• Anxiety and mood
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.101-108
• /
• 2022

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate depression, anxiety, trauma experience, and suicidal tendency among patients who were hospitalized in a community treatment center and to identify the factors that were associated with each symptom. Methods : A total of 213 patients who were hospitalized in the Tae-reung community treatment center between March 16, 2020 and April 30, 2020 were recruited into this study. A self-report questionnaire or interview by mental health professionals was used to assess PHQ-2, GAD-7, PC-PTSC and P4 screener. In 90 patients who completed the survey, multiple regression modeling was conducted to identify the burden of each psychiatric symptoms and associated demographic characteristics. Results : Female gender was significantly positively associated with GAD-7 score, score of each GAD-7 subscale of 1, 2, 3 or 4 (nervous, control of worry, worry, and trouble relaxing), and sum of GAD-7 subscale scores reflecting cognitive and emotional experience of anxiety (1. nervous+2. control of worry+3. worry+7. afraid). Previous psychiatric history and, number of counseling service used were significantly positively associated with the PHQ-2 score and the duration of isolation was significantly negatively associated with the PHQ-2 score. Conclusion : These results showed that depression and anxiety symptoms were more prevalent in COVID-19 patients at the community treatment center than in the general population. Among the demographic characteristics, female gender was positively associated with cognitive and emotional experience of anxiety. It shows the necessity of an appropriate psychiatric intervention protocol and health-policy preparation for community treatment centers.

• Anxiety and mood
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.27-34
• /
• 2024

Objective : Cognitive fusion, or believability, in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), refers to the tendency to become entangled in one's thoughts or feelings. It is an important factor in the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders. However, there is a lack of validated self-report measures for cognitive fusion and defusion, particularly for individuals with anxiety. To address this gap, this study aimed to evaluate the Korean Version of Believability of Anxious Feelings and Thoughts Questionnaire (K-BAFT). Methods : A total of 608 university students and 85 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) took part in this study. They were asked to complete various psychological measures, including the K-BAFT, other measures of ACT processes, and symptom scales. The researchers then analyzed the psychometric characteristics of the K-BAFT. Results : The results of the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the three-factor structure of the K-BAFT, which was reported in the original study, was also found in the university sample. Additionally, both the student and the OCD group demonstrated strong internal consistency (α=0.86 and 0.91, respectively). In the university sample, the K-BAFT showed a strong correlation with the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (r_s=0.53, p<0.001). However, it had a weak correlation with symptoms scales for depression, anxiety, and stress (all r_s<0.32). Furthermore, the OCD group had higher scores on the K-BAFT compared to the university sample. Conclusion : K-BAFT is considered to be a reliable and valid self-report tool for measuring cognitive fusion with anxious thoughts and feelings.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.15-22
• /
• 2009

Objectives : Prevalence of postpartum depressive disorders reaches approximately 10-15% of childbearing women. This preliminary study was intended to explore the relationships between postpartum depressive disorders and family adaptability and cohesion. Methods : Childbearing women(n=24) were assessed for risk factors for postpartum depression before and after childbirth prospectively. At gestational age between 36th and 40th week, the questionnaire about various factors before childbirth, Edinburgh postnatal depression scale(EPDS), Family adaptability-cohesion evaluation scale (FACES), and Beck anxiety inventory(BAI) were assessed. After childbirth, for the diagnosis of postpartum depressive disorders, a structured diagnostic interview according to MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview was performed, furthermore, the questionnaire about various factors after childbirth, EPDS, and BAI were assessed at 4-6 weeks postpartum. Results : Among various factors and scales, family adaptability and cohesion, mood symptom and change during pregnancy were associated with postpartum depressive disorder in comparison with non-postpartum depressive disorder subjects. In addition, low family adaptability and cohesion and mood change during pregnancy were significantly associated factors with postpartum depressive disorder using logistic regression analysis. Conclusion : The results suggest the postpartum depressive disorder could be related with prenatal low family adaptability and cohesion. This preliminary study, however, includes only a few subjects, so that further large-sized study will be needed to replicate our results.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.196-204
• /
• 2003

