• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.136-143
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• 2021

Objectives : The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is a global medical crisis imposing particular burden on public sector employees. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychiatric distress among public sector workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods : We conducted a cross-sectional study with 531 public sector workers in Gwangmyung city who completed Korean versions of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Impact of Event Scale-Revised-Korean (IES-R-K). Results : The results revealed more than moderate levels of stress (85.2%), depressive symptoms (22.2%), and posttraumatic stress symptoms (38.8%). PSS total score was significantly correlated with PHQ-9, IES-R-K total scores as well as IES-R-K subscale scores. Total scores on the PSS, PHQ-9, and IES-R-K were all inversely correlated with age. Conclusions : COVID-19-related workers experience considerable stress and depressive symptoms, with self-rated stress correlating significantly with depression scores. Age may serve as a protective factor against occupational stress and burnout. These findings highlight the need for adequate psychiatric screening and intervention for public sector workers.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the psychosocial characteristics of functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) in patients with psychiatric disorders. Methods : This study was conducted with 144 outpatients visiting the psychiatric clinic at a university hospital. FGIDs were screened according to the Rome III questionnaire-Korean version. Demographic factors were investigated, and psychosocial factors were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-15, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Korean, and State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory. Chisquared test and student's t-test were used as statistical analysis methods. Results : There were differences in education level between two groups divided according to FGID status (${\chi}^2=10.139$, p=0.017). Comparing the psychiatric disorder by FGID group, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) group showed significant differences (${\chi}^2=11.408$, p=0.022). According to FGID status, IBS group showed significant differences for anxiety (t=-3.106, p=0.002), depressive symptom (t=-2.105, p=0.037), somatic symptom (t=-3.565, p<0.001), trait anger (t=-3.683, p<0.001), anger-in (t=-2.463, p=0.015), and anger-out (t=-2.355, p=0.020). Functional dyspepsia group showed significant differences for anxiety (t=-4.893, p<0.001), depressive symptom (t=-3.459, p<0.001), somatic symptom (t=-7.906, p<0.001), trait-anger (t=-4.148, p<0.001), state-anger (t=-2.181, p=0.031), anger-in (t=-2.684, p=0.008), and anger-out (t=-3.005, p=0.003). Nonerosive reflux disease group showed significant differences for anxiety (t=-4.286, p<0.001), depressive symptom (t=-3.402, p<0.001), somatic symptom (t=-7.162, p<0.001), trait anger (t=-2.994, p=0.003), state anger (t=-2.259, p=0.025), anger-in (t=-2.772, p=0.006), and anger-out (t=-2.958, p=0.004). Conclusions : Patients with psychiatric disorders had a high prevalence of FGID, and various psychosocial factors contributed to such differences. Therefore, the psychiatric approach can offer better understandings and treatments to patients with FGID.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.109-116
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• 2016

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the effects of resilience on posttraumatic stress symptoms and dissociation and whether depression mediates the relationships between resilience and posttraumatic stress symptoms and dissociation. Methods : A total of 115 firefighters participated in the study. Data were collected via the Life Events Checklist, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Dissociative Experience Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Structural equation modeling and path analysis were applied to estimate the relationships between resilience, depression, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and dissociation. Results : Greater resilience was associated with lower posttraumatic stress symptoms and dissociation, and the relationship between them was fully mediated by depression. Conclusions : Specific aspects of depression may help explain the relationships between resilience and posttraumatic stress symptoms and dissociation. Tailored prevention programs and treatments based on resilience and depression may prevent posttraumatic stress symptoms and dissociation in firefighters and improve treatments outcomes among firefighters with posttraumatic stress symptoms and/or dissociation.

• Advanced Industrial SCIence
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.1-10
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to verify the mediating effects of job insecurity on the relationship between COVID-19 risk perception and mental health in hotel workers. For this study, a sample of 633 hotel workers completed the questionnaires: COVID-19 risk perception, job insecurity, depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms. The data was analyzed by SPSS 25.0 program and PROCESS macro program. The main results can be summarized as follows. 1. The risk group of the job insecurity had a significantly higher level of mental health(depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms) compared with the normal group. 2. COVID-19 risk perception showed a significant effects on job insecurity and mental health(depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms). 3. The results showed a partial mediating effects of job insecurity on the relationship between COVID-19 risk perception and mental health(depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms). On the basis of the results, we discuss that hotel workers have the vulnerability of mental health in disaster situations such as COVID-19 pandemic, and that mental health risk increases due to the job insecurity caused by COVID-19. we propose the need to support human resource management measures and psychological programs for hotel workers.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2018

