• Anxiety and mood
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2010

Objectives : In this study, we aimed to elucidate the demographic and psychological characteristics of maladaptive soldiers in the Republic of Korean Army. Methods : Study participants included 110 male conscripts who had participated in the Green camp, which was a form of group psychosocial treatment program for maladaptive soldiers. All participants were interviewed and diagnosed by a psychiatrist, and classified into two groups according to whether they left or rejoined the army. We analyzed the differences between these two groups in terms of demographic features, psychiatric diagnosis and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) subscores. Results : Compared with soldiers who rejoined their units, those who left military service exhibited significantly lower educational level (p=0.041) and a higher rate in psychiatric treatment prior to enlistment (p=0.011). Among the 106 subjects, 63 (59.4%) and 23 (21.7%) were diagnosed with personality disorder and adjustment disorder, respectively. Further, those who left military service were diagnosed more frequently with mood disorder (p=0.001) and schizophrenia (p=0.014) than those who rejoined their units. Additionally, the MMPI scores of soldiers who left military service were significantly higher on the psychasthenia (p=0.028) and schizophrenia (p=0.039) scales than those of soldiers who rejoined their units. Conclusion : Most of the maladaptive soldiers were diagnosed with mental disorders. The results of this study suggest that systematic, consistent psychiatric evaluation and intervention for maladaptive male conscripts is crucial in the Republic of Korean army.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.113-122
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• 2017

The purpose of the study was to investigate the patient, disease and hospital characteristics which affect treatment result and early complication for inpatients with psychiatric comorbidity. We analyzed data on 19,806 patients of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2012 to 2014, Korea National Hospital discharge in-depth data. Frequency, chi-square and logistic regression analysis was performed, using STATA 12.0. According to logistic regression analysis, gender(Odds ratio(OR)=0.776, 95% confidence interval(CI)=0.686-0.878), insurance type(OR=0.853, CI=0.731-0.995), operation(OR=0.424, CI=0.350-0.513), disposition(OR= 39.307, CI=34.394-44.923), beds(300-499, OR=0.470, CI=0.377-0.585; 500-999, OR=0.462, CI=0.395-0.541; 1000 over, OR=0.598, CI=0.480-0.745) were significant predictors of treatment result. And insurance type(OR=1.527, CI=1.241-1.879), CCI(3 over, OR=1.865, CI=1.534-2.266), operation(OR=5.399, CI=4.562-6.389), disposition(OR=1.279, CI=1.013-1.614), district(Metropolitan city, OR=0.519, CI=0.407-0.661; Non-metropolitan OR=0.469, CI=0.383-0.574), beds(500-999, OR=2.799, CI=1.986-3.944; 1000 over, OR=2.109, CI=1.429-3.113) were significant predictors of early complication. This research would be used as a basic data of high quality of medical care and efficient resource utilization in order to detect and minimize the negative medical treatment results of inpatients with psychiatric comorbidity.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.244-254
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• 1999

Objectives: This study investigated the psychological characteristics of patients with functional dyspepsia. Methods: The subjects included ninety patients with functional dyspepsia and sixty four psychiatric out-patients. We administered Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory(MMPI) and Illness Behavior Questionnaire(IBQ). Results: There were no significant differences between the patients with functional dyspepsia and the psychiatric out-patients by MMPI. Two groups both showed a higher distribution in hypochondriasis, depression, hysteria subscales than in any other subscales. The patients with functional dyspepsia showed lower scores in disease conviction and affective disturbance subscales in IBQ than the psychiatric out-patients. The distribution of scores of the other IBQ subscales were similar between the patients with functional dyspepsia and the psychiatric out-patients. The patients with functional dyspepsia were divided into three groups for the Multivariate cluster analysis: normal, similar to psychiatric out-patient, and severe neurotic. The severe neurotic group showed higher scores in hypochondriasis, depression, hysteria, psychathenia, and schizophrenia subscales in MMPI and showed significant different scores in affective disturbance, disease conviction, psychological and somatic concerns, affective disturbance, denial, and irritability subscales in IBQ. Conclusion: If patients with functional dyspepsia show severe neurotic behavior, such as those in, they would need appropriate psychiatric intervention.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.54
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• pp.123-147
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• 2003

