• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.145-149
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• 2007

Objectives : This study characterized the extent to which youth depressive symptoms, parental alcohol problems, and parental drinking account for differences in alcohol-related problems among a large sample of adolescent females. Methods : The stratified sample consists of 2077 adolescent females from twelve female-only high schools located in a large metropolitan city in the Republic of Korea. Students completed a questionnaire about alcohol use and alcohol problems, their parents' alcohol problems, and a number of risk and protective factors. Data were analyzed using tobit regression analyses to better characterize the associations among variables. Results : Almost two-thirds of students who consume alcohol had experienced at least one to two alcohol-related problems in their lives and 54.6% reported at least one current symptom of depression, with nearly one-third reporting two depressive symptoms. Two-thirds of the students indicated that at least one parent had an alcohol-related problem, and that approximately 29% had experienced several problems. Results of tobit regression analyses indicate that youth alcohol-related problems are positively associated with depressive symptoms (p<0.01) and parent drinking problems (p<0.05). Parental drinking is no longer significant when the variable parental attention is added to the model. Decomposition of the tobit parameters shows that for every unit of increase in depressive symptoms and in parent drinking problems, the probability of a youth experiencing alcohol problems increases by 6% and 1%, respectively. For every unit of increase in parental attention, the probability of youth experiencing drinking problems decreases by 5%. Conclusions : This study presents evidence that alcohol-related problems and depressive symptoms are highly prevalent among adolescent females. Although a comprehensive public health approach is needed to address drinking and mental health problems, different interventions are needed to target factors associated with initiation of alcohol problems and those associated with increased alcohol problems among those who already began experiencing such problems.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.47-65
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• 2021

Objectives : An accurate judgment of prognosis when treating diseases is crucial. While the 『Shanghanlun(傷寒論)』 deals with the prognosis of the Three Yin Diseases with great importance, full-scale studies have been lacking. This paper aims to study the Three Yin Diseases with a focus on prognosis analysis. Methods : Among the Three Yin Disease verses, those that could provide clues to prognosis were selected and analysed. Conclusions & Results : When Yang pulse patterns such as long(長脈)·floating(浮脈)·rapid(數脈) pulses and Yang symptoms such as fever, vexing heat, mild perspiration, thirst, warmth in hands and feet are present in Yin disease, it could be taken as signs of Yang Qi restoration. In these situations, Yin Cold pattern such as diarrhea and reversal cold disappear and the prognosis is positive. However, despite Yang pulse patterns and symptoms, there are cases where diarrhea happens as a result of cold dampness being eliminated due to Yang Qi restoration. Also, when Yang Qi starts communicating smoothly after its restoration in the Three Yin Diseases, perspiration can happen. When diarrhea and reversal cold, which are patterns of Yin Cold get worse, with pulse patterns such as unfelt(脈不至)·replete(實脈)·fulminating(脈暴出) pulses, false heat symptoms such as fever and hot flashes happen, accompanied with Yang Qi depleted symptoms such as inability to lie down due to agitation, continuous perspiration, sore throat, dyspnea, and exaggerated breathing happen. When fast pulse, fever, and perspiration are present due to depression and stagnation of ministerial fire, symptoms such as bloody stool with pus, purulent abscess, sore throat, and inability to lie down due to agitation show, which signal negative prognosis. In bad cases of Reverting Yin Disease, there is continuous diarrhea and bloody stool with pus, which can be due to either Kidney Yang deficiency or depression and stagnation of ministerial fire. It could also be caused by excessive heat.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.473-484
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• 2022

Objectives: To report a case of a patient with a mild depressive episode accompanied by physical symptoms such as hyposmia visiting a Korean medicine hospital who was treated with oriental psychotherapy in parallel with existentialism-based psychotherapy showing improvement. Methods: For this patient, Korean medicine Psychotherapy was mainly used for treatment. In parallel, existential Psychotherapy, acupuncture treatment, and self-relaxation training were implemented. For estimating this treatment, changes in results of Beck Depression Index (BDI), Beck Anxiety Index (BAI), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Korean Version of Sniffin' Sticks Test (KVSS), Butanol Threshold Test (BTT), Cross-Cultural Smell Identification Test (CC-SIT), and somatic symptoms that the patient subjectively expressed were determined. Results: After the comprehensive treatment, it was confirmed that changes in BDI, BAI, KVSS, BTT, CC-SIT, NRS, and subjective somatic symptoms expressed by the patient all showed improvements. Conclusions: We propose that a comprehensive treatment using Korean medicines Psychotherapy in parallel with existential psychotherapy can be used for patients who complain of physical symptoms accompanied by depression and hyposmia.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.128-137
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• 2024