Objectives: It is known that sedative hypnotics would make cross tolerance with alcohol and deteriorate quality of sleep in alcoholics. Light therapy is effective non-pharmacological intervention for sleep disturbance in circadian phase disorders, jet-lag, shift-work and age-related sleep disorders. Authors would investigate the effects of morning light therapy on sleep of patients with alcohol dependence during recovery state without withdrawal symptoms. Methods: 13 patients with alcohol dependence who have not any alcohol withdrawal symptom were recruited. Light therapy during 1 hour in the morning had been administered by 2500 Lux light box through serial 3 days. Sleep state of subjects were assessed by sleep log and the subjective satisfaction at sleep was by 100 mm visual analogue scale. Sleepiness, depressive mood, anxiety were evaluated by 100mm visual analogue scale at 8 AM, 2 PM and 8 PM. For assessment of performance ability that would be associated with sleepiness and vigilance, trail making test A, B and digit symbol substitution test were performed by two times on base line and 4th day. Univariate repeated-measures ANOVAs were performed for each measures except performance tests which were analysed by paired t-test. Results: Sleep latency and sleep efficiency were significantly improved with light therapy and satisfaction at sleep was. There was no significant difference in sleepiness at 2 PM with light therapy but sleepiness at 8 AM significantly decreased and at 8 PM increased. The time to complete Trail making test and digit symbol substitution test were significantly shortened at 4th day compared with baseline. Fatigue at 8 AM were not significantly changed with light therapy but at 2 PM and 8 PM significantly decreased. Depressive mood and anxiety were not significantly changed with light therapy. Conclusion: Although this study had some limitations, it showed that light therapy would be effective modality on sleep disturbance of patients with alcohol dependence who have recovered from alcohol withdrawal symptoms. It is proposed that short term light therapy could be used clinically for alcoholics with insomnia. In the future, long term controlled studies using more objective tools for sleep are required to further investigate the effect of light therapy in alcoholics.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.123-136
• /
• 2004

Objective : Because the cause and etiology of chronic headache is not yet fully explained, the treatment of this symptom is not simple. This study compares the effects of aroma acupuncture and normal acupuncture applied on chronic headache patients, in order to establish a primary data for further studies of new treatments and developments of new practical acupunctures. Methods : 38 clinical experiment participants were gathered and through a questionnaire patients who experienced headache for more than 4 hours a day and more than 15 days per month were qualified as Chronic Headache patients. The qualified patients were classified in to two groups, aroma acupuncture group(Aroma AT group, n=23) and normal acupuncture group(AT group, n=15). Treatment was applied 2 times a weeks for 8 weeks. The acupoints, GV20, HN23, ST8, HN46, TE17, GB20, LI20, LI11, LI14, ST36, and LR3 were stimulated for 20 minutes in both the groups. The effects of both groups were analyzed using VAS scores and BPI (Brief Pain Inventory). Results : The VAS pain scores improved significantly in both groups. The decrease rate was larger in the Aroma AT group(p<0.05). The BPI scores for the both groups also decreased. The improvement in the Aroma AT group was larger(p<0.05). Conclusion : Aroma acupuncture applied on chronic headache patients showed effects of relieving pain, improving general activities, changing the mood, and improving sleeping behaviors. These effects were analyzed using VAS scores and BPI. The Aroma AT group showed significant changes of VAS and BPI compared to the AT group, suggesting that this new practical acupuncture is very effective when treating chronic headaches. Further researches are needed to evaluate the distinct functional mechanism of aroma acupuncture, but this study is meaningful in the sense that it will act as a fundamental study to build on.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.87-102
• /
• 2000

