• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.10-23
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• 2024

This study examines the changes in attractiveness and social perception of mask wearers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before COVID-19, masks were seen as a sign of infection, decreasing the wearer's attractiveness. However, with the widespread normalization of mask-wearing during the pandemic, the perception mechanisms have become more complex. The attractiveness and social perception of mask wearers now vary based on factors such as the wearer's baseline attractiveness, race, and attitudes toward masks. Consequently, research findings on perception changes due to mask-wearing have been inconsistent. This inconsistency is due to the lack of standardized experimental methods and the failure to account for individual differences among participants, as well as insufficient theoretical background in the studies. From a psychiatric perspective, it is essential to formulate and test new hypotheses centered around the psychological mechanisms related to the human behavioral immune system when studying attractiveness perception during a pandemic. Notably, attention should be given to how differences in the activation of individuals' behavioral immune systems influence perceptions of mask wearers. Understanding these dynamics can provide crucial insights into how social perceptions and aversions impact mental health, thereby shedding light on various psychiatric issues that arise during infectious disease outbreaks.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2024

Background: Although Korea ranks first in the suicide rate of elderly individuals, there is limited research on those who attempt suicide, with preventive measures largely based on population-based studies. We compared the demographic and clinical characteristics of elderly individuals who attempted suicide with those of younger adults who visited the emergency department after suicide attempts and identified the factors associated with lethality in the former group. Methods: Individuals who visited the emergency department after a suicide attempt from April 1, 2017, to January 31, 2020, were included. Participants were classified into two groups according to age (elderly, ≥65 years; adult, 18-64 years). Among the 779 adult patients, 123 were elderly. We conducted a chi-square test to compare the demographic and clinical features between these groups and a logistic regression analysis to identify the risk factors for lethality in the elderly group. Results: Most elderly participants were men, with no prior psychiatric history or suicide attempts, and had a higher prevalence of underlying medical conditions and attributed their attempts to physical illnesses. Being sober and planning suicide occurred more frequently in this group. In the elderly group, factors that increased the mortality rate were biological male sex (p<0.05), being accompanied by family members (p<0.05), and poisoning as a suicide method (p<0.01). Conclusion: Suicide attempts in elderly individuals have different characteristics from those in younger adults and are associated with physical illness. Suicides in the former group are unpredictable, deliberate, and fatal. Therefore, tailored prevention and intervention strategies addressing the characteristics of those who are elderly and attempt suicide are required.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.953-960
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experience of caregivers with mentally ill children. The sample consists of 4 participants who care for their children with mentally ill. They were asked open-ended questions in order for them to talk about their experiences. With permission of the subjects, the interviews were recorded and transcribed. The methodology utilized was the Colaizzi's phonomenological approach. The interview data was organized by themes into 5 categories anguish, positive emtion, maturation, acceptance of the disease, and seeking information. These 5 themes were further categorized into 4 main groups : emotional impact, spiritual maturation, adapting to the illness, and seeking support needs. The results of this study have clinical and theoretical implications not only for psychiatric nursing in Korea but also for all clinicians working with the families of the mentally ill.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.91-97
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• 1995

Pain is a complex symptom consisting of a sensation underlying potenial disease and associated emotional state. Acute pain is a reflex biological response to injury, in contrast, chronic pain consists of pain of a mininum of 6 months duration and associates with physical, emotional past experience, economic resources of the patient, family and society. Moreover, chronic pain is characterized by physiological affective and behavioral responses that are quite different than those of acute pain. The different type of stimuli exciting pain receptor are mechanical, thermal and chemical stimli and chronic pain are concerned with three of all stimli. The major three components of pain central(Analgesia) system in the brain and spinal cord are 'periaqueductal gray area of the mesencephalon', 'the raphe magnus nucleus' and 'pain inhibitory complex located in the dorsal horns of the spinal cord'. But unfortunately, the central biochemical mechanisms of chronic pain are not clearly defined. To proper management of chronic pain, comprehensive urderstanding as a psychosomatic aspect and multidisciplinary therapeuti-team approach must be emphasized.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.355-361
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• 2009

