• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.3-9
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• 1994

The psychobiological model of cancer has a long history, with Galen's view on melancholic woman being often quoted. From a historical perspective, the 1950s witnessed a surge of interest in psychosomatic medicine and in researches linking psychological, social, and environmental factors to disease onset and progression. The 1960s witnessed the growth of animal experiements, in the hope of better understanding the effects of psychological and behavioral factors on carcinogenesis while controlling confounding variables. The 1970s saw rapid advances in immunology and neurochemistry. Further researches in the 1980s in psychoneuroimmunology explored relationships between immunological responses and psychosocial variables, and their implications for cancer vulnerability and progression. In this review, the interacting aspects of oncology and psychiatry are presented with selected major findings in the fold of psychooncology researches.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2018

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate correlation between degree of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and neurocognitive function along with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in Korean patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods : Participants were 115 elderly subjects diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment in this retrospective study. WMH in brain MRI were rated with standardized visual rating scales (Fazekas scales) and the subjects were divided into two groups according to Fazekas scale. Cognitive function was evaluated with Korean version of the consortium to establish a registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD-K), and BPSD was evaluated with Korean neuropsychiatric inventory (K-NPI). Independent t-test was performed to analyze the relationship between the degree of WMH and neurocognitive functions & BPSD. Results : Especially, the group with high severity of WMH showed significantly lower language fluency (p<0.05). In addition, the group with high severity of WMH showed significantly higher score in K-NPI. Conclusions : There was a significant association between WMH and neurocognitive test related with executive function. Moreover, WMH seems to affect BPSD severity. Evaluation of WMH would provide useful information in clinical settings.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.123-134
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to show the clinical aspects in outpatients who visited Oriental Neuropsychiatry Clinic. Method : We studied 419 patients who visited Oriental Neuropsychiatry Clinic of Dong-Sea Medical Center from march, 2007 to August, 2007. Results & Conclusion : 1. The ratio of male to female patients was 1:2 and age distribution was most frequent in 50s. 2. From onset, 32% of patients visited Oriental Neuropsychiatry Clinic in a week, 58% of patients visited in a month. 3. Oriental Neuropsychiatry diseases were 80%, Non-Oriental Neuropsychiatry diseases were 20%. The most common Oriental Neuropsychiatry diseases were Somatoform Disorders. 4. The most common diagnosises of the Oriental Neuropsychiatry diseases were Psychosomatic diseases. 5. The most common cheif corn1ains were Headache. 6. The most commonly used herbal medicine was Gamiondam-tang and Guibi-tang

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.120-125
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• 1998

Objectives : The purposes of present study were to identify weight increment in female psychiatric patients during hospitalization and to evaluate the relationship between weight gain and daily calorie intake, daily activity and other variables of disease itself. Methods : 20 patients were studied. Body weight were measured once a week, and daily activity(total amounts of walking/day) and total amount of daily calorie intake were measured twice a week. We examined psychiatric and medical illness history, eating disorders' history and family history of eating disorders and obesity. Results: Mean body weight and Body Mass Index(BMI) at admission are 49.40kg and 19.59kg/$m^2$. Mean weight increment during hospital stays of mean 65 days is 4.90kg. Mean amounts of daily calorie intake and daily activity(daily walks) were increased during hospital stays, but not statistically significant. The degree of weight increment is higher in longer hospital stay group, but not statistically significant. Mean body weight at admission of mood disorder group is higher than that of schizophrenia group, but not statistically significant. Conclusion : This results suggested that weight increment in female psychiatric hospitalized patients is present. However, it is not resulted by amount of calorie intake and daily activity level.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.3-6
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• 2007

Anxiety disorders are common illness to general physician. The comorbidity between anxiety disorders and medical illness is not only a diagnostic issue, but also has implications of the course of the disease and its outcome. The comorbid condition requires consideration of each individual illness, their psychological and physiological condition. This article aims to review the literature on the prevalence of anxiety disorders in patients prescribing to psychiatrists and to discuss pharmacological treatment options for patients with a comorbid anxiety disorder and medical illness.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2008

