• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.1167-1170
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• 2009

Trichobezoar is characterized by the accumulation of hair in the gastrointestinal tract and usually occurs in those who have trichotillomania, other psychiatric disorders, or neurologic problems. Trichobezoar typically presents as gastric obstruction, including abdominal pain, vomiting, anorexia, and weight loss. A 9-year-old girl visited our clinic with the complaint of abdominal discomfort and vomiting. A review of her medical history revealed that she had trichophagia since the age of 5, and she felt that her parents had been strict with her. She underwent gastrotomy, during which a large trichobezoar was removed. This case highlights the importance of psychiatric and comprehensive approaches in patients with trichobezoar.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2006

Objectives : In the psychiatry, structured interview is very important tool to be used in epidemiological or psychopharmacological studies. However, investigators often find that the administration of comprehensive diagnostic interviews is time-consuming and expensive to be used in clinical or research settings. Considering these points, Sheehan and his colleagues developed MINI (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview) to meet the need for a brief, reliable, and valid structured diagnostic interview for psychiatric disorders. The MINI has been translated into many languages and used in many countries. Therefore, we translated the MINI into Korean and determined its validity in this study. Methods : Twohundred seventy patients and normal subjects participated in the validation of the MINI versus an expert's professional opinion. Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, mood disorders including major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders including panic and other phobic disorders, and alcohol dependence were included in this study. The validity was obtained by examination whether MINI based diagnoses were compatible with diagnoses by expert psychiatrists. Results : The range of Kappa values was 0.22 (somatoform disorder) to 0.93 (bipolar disorder - past). Overall agreement between MINI and expert's diagnoses were good. The Kappa values for anxiety disorders seemed to be higher than those for other disorders. Conclusion : The MINI Korean version has the good validity. It also has potential applications as a diagnostic tool for psychiatric disorders.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.120-124
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• 2008

Objectives : The current study aimed at assessing clinical symptoms and personality characteristics on MMPI of patients in Hwa-Byung clinic. Methods : Thirty-one female patients($45.4{\pm}8.4$ years old) who visited to the Hwa-Byung Clinic in Ewha womans Dongdaemoon hospital were recruited. Semistructured interviews and laboratory tests for symptoms were performed for the patients group. Patients group and control group($42.9{\pm}8.0$ years old) completed MMPI. Results : All patients had symptoms of chest tightness or chest pain. 19(61.3%) out of 31 patients had gastrointestinal complaints. There were respiratory symptoms in 13(41.9%) patients. 12 patients(38.7%) suffered from difficulties in their sleep. 12 patients(38.7%) had psychiatric symptoms including anxiety or depressed mood. 8 patients(27.6%) were diagnosed as gastrointestinal diseases by the laboratory test. After controlling age and education, scores of Hs, D, Hy, Pt on MMPI in patients group were significantly higher than control group (p=0.001, p=0.049, p=0.000, and p=0.029, ANCOVA, respectively). Conclusion : In the current study, patients who have visited Hwa-Byung clinic showed various somatic symptoms including chest tightness, gastrointestinal symptoms, complaints in respiratory system and psychiatric symptoms. Based on laboratory tests, considerable proportion of patients was diagnosed as physical illnesses. Additionally, patients in Hwa-Byung clinic have a tendency to be more hypochondriatic, depressed, hysteric and anxious.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.361-362
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• 2012

The specimens of bursid snail, Bursa (Bursa) bufonia (Gmelin, 1791) were collected from Jeju Island, Korea and diagnostic characters were analysed. This is the first report of the family Bursidae and the genus Bursa in the Korean waters.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.329-333
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• 2012

The Korean muricid snails are listed include previous record and three unrecorded species, Morula iostoma, Coralliophila morishimai, and C. abnormis collected from Mudo of Jeju-do were redescribed. As a result, the family Muricidae in Korea turned out to be 44 species of 22 genera.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.12-16
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• 2008

Light therapy (also called light treatment or phototherapy) involves scheduled exposure to bright artificial light. Evidence-based treatments for sleep disorders especially for circadian rhythm sleep disorders include light therapy and pharmacotherapy. In clinical practice, many of patients with sleep problems tend to impair circadian rhythmicity. Considering that light is the most potent entraining agent of circadian rhythm, careful use of light therapy can be recommended for patients with several kinds of sleep disorders. I briefly review the possible therapeutic mechanisms and clinical applications of light therapy, focusing on circadian sleep disorders.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.253-262
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• 2014