It is well known that one of essential features of psychiatric disability is vocational impairment. Since the year of 2000 when psychiatric disability was declared as one of disability categories in Korea, vocational rehabilitation programs have been actively administered. At this point, it is compelling that vocational evaluation serves as a means of screening out the most promising candidates, identifying their vocational deficits and strengths, designing the individualized vocational interventions, and evaluating vocational outcomes. Still, vocational evaluation for people with psychiatric disabilities has been more problematic than for any other group with disabilities. The authors argued that vocational evaluation for people with psychiatric disabilities should be based on a certain vocational rehabilitation model to address those problems. It is because there exists an indispensible relationship between the vocational rehabilitation model and vocational evaluation. In other words, the main purposes, measurement time points, and focus of vocational evaluation may depend on which of vocational rehabilitation models to make a choice of. In addition, the vocational rehab model(i.e., vocational readiness model or graduation model) underlying traditional vocational evaluation does not seem to work for people with psychiatric disabilities. Authors argued that accelerating model fits for psychiathric characteristics which are often unpredictable and turbulent. As a preliminary step of developing vocational functioning instrument incorporating the demand characteristics of the accelerating model, post-hoc analyses were done on data from a vocational functioning measure and the results were critically examined from viewpoints of accelerating model. For these purposes, discussions were made about a) general functioning of vocational evaluation, (b) relation between vocational rehabilitation model and vocational evaluation, (c) the reasons why the accelerating model is more appropriate to the characterstics of psychiatric clients than the graduation model, (d) post-hoc analytic results reviewed from viewpoints of accelerating model-based vocational evaluation This study is significant in that it attempted model-based, model-specific vocational evaluation as a preliminary step for developing vocational functioning assessment instruments ill future.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.116-124
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• 2018

Background: We aimed to investigate the prevalence of unrecognized depression in patients with chronic pain, but with no history of psychiatric diseases. Methods: Patients with chronic pain who did not have a history of psychiatric disease were selected for this study. The Beck Depression Index (BDI) was used to evaluate depression. Participants' socio-demographic characteristics and pain-related characteristics were also recorded. Results: The study included 94 consecutive patients with chronic pain (28 men and 66 women). Based on the BDI scores, 33/94 (35.1%) patients with chronic pain had comorbid depression. The prevalence of depression was significantly higher in our cohort than it was in the general population (P < 0.001). The standardized incidence ratio, adjusted for age and sex, was 2.77 in men and 2.60 in women. Patients who were unmarried (odds ratio [OR] = 3.714, P = 0.044), and who had subjective sleep disturbance (OR = 8.885, P < 0.001), were more likely to have moderate to severe depression. Patients with high education levels (OR = 0.244, P = 0.016), and who were economically active (OR = 0.284, P = 0.023), were less likely to have moderate to severe depression. Conclusions: Our results indicate that unrecognized depression in patients with chronic pain is common. Therefore, pain physicians should actively seek to identify these problems rather than relying on the patient to volunteer such information.

• Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.42-50
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• 2019

Objectives: In this preliminary study, we investigated the clinical characteristics of patients who were first diagnosed with psychotic disorder and explored the impact of the adherence to antipsychotics on long-term medical use. Methods: All national health insurance claims related to psychotic disorders including gender, age, income, and drug compliance, from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2015, were examined. With trend test using Medication Possession Ratio (MPR), we compared the medical use between the compliant group (MRP≥0.8) and the comparative non-compliant group (0.2≤MPR<0.8). Results: Among 28,095 participants in total, 16,239 patients (57.8%) were diagnosed as schizophrenia; the 30s were the most common (n=7,151, 25.5%). Drug compliance was generally low regardless of the diagnosis and was the lowest among 20s with the 40-60% range of income. The compliant group showed lower psychiatric and medical use than the comparative group in the following years (p<0.0001). Conclusion: These findings suggest that patients in the 20s and 30s with the 40-60% range of income, who are diagnosed with schizophrenia at the first psychiatric visit, may need more clinical and political attention. The results also emphasize the importance of initial drug adherence to antipsychotics in reducing long-term psychiatric costs.

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

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.74-82
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• 2016