Objectives: This study was conducted to characterize the symptoms, mental health, quality of life (QoL), and associated factors following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 394 participants previously infected with COVID-19 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Mental health was assessed using the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Participants self-reported health-related QoL was measured with the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) scale. Results: Among the participants, 76.4% reported experiencing at least one symptom following COVID-19 infection. The most common symptoms were fatigue (42.1%), cognitive dysfunction (42.9%), and hair loss (27.9%). According to the DASS-21 results, the proportions of depression, anxiety, and stress were 28.7%, 26.4%, and 20.6%, respectively. The mean scores on the EQ-5D-5L and the EuroQol Visual Analog Scale were 0.94±0.11 and 84.20±13.11, respectively. Regarding QoL issues, the highest proportion of participants (32.7%) reported experiencing anxiety or depression, followed by pain or discomfort (25.4%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that factors associated with the presence of symptoms following COVID-19 infection included female (odds ratio [OR], 2.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.65 to 4.91) and having QoL issues (OR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.71 to 6.19). Conclusions: The study investigated the prevalence rates of various symptoms following COVID-19 infection. These findings underscore the need to prioritize comprehensive care for individuals recovering from COVID-19 and to implement strategies to mitigate the long-term impact of the disease on mental health and QoL.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2014

Objective : The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among daytime sleepiness, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stress response of students in a university Methods : A total of 557 students were recruited in this study. The participants filled out stress response inventory, Epworth sleepiness scale, overall anxiety severity and impairment scale, and quality of life scale. Results : Excessive daytime sleepiness group showed higher scores in all factors in stress response inventory, overall anxiety severity and impairment scale, and quality of life scale. Sleepiness might be correlated with somatization and depression and anger in Stress response inventory. Conclusion : Excessive daytime sleepiness group exhibited poor quality of life scale. Screening about overall quality of sleep, such as mood and anxiety should be considered for students in a university.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.323-333
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• 2003

This is a comparative descriptive study conducted for 178 middle-aged women who were residing in Seoul and aged between 41 to 64 (95 in control group, and 83 in experimental group). The study was aimed to examine their climacteric symptoms, degree of fatigue, depression, anxiety and quality of sleep and to examine the differences on the symptoms between the two groups. Data were collected from April 1 to May 15, 2002 through self-statement using structured questionnaires. The collected data were verified with descriptive statistics, ? -test, t-test, ANOVA using SPSS/PC(+). The results are as follows. 1) The average scores of the climacteric symptoms were 1.56 .36 for the control group, and 1.55 .33 for the group taking relexzone massage, showing no significant difference between the groups (t=.15, p=.88). 2) The average scores of the degree of fatigue were 2.17 .65 for the control group, and 2.40 .66 for the group taking relexzone massage, showing a significant difference between the groups. (t=-2.31, p=.02) 3) The average scores of depression were 1.91 .50 for the control group, and 2.05 .42 for the group taking relexzone massage, showing a significant difference between the groups (t=-1.99, p=.05). 4) The average scores of anxiety were 1.54 .60 for the control group, and 1.57 .53 for the group taking relexzone massage, showing no significant difference between the groups (t=-.33, p=.74). 5) The average scores of quality of sleep were 2.97 .49 for the control group, and 2.98 .42 for the group taking relexzone massage, showing no significant difference between the groups(t=-.08, p=.93). Based on these results, the middle-aged women who take relexzone massage are considered to have less fatigue and depression than those who do not. As physiological regression progresses and the structure and role in the family are restructured, middle-aged women are like to experience various climacteric symptoms. As a nursing intervention, relexzone massage can be applied to middle-aged women to reduce their stress, climacteric symptoms and emotional anxiety, ultimately promoting their health. In order to implement relexzone massage as a nursing intervention, further testing on the psycho-neuroimmunologjcal effects of relexzone massage is necessary.