Mitochondria play a key role in maintaining life by producing ATP and heat. Recent researches have demonstrated that degenerative diseases such as heart failure, obesity/diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and psychiatric diseases are accompanied by mitochondria dysfunction. In this sense, mitochondria medicine considers the significance of mitochondria in human pathology and tries to explain degenerative diseases as a fatal consequence of mitochondria dysfunction. Here, I introduce the fundamentals of mitochondria physiology and present examples showing the relationship between mitochondria dysfunction and chronic complex diseases. Although mitochondria medicine uses a molecular biological approach predominantly, a biomedical engineering approach might play a critical role in unveiling the complexity of mitochondria medicine and in its application to the diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases. Thus, I also briefly review the prospects of research using biomedical engineering methods.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.251-256
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• 2013

Objectives : Qi gong is generally considered to be safe in most people when learned from a qualified instructor. But abnormal psychosomatic responses or mental disorder may be induced when Qigong is practiced inappropriately, excessively, or when practiced unguided in predisposed individuals. Here we reported a case of Qigong-induced Mental Disorder (QIMD). A woman who had not had a psychiatric disease, by chance started Qigong practice, and felt raising- Qisymptoms, including headache. Methods : We identified the unique characteristics of QIMD and discusses differences with other diseases such as somatoform disorder and schizophrenia. Results : To conclude, QIMD does not come under current somatoform disorder subtypes and schizophrenia. Conclusions : It has distinct characters that occurring after Qigong practice, symptoms of upper body, feeling that something to rise up.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.271-275
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• 2000

A growing number of people are concerned about their sleep. There are many people with chronic sleep disorders. As there are various causes in a disease, proper treatment according to each cause is necessary for a more effective treatment. In general, insomnia is classified into five categories of physical, physiological, psychological, psychiatric and pharmacological aspects. Sedative-hypnotics including benzodiazepine and non-benzodiazepine have widely been used in chronic insomniacs. However, most hypnotics including non-benzodiazepine cause some of dependence, tolerance, impaired daytime function and rebound insomnia. Therefore, we are looking forward to proposing an effective oriental treatment for insomnia. A 71-year-old male who had suffered from cerebral infarction was admitted to our department for oriental treatment of stroke and insomnia. Initial treatment modalities with administration of paroxetine were not effective. However administration of oriental medicine' Gochimmuwoo-san(Gaozhenwuyou-san)' achieved a desirable effect.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2002

Alexithymia represents deficits in the cognitive processing and regulation of emotions. It is observed in many cases of psychosomatic disease, anorexia nervosa, panic disorder, depression etc. Many studies have shown that alexithymia is associated with maladaptive styles of emotion regulation, low emotional intelligence, interhemispheric transfer deficit, and reduced rapid eye movement density. Psychotherapies that enhance emotional awareness may be effective in alleviating the difficulties of alexithymic individuals. Aexithymia is useful for constructing the role of personality and emotions in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. It may serve as a bridge between neurobiology and psychology. We review recent alexithymia theory and research and their implications for treatment of psychosomatic disorders.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.17-33
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• 1998

Advances in molecular biology contribute to the understanding genetic mechanism of psychiatric disorders. They have renewed hope for the discovery of disease relevant gene. However, the results somewhat confused. And we will wait for a long time for the application of gene therapy in schizophreniar. Fortunately we could classified the schizophrenia with genotypes of dopamine and serotonin receptors. It is expected that this genetic classification could provide key strategy for the therapeutic application in biological treatment for schizophrenia. The purpose of this article is to call attention of the institute participants to linkage, association, mRNA expression, genotypic classification and to the need for more systemic research. The author summarized the modified methods which were done in his laboratory in appendix.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.56-65
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• 1998

Clinicians can use therapeutic drug monitoring(TDM) to optimise dosage decisions with psychotropic drugs, in order to maximize efficacy and prevent toxicity, especially when individuals are nonresponsive to treatment or vulnerable to adverse reactions with standard doses because age, disease states or drug interactions. Currently, therapeutic drug concentrations have been established for the TCA and lithium. There is also evidence for the usefulness of TDM with carbamazepine, valproic acid and some antipsychotic drugs. However for most psychotropic drugs this approach remains experimental. TDM-assisted psychiatric treatment is potentially useful and cost effective, particularly when applied by psychiatrists who are knowledgeable of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.