Objectives : Delirium is one of the most common mental illnesses that can affect cognitive function. Melatonin has been shown to be effective in the treatment of insomnia, and recent studies have shown a protective effect to prevent delirium. This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of melatonin in delirium patients. Methods : All patients were referred to psychiatric department for insomnia and symptoms of delirium, and were diagnosed delirium by the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. We compared base line severity of delirium with K-DRS-R-98-R (Korean version of Delirium Rating Scale revised 98) and after taking 2mg of melatonin, retrospectively. The side effects were also identified by referring to the medical records. Results : A total 21 patients had taken melatonin for insomnia and delirious symptoms. The K-DRS-R-98 scores were decreased from $15.24{\pm}2.64$ before treatment to $6.57{\pm}5.42$ after treatment. And CGI-S scores were also decreased from $4.14{\pm}0.48$ before treatment to $2.81{\pm}0.93$ after treatment (p<0.05). Conclusions : This study illustrates the possibility of melatonin as an effective treatment option for delirious symptoms such as disorientation, motor agitation, lability of affect and hallucinations as well as insomnia, with less concerns of drug side effect. Further study with a larger sample and prospective design will be required to confirm these results.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.267-278
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between job-seeking stress and somatization symptoms and to explore the mediating effects of maladaptive self-focused and emotional dysregulation in college students. The SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 21.0 were performed to analyze the path relationship between variables. First, maladaptive self-focused mediated the relationship between job-seeking stress and somatization symptoms. Emotional dysregulation mediated the relationship between job-seeking stress and somatization symptoms. Second, maladaptive self-focused and emotional dysregulation partial dual mediated the relationship between job-seeking stress and somatization symptoms. It suggests that college students with job-seeking stress tend to be maladaptive self-focused, therefore they have difficulty in emotion regulation and eventually expose somatization symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.123-128
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• 1997

Brief hypnotherapy was used to a 22-year-old male soldier who had suffered from a hysterical aphonia for 10 days. Hypnosis was used to induce relaxation at physical and emotional levels and to influence the patient's attitude in a beneficial and therapeutic way. Self-hypnosis was taught in the first session. Notable improvement occurred after e second session and was maintained throughout 10months follow up. The hypnotic suggestion would be most effective if couched in a way which would enable the patient to perceive the dissolution of the symptom as reinforcing rather than losing face.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.92-97
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• 1993

Successful management of mental symptoms requires proper diagnostic tools and comprehensive treatment including psychotherapy, physical therapy and psychopharmacotherapy. For this purpose. valid and reliable diagnostic instruments need to be developed. and the data regarding various treatment methods in medical and psychiatric comorbid conditions should be available. Because mental symptoms originate from various aspects of biological, psychological and social factors. each aspect may have slightly different therapeutic goal. Alterations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of medically ill and/or old patients may complicate the treatment outcomes. Best psychopharmacological treatment needs to be elaborated in various states. Mental symptoms of the medically ill patients may be treated more effectively with an eclectic approach.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2012

Objectives : We investigated the prevalence and composite score of the neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with mild cognitive impairment(MCI), and dementia of Alzheimer's type(AD). The aim of this study is to analyze the correlation between the result of Korean Neuropsychiatric Inventory(K-NPI) and cognitive function. Methods : A total of 163 patients diagnosed with MCI or AD was divided into three groups(55 MCI patients, 56 dementia patients with mild stage, and 52 dementia patients with moderate, severe stage). We examined neuro-psychiatric symptoms by K-NPI and compared the prevalence and composite score of each subdomain in K-NPI among three groups. Results : The most common symptoms in the MCI group were depression/dysphoria, sleep/night-time behavior, anxiety, and irritability/lability. In mild AD group, the most frequent disturbance was agitation/aggression, depression/dysphoria, anxiety, apathy/indifference, and sleep/night-time behavior. In moderate to severe AD group, the most frequent disturbance was apathy/indifference, depression/dysphoria, agitation/aggression, and delusion. The frequencies of delusion, hallucination, agitation/aggression, apathy/indifference, aberrant motor behavior, appetite/eating change were statistically significant. The total NPI score showed a negative correlation with MMSE-KC and a positive correlation with GDS. Conclusions : Neuropsychiatric symptoms are common features of MCI and AD. These symptoms observed in MCI are similar to those of mild AD. Psychosis is most common in moderate to severe AD, leading to a faster rate of cognitive decline. Therefore, proper management according to the neuropsychiatric symptoms of MCI and three stages of dementia is needed.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.120-124
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• 2008

Objectives : The current study aimed at assessing clinical symptoms and personality characteristics on MMPI of patients in Hwa-Byung clinic. Methods : Thirty-one female patients($45.4{\pm}8.4$ years old) who visited to the Hwa-Byung Clinic in Ewha womans Dongdaemoon hospital were recruited. Semistructured interviews and laboratory tests for symptoms were performed for the patients group. Patients group and control group($42.9{\pm}8.0$ years old) completed MMPI. Results : All patients had symptoms of chest tightness or chest pain. 19(61.3%) out of 31 patients had gastrointestinal complaints. There were respiratory symptoms in 13(41.9%) patients. 12 patients(38.7%) suffered from difficulties in their sleep. 12 patients(38.7%) had psychiatric symptoms including anxiety or depressed mood. 8 patients(27.6%) were diagnosed as gastrointestinal diseases by the laboratory test. After controlling age and education, scores of Hs, D, Hy, Pt on MMPI in patients group were significantly higher than control group (p=0.001, p=0.049, p=0.000, and p=0.029, ANCOVA, respectively). Conclusion : In the current study, patients who have visited Hwa-Byung clinic showed various somatic symptoms including chest tightness, gastrointestinal symptoms, complaints in respiratory system and psychiatric symptoms. Based on laboratory tests, considerable proportion of patients was diagnosed as physical illnesses. Additionally, patients in Hwa-Byung clinic have a tendency to be more hypochondriatic, depressed, hysteric and anxious.