• Journal of the Korean society of biological therapies in psychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.184-193
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• 2018

Objectives : This study investigated the effects of social support and chronic medical conditions on depressive symptoms in elderly people living alone in a rural community. Methods : Sociodemographic information on 173 subjects aged 65 years or older who lived alone in a rural community and were recipients of National Basic Livelihood Security was collected and analyzed. All participants completed the Korean Form of the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Lubben Social Network Scale. Additionally, the current prevalence of chronic medical conditions that interfere with the activities of daily living was examined. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the associations of social support and chronic medical conditions with depressive symptoms. Results : Social support(odds ratio: OR, 0.96; 95% confidence interval: 95% CI, 0.92-0.99) and chronic medical conditions(OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.23-2.05) were significantly associated with depressive symptoms in all subjects. When analyzed by gender, social support served as a protective factor against depressive symptoms in elderly men only(OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.83-0.99), and chronic medical conditions increased the risk of depressive symptoms in elderly women only(OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.26-2.40). Furthermore, osteoarthritis and lumbar pain were risk factors for depressive symptoms in all subjects(OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.10-4.56 and OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.08-4.12) and in elderly women(OR, 4.07; 95% CI, 1.68-9.84 and OR, 3.34; 95% CI, 1.47-7.57), respectively. Conclusion : This study indicates that improving the social support and managing the chronic medical conditions of elderly people living alone are important for the prevention of depression in this population. Additionally, the present results suggest that it is necessary to establish different depression-prevention strategies for elderly men and women living alone.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.131-138
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• 2016

Objectives : To assess and compare the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment of depression in Cancer patient's Home Caregivers. Methods : Total 60 cases in Cancer patient's Home Caregivers, who fulfilled the study's eligibility criteria, were recruited and observed(N=40). The individuals were assigned into two groups, the Acupuncture group(N=20) and Control group(N=20). Changes in their Hamilton Depression rating Scale indices, were statistically compared before and after treatment in order to investigate the effectiveness of treatment. Results : 70% Home Caregivers were female and 30% were male, half of the Home Caregivers was patient's spouse or partner and employee. After 6 weeks, Acupuncture group seems to show reduction in the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. On the other hand after 8 weeks Control group do not show reduction in the Hamilton Depression rating Scale. Conclusions : The results suggest that acupuncture treatment may provide short-term relief of depressive symptoms in Home Caregivers for Cancer patients. Findings from this non-randomized trial should be interpreted with caution.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.51-65
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• 2013

Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to compare influencing factors on depression between male and female students at the high school. Methods: The self-administered questionnaire survey was carried out on a convenience sample of 403 high school students. The data analysis procedure included frequency, ${\chi}^2$ test, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression using depression as the dependent variable. Results: There was a significant gender difference in depressive symptoms; the mean depression score of female students was higher than that of male students. Stepwise multiple regression analysis for depression revealed that the most powerful predictors (34%) were powerlessness and self-esteem for male students. On the other hand, the factors such as self-esteem, mother's occupation, and family fucntion were the most significant predictors (50%) for female students. Conclusion: The necessity of an intervention considering gender difference in high school students so as to prevent the occurrence of depression was suggested.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2023

Smoking is one of the three major risk factors for vascular disease along with hypertension and hyperlipidemia. It is true that smoking has a negative effect on the circulatory system, and the frequency of coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease is significantly increased in smokers. Many epidemiological studies report that smokers have an approximately two-fold increased risk of coronary artery disease compared to non-smokers. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between cerebral blood flow change and depression index after acute smoking. Cerebral blood flow tests were performed before and after smoking in 8 subjects. Changes in blood flow after smoking were correlated with the depression score and negatively correlated with the depression score. In particular, there was a strong correlation with changes in blood flow in anterior cerebral artery. It is well known that changes in blood flow after smoking have a negative effect. In addition, considering the study that smoking aggravates the symptoms of depression, it was found that smoking and depression are factors that negatively affect each other.