of light therapy as an alternative to the pharmacological management of patients with PMDD.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.45-63
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• 1997

A Study was conducted to examine the nature and extent of psychological differences among diagnostic subgroups of temporomandibular disorders(TMD) patients and to whether psychological distress acts as a precipitator for TMD or is only an incidental consequence of the discomfort and frustrations presented by the disorder. Ninty six TMD patients and ninty seven non-TMD dental patients were included for the study as an experimental group and control group. TMD patients were classified into subgroups according to their primary pain sites and labeled as: 1) Myogenous TMD group; 2) Arthrogenous TMD group; 3) Mixed TMD group. After Hilkimo indices were rated from patient history and clinical examination, levels of psychological distress were measured using SRRS (Social Readjustment Rating Scale) and MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory). Outcomes from Helkimo indices, SRRS, and MMPI were assessed in terms of diagnostic subgroups and pain chronicity. The relationship between SRRS and MMPI scores were also assessed. The results were as follows : 1. The TMD patients showed higher frequencies of AiII, DiII, and DiIII of Helkimo indices than those in the control subjects. 2. The chronic TMD patients showed lower frequencies of DiII and DiIII of Helkimo indices than those in the acute group. 3. The arthrogenous TMD group showed higher frequencies of DiII and DiIII of Helkimo indices than those in the myogenous TMD group. 4. The TMD patients showed higher SRRS mean score than that in the non-TMD patients. 5. The SRRS mean score was highest in the myogenous TMD group and lowest in the arthrogenous TMD group. 6. The chronic TMD patients showed higher SRRS mean score than the acute TMD group. 7. The TMD patients showed higher MMPI mean scores on the Hs, D, Hy, and Pt scales than those in the non-TMD patients. 8. The MMPI mean scores on th Hs, D, and Hy scales were higher than of other MMPI scales in the TMD patients as well as in the myogenous and the mixed TMD group and they showed 1-3-2(Hs, -Hy, -D.) profile pattern, conversion "V". 9. The MMPI mean scores on the Hs and Hy scales were higher in all subgroups of TMD patients than non-TMD patients. 10. Although there were no significant differences in the MMPI mean scores on all the scales between the acute and the chronic groups of all TMD patients, the chronic myogenous TMD group showed higher MMPI mean scores on the Hs, Hy, Pa, and Pt scales than the acute myogenous TMD group. 11. There were positive correlationships between SRRS score and each MMPI scores on the Hs and Hy scales.Hy scales.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2002

Objectives: Although sleep paralysis (SP) has been known as one of the symptoms of narcolepsy, recently it has become recognized as occurring frequently in the general population. However, the prevalence of SP and its associated factors in patients with major psychiatric disorders remain unknown. This study investigated the prevalence of SP and a variety of associated experiences in those patients. Methods: The subjects were 160 psychiatric patients and 143 age- and sex-matched controls. The Korean version SP questionnaire as well as the Sleep-Wake Schedule, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Insomnia Severity Index were administered to all the subjects. The patients were referred from Dong-A University Hospital and consisted of 74 diagnosed as schizophrenia (47.7%), 26 as bipolar disorder (16.8%) and 55 as major depression (35.5%). Results: Nearly 42% of the patient group and 39% of the control group had experienced at least one episode of SP in their lifetime, with no significant difference between the groups. However, the patient group had experienced SP more frequently than the control group. Among all subjects, no gender difference in SP incidence was found. The peak age of onset was in the range of 16-25 years for both groups. Over eight tenths of both groups reported hallucinations and over seven tenths of both groups experienced fear accompanying SP. Conclusion: This study shows that there is no difference in the lifetime prevalence of SP between psychiatric patients and the general population, whereas frequency of SP experience is higher in psychiatric patients. Terrifying hallucinations and fearful feelings frequently accompany SP in both groups.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.13-18
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• 2015

The purpose of the study is to investigate the predisposing factors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in fire fighters in Korea and to suggest the program development and solution to the critical incident stress management (CISM) in the future. PTSD is characterized by invasion, withdrawal, negative change of cognition and mood, and hypersensitivity. Trauma memory includes explicit memory and implicit memory. The explicit memory is conscious, cognitive, and descriptive and is controlled by hippocampus. The data of explicit memory have inhibitive and narrative language structure. The implicit memory is inconscious, emotional, and remembered by the body. The implicit memory is controlled by amygdala and has inexpressive language structure. The deletion of implicit memory is the key point to trauma treatment. Critical incident stress management (CISM) is the approach for the solution of PTSD. In conclusion, the essential goal of CISM is the psychological cessation of PTSD. This study tried to suggest the education program development of PTSD.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.166-173
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• 2002