Depression is a psychiatric syndrom consisting of dejected mood, psychomotor retardation, insomnia and weight loss. sometimes associated with irrational quilt feeling. And it is also similiar to Hwa-byung(火病) symptom in oriental medicine. But it is difficult to diagnose with objective method. Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging(D.I.T.I.) is one of diagnotic method that measure the changes of skin temperature in body.Specially we checked the skin temperature on depressed patients by using D.I.T.I. and compared with Bell's palsy patients and normal persons group.The results are as follows:Average body temperature of the depressed patient group is 36.62${\cdot}$0.58$^{\circ}C$ , Bell's palsy patients group is 36.59${\cdot}$0.34$^{\circ}C$ and that of the control group is 36.71${\cdot}$0.43$^{\circ}C$ . So there is no meaningful difference. The depressed patient group has higher temperature than the Bell's palsy patients group and control group by $\delta$T〉1.0$^{\circ}C$ at the following acupuncture points in these body parts - upper and lower, left and right, anterior and posterior. When acupuncture points temperature was compared superior and inferior part of the body, depressed patient group have meaningful difference at the GV-4 (Myung-moon) and also in the Bell's palsy patients group and control group.When acupuncture points temperature was compared left and right part of the body. ddpressed patient group have no meaningful difference and also in the Bell's palsy patients group and control group.When acupuncture points temperature was compared in the anterior and posterior part of the body, depressed patient group have meaningful difference at the Gv-4(Myung-moon) and also in the bell's palsy patients group and control group.From this study. we think that D.I.T.I. could be used to diagnose objectively on the depressed patients and useful to another psychoneurogenic diagnosis in oriental medicine.

• Anxiety and mood
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.176-181
• /
• 2014

Objective : Despite high prevalence and effective treatments of panic disorder, lots of patients are not properly treated due to lack of awareness of the disorder. This study summarizes and presents the results from Public Awareness Survey of Panic Disorder during the Mental Health Exposition held in Seoul in April, 2014. Methods : A total of 401 participants who visited the booth of the Korean Academy of Anxiety Disorder agreed and completed the survey. The questionnaires comprised of three sections; first, after given a case of patient with panic disorder, participants were asked to choose a diagnosis and treatment options. Second, participants were asked to differentiate the symptoms of panic disorder from those of other mental disorders and answer where they acquired the knowledge of the disorder. Third, visual analogue scales were used to get more detailed information for several issues about panic disorder. The incidence and ratio for each question were provided and compared. Results : Among the participants, 78% reported a patient within the case need treatment, and 30% accurately recognized it was panic disorder. As for treatment needed, 40% selected psychotherapy by psychiatrists, 28% chose counseling by psychologist, 23% said that they can overcome it by self-care. Only 2% of participants selected the pharmacotherapy as treatment needed. Approximately 40% of participants have encountered information about the disorder from gossips of celebrities, 32% from mass-media, and merely 6% from medical professionals. About 80% of participants could discriminate the symptom of panic disorder from those of depression, schizophrenia, or generalized anxiety disorder. Conclusion : Our results suggest that substantial proportions of participants have the awareness of panic disorder, while as for treatment they were strongly biased against pharmacologic treatments. Most of their source of the awareness was not relied upon professional information. Efforts for giving correct information and increasing public awareness of panic disorder are needed to bridge a gap between professionals and general public.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.115-125
• /
• 1995

