• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.218-226
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• 2017

Purpose: The study aimed to determine the impact of post-traumatic stress and ways of stress coping on problem drinking in firefighters. Methods: Data were collected from May 11 to June 11, 2015, in fire brigades across South Korea. Participants were 183 male firefighters who used self-report questionnaires containing questions from the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), Ways of Coping Checklist (WCC), and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Data were analyzed using $x^2$ test, t-test, and logistic regression with the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program. Results: The prevalence of PTSD among firefighters was 36.7% and that of problem drinking was 39.3%. Firefighters with single (OR=0.23, 95% CI=0.038~1.321) and married status (OR=0.46, 95% CI=0.069~3.040) were less likely to have problem drinking than those who were divorced or bereavement. Those with invasion symptoms (OR=1.17, 95% CI=1.031~1.327) and hyperarousal symptoms (OR=0.85, 95% CI=0.722~0.989) were more likely to have problem drinking than those with avoidance symptoms. Conclusion: Post-traumatic stress symptom was a major risk factor that increased problem drinking, and married status reduced problem drinking. There is a need to develop post-traumatic stress symptom management program and early education content for symptom management.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.1272-1280
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• 2018

Introduction: The aim of this study is to report the effect of Ling-Gui-Gan-Zao-Tang (LGGZT) effectively improves anxiety disorder following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Case Presentation: 50-year-old female with traumatic brain injury after falling down from golf cart. After injury, symptoms like anxiety disorder, diarrhea, dizziness, headache were occurred. She took medications like antidepressants, antianxiety drugs and antipsychotic agent, but symptoms deteriorated consistently. After being prescribed LGGZT, patients' symptoms were significantly improved. Result of Impact Event Scale-Revised (IES-R-K) was changed from 24 to 5 and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) was changed from 21 to 3. Also, side effects were not observed during the treatment period. Conclusion: LGGZT can be considered as an effective treatment for anxiety disorder following traumatic brain injury.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.72-81
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• 2010

Objectives : Early detection and proper management of distress are known to be important for efficient care in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of distress and to evaluate its influence on quality of life in subjects with breast cancer. Methods : A total of 95 patients were recruited from a breast cancer patient community of a general hospital in Seoul. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS), the Insomnia Severity Index(ISI), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised(IES-R) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast(FACT-B) were measured. Results : The prevalence of anxiety, depression, insomnia and posttraumatic stress disorder symptom among breast cancer patients was 26.3%, 26.3%, 13.7%, 24.3%, respectively. Nearly half(47.4%) of total subjects were under one or more significant distress, and they showed significantly lower mean FACT-B total score than patients without distress(82.91 vs. 107.20, p<0.001). Distress was negatively correlated with the quality of life to a significant level even in patients who were in normal range of distress scale scores. Conclusion : These results support the importance of regular screening and proper management of distress for breast cancer patients.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.119-126
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• 2017

This study is to improve fire-fighter's mental health by examining the relationship between fire-fighter's resilience and PTSD. The research question of the present study are follows. First, is there any relationship between fire-fighter's demographics and PTSD. Second, is there any relationship between fire-fighter's demographics and resilience. Third, is there any relationship between fire-fighter's resilience and PTSD. The instruments for collecting data of the study were KRO-53 and IES-R-K. These tests were administrated to all of the subjects of the study. The results of the study are as follows. First, fire-fighter's demographics except for department have an influence on PTSD. Second, fire-fighter's counselling experience has an influence on resilience. Third, fire-fighter's resilience has an influence on PTSD. Specially, self-regulation of resilience subtypes has an influence on PTSD. From the above results, The study proposed the following; to prevent PTSD, It is necessary to have specific working system, have specific counseling system, consider individual resilience in selecting fire-fighter and placing department.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.42-52
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• 2020

Objectives : Firefighters are always under stress due to their job environment, and they are likely to become psychologically vulnerable due to continuous exposure to traumatic events, which is a stressful situation that requires emergency standby at all times. The aims of this study were to examine mental health factors for each division of firefighters and to see the relationship between sleep and somatization symptoms among them. Methods : General characteristics and related inspections were conducted through self-reporting questionnaires for 1,264 firefighters working at Chungbuk fire stations. Several mental health factors were investigated by the Insomnia Severity Index, Severity of somatic symptoms, Impact of Event Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Resilience Scale, Alcohol Dependent Screening Scale, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Depression Scale and Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Results : Among the mental health variables, the relationship between insomnia and somatization varies significantly depending on types of work. It was reported that the first aid team was significantly higher than the fire suppression and rescue team. Post-traumatic stress, depression and drinking also differ significantly depending on types of work. The first aid team reported more posttraumatic stress than the fire suppression team and more depressed mood than the rescue team. The administration part had more alcohol consumption than the fire suppression or first aid team. Resilience was significantly higher in the rescue team than the first aid team. No significant differences between the types of work about stress and suicide risks. Insomnia, stress, and post-traumatic stress were significant predictors of somatization among firefighters. Above all, insomnia was significant mental health variable affecting somatization. Conclusions : Various mental health factors were different according to the types of work in firefighters. The First aid team was more vulnerable to mental health variables such as insomnia and somatization than other divisions. Insomnia is the most important cause of somatization in firefighters, so it is recommended that they be treated for insomnia and to prepare institutional policies.