Objectives : Suicide attempters have impaired decision making and are at high risk of reattempt. Therefore it is important to refer them to psychiatric treatment. Especially, People with medical comorbidity are at higher risk of suicidal attempt and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of suicidal attempters and to analyze the influence of the medical comorbidity on decision to receive psychiatric treatment after visit to an emergency department. Methods : One hundred and thirty two patients, who visited the emergency room of a general hospital in Gyeonggi-do between January, 2012 and December, 2012 were enrolled as the subjects of this study. After reviewing each subject's medical records retrospectively, demographic and clinical factors were analyzed. Results : Regardless of the engagement type, either via admission or outpatient clinic, the determinant factors of psychiatric treatment engagement were psychiatric diagnosis, employment status, previous psychiatric treatment history, and previous attempt history. Comparison of severity of medical comorbidity(Charlson Comorbidity Index) showed that suicide attempters who received psychiatric treatment via admission or refused the treatment tended to have higher level of medical comorbidity than who received psychiatric treatment via outpatient department. Conclusions : Our findings showed that medical comorbidity of suicide attempters affected the decision to accept psychiatric treatment. All psychiatrists should evaluate the presence and the severity of medical comorbidity of the suicide attempters and consider implementing more intervention for the medically ill attempters who are willing to discharge against advice.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.119-129
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine cognitive and psychological characteristics of patients who visited psychiatric outpatient clinic with military service suitability issues. Methods : Since January, 2017 to September, 2018, patients were recruited from the department of psychiatry of university hospital. Participants were diagnosed using DSM-5 criteria by board certified psychiatrists. And each of participants tested with K-WAIS-IV, K-SCL-95 by clinical psychologist. The data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0. Results : The results indicated 24.6% of the patients have significantly low level of intellectual functioning. and 10.8% of the patients have borderline level of intellectual functioning, and 26.3% of them were below average. The results of psychological characteristics showed patients have cautious and potentially dangerous level of depression, anxiety, agoraphobia, and suicidal idea. And PTSD subscale's mean score was above problematic level. Next, we divided patients into two groups based on question of whether the patient is eligible to serve in the military service or not arises from recruitment process or army training center. But two group didn't differ significantly. And for further analyses, we also divided patients into two groups based on if they got single psychiatric diagnosis or more than one psychiatric diagnosis. Conclusions : The results indicated that group which has coexisting psychiatric disorders were more depressed, had higher level of anger and aggression, and had more serious levels of suicidal ideas than single psychiatric diagnosis group. The implications and limitations were discussed along with some suggestions for the future studies.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.11-22
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• 1975

Suicides have been considered to be one of the grave problems of modern societies. According to recent police statistics of Republic of Korea, 28.6 suicides in every 100, 000 were reported. Psychiatric Patients are believed to be predisposed to suicidal tendencies. This study was performed to investigate the characteristics of suicidal attempts and to analyse the environmental factors involved in the suicidal accidents of patients admitted to psychiatric hospitals. Records of 66 suicidal accidents from three psychiatric hospitals during the period of January 1971 through June 1971 were sampled. Data were analysed by percentile score. Results are as follows; 1. The age group of 21~30yrs. was revealed to be the highest in frequency of suicidal attempts (50.0%) Among the unsuccessful suicides; the age group of 31~40yrs. in men and the age group of 21~30 yrs. in women revealed to be the highest in frequency-Among the unsuccessful suicides; the age group of 21-30 yrs. in both sex revealed to be the highest in frequency. 2. Suicidal accidents occurred more frequently to the unmarried(63.6%)- Among the successful suicides; higher frequency was shown to unmarried in men and the frequency is contrasted in women. Among the unsuccessful; the unmarried in both sex were revealed to be highest in frequency. 3. Schizophrenia was revealed the highest of suicidal attempts in frequency (81.8%). 4, Suicides were most frequently attempted in the spring(46, 9%). Among the successful suicides; highest frequencies were shown in men in tile winter and in women in the summer season. Among the unsuccessful suicides :highest frequencies were shown in men in the winter and in women in the spring. 5. Suicidal attempts were most frequently occurred in hospital wards (40.9%), In women, unsuccessful attempts were found to be the highest on authorized leave at their homes. 6. The hanging was revealed to be the most frequently adopted methods for suicidal attempts (31.8%). Among the successful suicides; hanging was the most frequent method adopted in men white in women the drug over-dose, Among the unsuccessful suicides ; stabbing by sharp devices while in women drug-overdosage was adopted as well 7. The most frequently adopted instrument of different suicidal attempts were: house-hold wrapper (26.3%) in cases of hanging, knives (31.8%) in cases of stabbing, and drugs. 8. The suicidal attempts have occurred most frequently at dawn through early morning (2-6A. M.) (34.8%). Among the successful suicides i most frequent time of occurrence on week-days were revealed to be dawn, while on holidays the occurrence were in the evening as well Among the unsuccessful; the most frequent time of occurrence was the day hours while on holidays at dawn. 9. Suicidal attempts within the hospital ward were first noticed by nurses most frequently (42.2%). 10. Manifestations such as restlessness, depression, self-depreciation were revealed to be the most frequent pre-suicidal attempt behavior characteristics. 11. Among the successful suicides ; manifestations of physical damage were found on the neck while among unsuccessful attempts, the damages were found on exterminates.