• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.11-25
• /
• 2016

Background & Objectives: There were increasing evidence about the relationship between allergy related disease such as asthma, atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis and suicide ideation. However little was known about the concrete relatedness between severity and comorbidity of allergy related disease with suicide ideation. The objective of this study was to investigate the cases of the prevalence of suicide ideation among adolescents with allergy related disease such as asthma, atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis, and examine the association between allergy related disease and suicidal ideation among adolescents in South Korea. Methods: Data was based on Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey(2014) which was a cross-sectional study containing 34,874 Korean middle and high school students who diagnosed with allergy related disease. We used the weights, strata and primary sampling unit information provided by the public use dataset to compute descriptive statistics and logistic regressions. Computations were done with SPSS version 20.0. Results: 19.9%, 15.6%, 13.8% of adolescents who suffered from one, two and three of allergy related diseases respectively reported having been thought of suicide ideation. Socio-demographic factors were adjusted as control variables. Students with greater severity of disease were more likely to have suicide ideation. Odds ratio for students who were absent one to three days from school because of allergies was 1.96(95% CI 1.51-2.46), and odds ratio for those who were absent more than four days from school was 3.60(95% CI 2.46-5.28). Conclusions: Given that adolescents' severity and comorbidity of allergy related disease were clearly associated with suicide ideation, suicide prevention programs for adolescents with allergy related disease should be improved by strategic approaches towards the severity and comorbidity of disease.

• Journal of forensic and investigative science
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.5-22
• /
• 2007

From the numerous social problems generated by the unbalanced social development and the social trend of belittling life overall, we found the causes of suicide getting worse in its seriousness day by day. In reality, the problem has been approached in a collateral level in contrast with other social problems. There have been an active involvement in studying the definition, causes and ways of prevention of suicide theoretically until now. However, different from other social problems, it is almost impossible to treat or fix the problem of suicide. Only ways to treat or fix the problem is when the suicide has ended in failure. Thus, this study intends to examine the suicide rate among the total accidents during the year 2005, perform the analyses on the actual causes according to the relations such as the means of suicide, occupation, age group, educational background, etc. In order to present a solution to the issue of suicide becoming serious each day. Among the total accidents in 2005, the suicide rate came out to be approximately 52.4%. Among the result, 52.4%, male with 69% resulted higher than female with 31%, which appears to be related to the social functions. While men tends to take more active(80%) means of suicide like jumping off, poison, hanging, etc., women tends to take more passive(60%) means of suicide like sleeping pills, slitting wrist, etc. In terms of the cause, pessimism, illness, denial, mental disorder, etc resulted more than 75%, and there were many cases of suicide after exhibiting the signs of depression. Also there were higher suicide rate of the unemployed engaged in direct labor with educational background lower than college level related to the pessimism regarding the family living cost. We were able to determine the recent increase in the suicidal tendency of the educated people higher than the college level and the retired people with depression caused by the sudden change in social status. Overall there are several reasons for suicide, however, in most cases the signs of depression were exhibited until the final suicide, which tells us the serious psychological problem of suicide. Assuming that the current development of suicide will continue in future, the result of this study will guide the corresponding social policies, be utilized in preparing the insurance or management at the national level dealing with the real social problems that are not just a conflict of an individual, but could spread like a fad and become much bigger than the present by the continuous support at the environmental, social and political levels, and be utilized as the basic data to establish the research plan.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.349-356
• /
• 2022

This study aims to identify factors related to suicide within one year of schizophrenia diagnosis based on data from National Health Information Database. We obtained data of 102,540 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia between 2007 to 2010 from customized database, which was checked using the National Statistics Organization database and schizophrenia cohort was built. The number of suicide within one year of schizophrenia diagnosis was 615(0.60%), and the risk of suicide within one year was high among patients within age group of 25-34 and patients with medium-low to high economic status. The risk of suicide within one year among male patients was high within age group of 45-54 and patients with medium-low to high economic status. The risk of suicide within one year among female patients was high within patients with high economic status. Age and economic status need to be considered during suicide prevention intervention of schizophrenia patients diagnosed within one year and suicide related factors by sex need to be especially considered.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.19 no.9
• /
• pp.251-260
• /
• 2018