Reports about the prevalence of premenstrual symptoms state that occurs in 20 to 100% of most reproductive-age women. There is a close association between premenstrual syndrome and affective disorders as well as same some other psychiatric disorders. Late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (LLPDD) is a premenstrual condition defined in DSM-III-R by severe mood changes and other symptoms that repeatedly occur only in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. However, DSM-III-R does not specify how to compute the change from the follicular to the luteal phase or how to determine when the amount of change is great enough to warrant the diagnosis nor how to determine occupational or social functional impairment. This study was conducted to evaluate the nature, severity and magnitude of premenstrual syndrome in women with current psychiatric disorders by using prospective Daily Rating Form(DRF), and to measure symptom changes according to three scoring methods for diagnosing LLPDD. Our study obtains the data about premenstrual changes estimated by DRF from 22 women with psychiatric disorders who had met criteria for major depressive syndrome on the Premenstrual Assessment Form (PAF). The data was scored by each three methods and was determined to meet criteria A for LLPDD. The results are as follows: 1) the subjects, when scored according to the percent change method, effect size method and absolute severity method, met the DSM-III-R criteria A for LLPDD in 36.4% (8 subjects), 14% (3 subjects) and 4.5% (1 subject) of the cases respectively. 2) The items of irritability, anger and impatience were occurred most frequently on the DRF, when it was scored according to the three scoring methods. And the item of breast pain was next frequent according to the effect size method and the percent change method but according to the absolute severity method. 3) The PAF item of impaired social functioning was reported by 16 (73%) of the subjects. 4) 4 (18%) of the subjects met criteria A for LLPDD and reported impaired social functioning. The prevalency of LLPDD according to each method varied. The percent change method yielded the greatest (36.4%), and the absolute seventy method yielded the laest (4.5%), The effect size method yielded an intermediate frequency (14%). Therefore, for maximizing the diagnostic accuracy of LLPDD, a diagnostic procedure including a measure of change (e.q., effect size method, percent change method) as well as confirmed diagnosis by DRF, will be needed. Also, an accurate tool to evaluate impaired social functioning will be required.

• Mood & Emotion
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.158-162
• /
• 2018

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine psychosocial factors related to burnout of social welfare officers working in Jeonnam Province. Methods : A total of 395 social welfare officers (male 99, female 296) working in 22 areas of Jeollanam-do province, were subjects of this study. We examined socio-demographic factors, using a self-reporting questionnaire. Subjects were asked to complete the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS), Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSS), to assess psychosocial factors affecting to burnout of social welfare officers. Results : Among 395 subjects, 221 (55.9%) reported recent experiences of burnout. There was no significant difference in age between two groups, divided by burnout. Sex (p<0.001), rank (p=0.003), working period (p=0.034), depression (p<0.001) revealed differences between the burnout group and control group. Scores of PSS (p<0.001) were higher, while the scores of GSS (p<0.001) were lower in the burnout group, than control group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that female (OR 2.840, 95%CI 1.466-5.504, p=0.002), depressive high-risk group (OR 6.824, 95%CI 2.893-16.096, p<0.001) PSS (OR 1.247, 95%CI 1.153-1.349, p<0.001) and GSS (OR 0.950, 95%CI 0.930-0.971, p<0.001), were significantly associated with burnout. Conclusion : We found that some factors, were associated with experienced burnout in social welfare officers. Depressive symptoms were the strongest associative factor, for burnout in public servants in charge of social welfare. Sex, stress and self-efficacy also correlated with burnout, and especially self-efficacy was a protecting factor.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.164-171
• /
• 2018

Objectives : Depression is a common mental illness and a major cause of suicide. Although serum lipids have been associated with depression and suicide, there has been much debate. In this study, we investigated the relationship between depression, suicide, and serum lipids in patients admitted with depressed mood. Methods : A total of 134 subjects were divided into 86 non-suicide patients and 48 suicide attempters. The serum lipid levels and sub-scores of the Korean Symptom Checklist-95 (KSCL95) were compared. We also investigated the relationship between serum lipids and sub-scores of KSCL95 and investigated whether serum lipids were risk factors for suicide attempts. Results : There was no difference in serum lipids between the two groups. Among the sub-items of KSCL95, obsession was higher in non-suicide group. Triglyceride showed positive correlations with anxiety, phobic anxiety, agoraphobia, schizophrenia, and self-regulation problem. High triglyceride was a risk factor for suicide attempts. Conclusions : Triglyceride is associated with depression, anxiety, and self - regulation, and high serum triglyceride levels may be a risk factor for suicide attempts.