• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2008

Background : It was not uncommon authors as psychiatrists faced women patients with somatoform disorders who expresses their symptoms has been started after the poor adherence to 'Doing the month' practices (DMP). DMP is known as a traditional ritual for Korean postpartum women. Aims : This study is an cultural approach to explore the practices of Korean women during the postpartum period are related with the formation of somatoform disorders. Methods : 41 multipara women with somatoform disorders diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria and 91 healthy normal control were enrolled. Subjects were given scales of SOM scale of SCL-90R, Somatic Symptom Scale-Korean version, Korean 'Doing the month' practices Scale(40 items), Postpartum Sick Scale(14 items), Beck Depression Scale and State Anxiety Scale. Results : 1) The period of DMP less than one week were prevalent in the patients group(43.9%) compared to the control group(7.9%, p<0.01). 2) The period of DMP after the abortions showed no difference between two groups. 3) Subjective rate for their poor DMP was significantly high in the patients group(73.2%) compared to the control group(33.0%), and the patients group showed high score in Postpartum Sick Scale as well(4.1, 1.6 respectively). 4) Poor DM was negatively correlated with SOM scale of SCL-90R(correlation coefficient r=-0.47, p<0.01). Conclusion : Poor DMP may make a crucial role for their heath condition after the deliveries and which would be one of the major factors of the somatoform disorders in Korean women. And postpartum physical symptoms after the poor DMP could be last long enough to be diagnosed as somatoform disorders. By understanding the cultural nature of the somatization phenomena the doctor-patient relationship could be enhanced.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2008

Objective : The aim of this study is to examine the characteristics of somatic symptoms in patients with PTSD according to trauma type. Methods : The subjects of this study were 84 patients diagnosed with PTSD according to the DSM-IVTR and CAPS criteria. The subjects ranged in age from 18 to 76 years, and they were recruited from 18 hospitals across the nation. All participants were asked about their trauma history, and they all completed the Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and Korean-Physical Somatic Symptom Inventory (K-PSI). The items of the K-PSI were categorized into 5 groups according to organ system, and the participants were classified into 6 groups according to trauma type. We compared the results of the social demographical scale, DTS, BDI, STAI, IES-R and each recategorized subscale of the K-PSI among the six groups. Results : There were significant differences between the 6 groups in terms of the Korean-Physical Somatic Symptom Inventory scores for each organ system, except for the cardiopulmonary system, as well as the BDI scores. Post hoc analysis revealed differences between the combat-related trauma group and all other groups but not among any of the other groups. Conclusion : Our result showed that there were significant differences in the somatic symptom scores among the 6 trauma groups. However, patient age and the time elapsed since the traumatic event may have hada crucial influence on the result of this study.