The purpose of this study was to determine the association of the Body Shape Index (ABSI) with suicide ideation and suicide attempts by controlling the body mass index (BMI), as well as general characteristics that may affect suicide. The study has used The Sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2013 to 2015. A total of 13,155 participants were studied, excluding those who had no information on variables that could affect suicidal ideations and suicidal attempts. The chi-squared test and the multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. The results of the analysis showed that those who had obesity in BMI were more likely to commit suicide and suicide than those who were in 'standard' in BMI. In ABSI, Q3 group was more likely to commit suicide than Q1 group. The number of suicide attempt was significantly higher in the group with Q3 in ABSI than in Q1 group (3.623 times (95% CI 1.027-12.772)). The results of this study suggest that a higher ABSI compared to BMI means that it is possible to make a more extreme choice of suicide attempt rather than suicide ideation.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.72-78
• /
• 2018

Objectives The high suicide rate has risen as a main concern in South Korea. Given the complexity of the mechanism resulting in complete suicide, studies targeting various populations are needed for broader understanding of its risk factors. This study aims to analyze the factors affecting the suicidal tendency in the population of the elderly living alone in Seoul depending on basic elderly-care services. Methods A total number of 415 people participated in the study. Home-visit interviews were administered by trained interviewers. Suicidal tendency was measured by the Korean version of mini international neuropsychiatric interview (K-MINI). Health-related quality of life was measured by a brief version of the World Health Organization Quality-of-life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF). Alcohol problem was assessed by the Korean version of the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT-K). Among total subjects of 415 interviewees, the actual responses of 408 people were used for the final analysis. Results The result showed that the suicide risk was high in persons isolated from social support [odds ratio (OR) = 4.49], having depression (OR = 14.85), and having low quality of life (OR = 4.39). Conclusions We found that social support, depression and health-related quality of life are associated with suicidal tendency in the elderly living alone on basic services. Our evidence will contribute to suicide prevention policy for the elderly living alone on care services.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.372-381
• /
• 2014

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the effects of a peer gatekeeper training program on existential spiritual well-being, interpersonal relationship with friends, and suicide probability for middle school students. Methods: The participants were fifty students who were at a vocational middle school in D city from october 13, 2012 to november 10, 2012. To test the effects of the peer gatekeeper training program, the participants were divided into two groups in the way of matching distribution, an experimental group(24) and a control group(26). Data were analyzed by Chi-square test, t-test, and Fisher exact probability test using the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. Results: After attending the peer gatekeeper training program, significant differences between the experimental group and the control group were found in existential spiritual well-being(t=2.80, p=.007) and interpersonal relationship with friends scores(t=2.67, p=.010). However, there was no statistically significant difference in suicide probability between the two groups. Conclusion: The results indicate that the peer gatekeeper training program enhance existential spiritual well-being and interpersonal relationship with friends of middle school students. Therefore, this program could be a good strategy that teachers and community mental health nurses can use for suicide prevention of middle school students.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.5
• /
• pp.2121-2127
• /
• 2012

Objective: Deoxyribonucleoside kinase of Drosophila melanogaster (Dm-dNK) mutants have been reported to exert suicide gene effects in combined gene/chemotherapy of cancer. Here, we aimed to further evaluate the capacity of the mutanted enzyme and its potential for inhibiting cancer cell growth. Methods: We altered the sequence of the last 10 amino acids of Dm-dNK to perform site-directed mutagenesis and constructed active site mutanted Dm-dNK (Dm-dNKmut), RT-PCR and western bloting studies were used to reveal the expression of lentivirus mediated Dm-dNKmut in a breast cancer cell line (Bcap37), a gastric cancer cell line (SGC7901) and a colorectal cancer cell line (CCL187). [3H]-labeled substrates were used for enzyme activity assays, cell cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assays, cell proliferation using a hemocytometer and apoptosis induction by thenannexin-V-FITC labeled FACS method. In vivo, an animal study was set out in which BALB/C nude mice bearing tumors were treated with lentivirus mediated expression of Dm-dNKmut with the pyrimidine nucleoside analog brivudine (BVDU, (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-(2-deoxyuridine). Results: The Dm-dNKmut could be stably expressed in the cancer cell lines and retained its enzymatic activity. Moreover, the cells expressing Dm-dNKmut exhibited increased sensitivity in combination with BVDU, with induction of apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: These findings underlined the importance of BVDU phosphorylated by Dm-dNKmut in transduced cancer cells and the potential role of Dm-dNKmut as a suicide gene, thus providing the basis for future intensive research for cancer therapy.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.67-77
• /
• 2020