Purpose: Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) is common, affecting between 7% and 25% of school-aged children and young adult. This study was designed to assess the relationship between RAP and depressive trends in school-aged children. Methods: In 1999, We surveyed 1,181 elementary school children (566 boys and 615 girls) whose ages ranged from 9 to 12 years. The degree of depression was compared between the group with RAP and normal control group without RAP according to Korean Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) of Kovacs and Beck. Results: The number of the group with RAP was significantly higher in female (25.7%) than in male (18.9%). The most common site of abdominal pain was periumbilical. The mean depression score in the group with RAP was higher than that of the control group. The depression score was significantly higher in the group with RAP who has frequently pain and additional symptoms. The depression score was significantly higher in the group with RAP who prefered to play alone, did not enjoy going to school and had few friends than in the group with RAP who had a lot of friends, had active and meticulous characters. The depression scores were not significantly different according to the duration of abdominal pain, the onset time of pain, and the day of pain in the group with RAP. Conclusion: The depression score of the group with RAP was higher than that of normal group. So, there is relatively a specific association between childhood RAP and depression in school aged children. It is good for physicians to consider psychological support in the treatment of childhood RAP.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.136-142
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• 2015

The Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (KSPID) has participated in the task force team consisting of government authorities as well as civil medical experts and facilities to block the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in 2015. KSPID posted the "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Pop-up" in the homepage of The Korean Pediatric Society and The Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. KSPID also released the "Guidelines for testing for MERS in children and adolescents" and the "Instructions for the Operation of National Safe Hospital" for children and adolescents in a timely manner. Such actions were aimed to prevent unnecessary anxieties, studies and isolation of pediatric patients with respiratory symptoms and signs caused by other common microbial etiologies as being suspected for MERS patients. This strategy relieved the doctors and parents from unnecessary fear and prevented the loss of unnecessary health care costs, and has proven to be a well-judged guideline and management protocol as evaluated after the final end of MERS outbreak. KSPID and its members should support the presence of pediatric infectious disease (PID) specialists in every medium size hospitals in Korea by developing the need for consultation fees for PID consultation in the hospital based practice and promoting the potential for cost savings related to prevention of health care associated infections and optimal prescription of antimicrobial agents. KSPID and its members need to approach and develop a communication plan to political decision makers to demonstrate and convince them of the importance of a PID specialist service.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.145-150
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• 2010

Acrodysostosis is an extremely rare disorder characterized by short fingers and toes with peripheral dysostosis, nasal hypoplasia, and mental retardation. We report a 16-year-old Korean boy with acrodysostosis who had characteristic clinical features and cervical spine stenosis manifested by neurologic symptoms. On presentation, he complained of difficulty in raising his arms, and suffered from intermittent pain and weakness in both upper extremities. He had short stature and dysmorphic facial features, including a broad, depressed nasal bridge, small, upturned nose, bilateral epicanthal folds, and mild hypertelorism. Moderate mental retardation and sensorineural hearing loss in both ears were also present. Radiological findings included broad, short metacarpals and phalanges with cone-shaped epiphyses, bilateral Madelung deformities, hypertrophied first metatarsals, and thickening of the calvarium. Magnetic resonance imaging findings included stenosis of the cervical spine, platybasia with compression into the cervicomedullary junction, and downward displacement of the cerebellar tonsils. Here, we report a case of acrodysostosis with symptoms and signs of cervical spinal stenosis first in Korea. If it is diagnosed in the early stages, possible life-threatening complications, including spinal canal stenosis, can be managed properly and permanent neurologic sequelae might be avoided. Therefore, it is important to consider acrodysostosis in the differential diagnosis of peripheral dysostosis.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.306-318
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• 1995

To evaluate the intractability of partial epileptic patients by variables, the author studied 113 patients (uncontrolled: 45, controlled: 68) who were admitted to the Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University from January, 1991 to August, 1993. The results were as follows. The items related to complex partial seizures, multiple seizure types and a histories of status epilepticus or clusters of seizures were significantly associated with drug-refractoriness (p<0.01). A high frequency of seizures before evaluation was associated with a poor outcome(p<0.01). The presences of known etiology of seizures, neurologic abnormalities and psychiatric disturbance were associated with limited treatment responses(p<0.01, p<0.05, p<0.01). An abnormal EEG findings such as background slowing, focal slowing, epileptiform discharges or secondarily bilateral synchrony were statistically significant (p<0.01). Age at onset, sex, distribution of epileptic foci, duration of seizure before evaluation, family history and abnormal neuroradiologic findings were not statistically significant. By these results, it was suggested that having at least four factors of the above variables were associated with limited treatment response.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.23-53
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• 2017

This study aims to examine how newly married couple's financial position influence the decision of divorce by using data from the Korea Labor and Income Panel Study (KLIPS). In particular, we closely examine the period between marriage and divorce for the households married since 2000. As a measure of household financial position, we focus on hosing debts because it can be considered as one of the most important factors for newly married couples. The key findings are as follows. First of all, age for marriage, age gaps between husband and wife and education level have a vital influence on the decision of divorce. In addition, in general, the household debts have decisive and negative effects on the future divorce decision. Especially, not only high absolute amount of debt but also high relative debt to household total income bring about a decision of divorce. The findings of this study suggest that systematic debt relief policies for newly married couples would be needed to build healthy family.