Objectives: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a psychiatric disorder, characterized by the primary symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical efficiency of the oriental medical therapy combined with art therapy in the treatment of ADHD. Methods: This study is clinical reports of 3 patients with ADHD who are being treated with the oriental medical therapy (Herb-med, acupuncture) and art therapy. K-ARS (Korean ADHD Rating Scale) was compared before and after 1 month of treatment. Results: The Oriental medical therapy including herb-med and acupuncture is effective in improving ADHD patients. Also, art therapy is effective in decreasing patients' anxiety and tension and helpful for patients themselves to make an objective observation. Therefore, it is practically useful in the treatment of ADHD. Conclusions: The results show the oriental medical therapy in combination with art therapy is effective in the treatment of ADHD.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2012

Objectives : The aim of this study was to examine the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genetic polymorphism and job stress on the severity of alcohol drinking. It was hypothesized that individuals with the Met/Met BDNF genotype would be more vulnerable than those carrying the Val allele. Methods : Participants were 133 healthy Korean adults (mean age $28.2{\pm}1.1$). Job stress and the severity index of drinking were investigated through self-reported questionnaires. BDNF (rs6265) gene was genotyped. Results : There was no significant association between job stress and the severity of alcohol drinking. Although the severity of alcohol drinking was not associated with BDNF genetic polymorphism, there was a significant difference in men according to genotype and job stress. Men with homozygous BDNF Met allele were more severe in alcohol drinking when job stress was high, less severe in alcohol drinking when job stress was low than those carrying the Val allele (F = 4.47, p = 0.038). Also higher level of job stress was correlated with higher severity of alcohol drinking in men homozygous for BDNF Met allele (rs = 0.620, p = 0.005). Conclusions : These findings suggest the possibility that Met allele could have differential susceptibility, with men homozygous for BDNF Met allele being more susceptible to both more adverse and less adverse environmental influences.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.362-369
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• 2019

Background: Chronic nonspecific symptoms attributed to indoor nonindustrial work environments are common and may cause disability, but the medical nature of this disability is unclear. The aim was to medically characterize the disability manifested by chronic, recurrent symptoms and restrictions to work participation attributed to low-level indoor pollutants at workplace and whether the condition shares features with idiopathic environmental intolerance. Methods: We investigated 12 patients with indoor aire-related work disability. The examinations included somatic, psychological, and psychiatric evaluations as well as investigations of the autonomic nervous system, cortisol measurements, lung function, and allergy tests. We evaluated well-being, health, disability, insomnia, pain, anxiety, depression, and burnout via questionnaires. Results: The mean symptom history was 10.5 years; for disabling symptoms, 2.7 years. Eleven patients reported reactions triggered mainly by indoor molds, one by fragrances only. Ten reported sensitivity to odorous chemicals, and three, electric devices. Nearly all had co-occurrent somatic and psychiatric diagnoses and signs of pain, insomnia, burnout, and/or elevated sympathetic responses. Avoiding certain environments had led to restrictions in several life areas. On self-assessment scales, disability showed higher severity and anxiety showed lower severity than in physician assessments. Conclusion: No medical cause was found to explain the disability. Findings support that the condition is a form of idiopathic environmental intolerance and belongs to functional somatic syndromes. Instead of endless avoidance, rehabilitation approaches of functional somatic syndromes are applicable.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.82-90
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• 1998

This study is attempted to examine Korean teachers’ perceptions of mental health problems in students and their attitudes towards psychiatric consultations through a questionnaire survey. The results of this study are as follows. 1) Teachers thought that 5.3% of their students had mental health problems, 1.9% of students required psychiatric evaluation, and 1.2% of students were referred or recommended psychiatric evaluation by their teachers. 2) The most frequent mental health problems in students discovered by teachers were distractibility and inattention, lack of academic skills, and language difficulties in elementary schools；distractibility and inattention, conduct problems, and lack of academic skills in middle schools；and conduct problems, distractibility and inattention, physical symptoms, and substance abuse in high schools. 3) Teachers thought the mental health problems in students were caused by the family environment, psychological factors, the educational system, and a lack of mental health services. 4) Teachers desired smaller classes, improvement of the school environment, more time, regular mental health education, a special program for students with mental health problems, and the counseling staffs or consultants for the school mental health. 5) Teachers consulted with other teachers, the parents of the students, the counseling teachers, the health care teachers, the counseling institutes, the psychiatric clinics, and the principals in descending order to handle the hard case problems. The frequent reasons for failing in psychiatric consultations were the prejudice of parents against psychiatric services, the teachers’ sense of superiority in dealing with the problems of students, the prejudice of teachers themselves against psychiatric practice, and inaccessible professional consultation. 6) About 20.4% of teachers reported they had proposed psychiatric consultations or had recommended their students to receive psychiatric evaluations.