Purpose : Recently, Korea has entered an aging society due to the steadily increasing proportion of the elderly population. Additionally, elderly suicidal rate in Korea is the highest among OECD member countries. Because old age is a time when all functions are weakened physically, mentally, and socially, negative experiences, including depression and poor quality of life in the elderly, may lead to suicidal intentions. This study attempts to understand the relationship between depression and quality of life experienced by the elderly and their suicidal intentions. Methods : The survey was conducted from January 2 to March 31, 2019 by administering a questionnaire targeting people aged ≥ 65 years, who were registered at public health centers located in U-city, Gyeonggi-do. In total, 1,015 copies of data were used for the final analysis. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 23.0 program. The χ2 test was performed to investigate the relationship between the demographic characteristics and the suicidal intentions of the elderly subjects. The t-test was performed to determine the relationship between suicidal intentions, depression, and quality of life in elderly subjects. Results : The study results revealed that 168 people (16.6 %) had thought of suicide and 3.2 % had actually tried to commit suicide. The reasons for suicidal thoughts were family problems in 60 (5.6 %), economic problems in 49 (4.6 %), and physical illness in 44 (4.1 %). Those with suicidal intentions had higher levels of depression (t=11.712, p<.001) and higher quality of life scores (t=-9.565, p<.001). Conclusion : Based on these results, it is proposed that a suicide prevention policy and program that can improve the elderly's depression and quality of life is necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.105-115
• /
• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the mental health factors related to health risk behaviors between multicultural and monocultural adolescents. Methods: The study subjects were selected from the 2018 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey Dataset. A total of 60,040 multicultural and monocultural adolescents were included in the analysis. A $x^2$ test and logistic regression were conducted, using SPSS 18.0, to compare the general characteristics, mental health, and health risk behaviors of the multicultural and monocultural adolescents. This process involved a complex sample design. Results: There was a significant difference in the rates of suicidal behaviors. Multicultural adolescents showed a significantly higher rate of suicidal ideation (8.6% vs. 8.5%, p=.004), suicidal plan (3.2% vs. 2.4%, p=.004), and suicidal attempt (5.0% vs 3.1%, p=.04) than monocultural adolescents. Perceived stress had a significant impact only on monocultural adolescents. Monocultural adolescents with high levels of perceived stress were at a greater risk of drinking (high stress=reference; low stress OR=0.91, p=.025) and smoking (high stress=reference; low stress OR=0.90, p=.029) than those with low stress. Multicultural adolescents who had made suicide attempts were at a higher risk of drinking (multicultural OR=7.879, p<.001; monocultural OR=2.481, p<.001) and smoking (multicultural OR=4.011, p=.015; monocultural OR=2.800, p<.001) than monocultural adolescents. Conclusion: To implement an effective smoking and drinking prevention program, it is necessary to consider how we can reduce the risk factors. Stress management is important for monocultural adolescents and a proactive suicide-screening program and a suicide prevention program should be included in the program for both multicultural and monocultural adolescents.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.127-134
• /
• 2018

Objectives : This study aimed to identify the group with high risk of suicide in general hospital inpatient by comparing the depression, anxiety, and distress and their clinical characteristics. Methods : The study included all patients admitted to a general hospital between January 2016 and December 2017, and the final 41,249 patients were analyzed. Distress thermometer (DT) and hospital anxiety-depression scale (HADS) were used for emotional state evaluation. Group with high risk of suicide was defined as showing more than 4 in the DT and more than 8 in one of the two subscales (anxiety and depression) of the HADS. Results : Among the subjects, 3,603 patients (8.7%) met the high-risk criteria for suicide. The group with high risk of suicide experienced more severe pain than the control patient group, and it was found that there was more underlying disease. Patients who reported pain showed higher scores than those who reported no pain on the DT and HADS subscales. Conclusions : Group with high risk of suicide showed more severe pain and more underlying disease. Therefore, suicide prevention program specifically targeted for the group with high risk of suicide should be developed according to the risk of the patient evaluated at the time of the admission.