Delirium is not developed naturally and is not an endogenous disease. However, delirium has occurred in some specific populations, such as the elderly or medically compromised patients. These become limitations on the systematic study of the epidemiology of delirium. Many epidemiologic studies of delirium have been focused on the elderly due to the fact there are relatively few in the general population. In addition, assessment tools with various sensitivity and specificity have been used. Advanced age, male, poorer cognitive and functional status, and alcohol abuse are well known risk factors of delirium. the epidemiological data will be reviewed in the elderly, patients with dementia, hip fractures, patients hospitalized in intensive care units, terminal cancer and patients with stroke.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2023

Objectives : Biofeedback is a useful non-pharmacological treatment for panic disorder (PD), but no studies have identified physiological markers related to the treatment response. This study investigated predictors of the treatment response for biofeedback in patients with PD. Methods : A retrospective study based on the electronic medical records of 372 adult patients with PD was performed. Patients received biofeedback treatment at least once, and physiological markers including heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, skin conductance, skin temperature, and electromyography were collected before the treatment began. The patients were classified as responders or non-responders based on the change in Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) score. Results : The response rate to biofeedback treatment was 30.4%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that a higher CGI-S score at baseline and fewer benzodiazepine prescriptions were associated with a better response to biofeedback treatment. According to subgroup analyses, the baseline CGI-S score, dose of benzodiazepines, and skin conductance are candidate predictors of the response to biofeedback treatment in men, while only baseline disease severity was associated with the treatment response in women. Conclusions : The present results suggest that skin conductance may be target marker and predictor for biofeedback in male patients with PD.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.93-102
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• 2001

The relaxation response is a state of profound rest, creates physiological responses directly opposite to the stress response. The relaxation response can be used to counteract the harmful effects of stress. The relaxation response can be elicited by a number of techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic training, biofeedback, etc. These relaxation methods in any mental or physical conditions associated with distress and even in normal people have useful benefits for stress control and health enhancement. These relaxation techniques are but one part of a comprehensive stress management program, through regular and continuous practice appropriate for each person, they will make an effective role in stress management. In this review, author reviewed how to practically use meditation, progressive muscle relaxation and autogenic training, in more detail. In the treatment of various stress-related disease, especially in psychiatric disorders, the relaxation technique may be a useful complement to conventional treatment and serves as an intervention between stress and disease.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.22-33
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• 1994

The author presented several points of experienced materials obtained from the joint meetings of consultation-liaison Psychiatric division with oncologic department in Kyung Hee University Hospital. The joint meetings which have been held regularly every other week were very helpful not only for the psychiatrist but also for the cancer department stags to manage the cancer patients actively. The joint meetings have been progressed into more cohesive and active communication as time goes by. Most of the subjects discussed in the meeting was focused on the psychological and behavioral problems of the cancer patients. Besides, the difficulties arising from the chemotherapy were discussed. Probably the most difficult task for the treatment team was to provide complete information while respecting the patient's right to deny their situation The liaison psychiatrist usually gave comments to the charge doctor and/or nusing staff how to evaluate the patient's behavior and what would be the influential factors in developing the doctor-patient relationship. It was found that many cancer patients and their family members had their own peculiar illness behavior and disease concept which led patients to take non-medical or moreover, anti-therapeutic care. The family members were found to play an influential role in the choice of treatment method and progression of the disease. Another role of the liaison psychiatrist in the oncology ward was to encourage the treatment team members. In the practical point of view, it was not easy for the liaison psychiatrist to have time regularly for the cancer patients to encourage the liaison activities. And it seems to be fundamental that the consultation fee for the liaison psychiatrist should be set up at the resonable level.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.241-246
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• 1999

Delirium is a syndrome characterized by impairement of consciousness, disorientation, disturbance of sleep-wake cycle, memory impairement, disturbance of perception. It is induced by many causes, which are CNS diseases(head trauma, vascular disease, brain tumor, etc), medical diseases(metabolic disorder, endocrine disturbance, cardiovascular disease) and drugs(anticholinergics, anticonvulsant, antipsychotics, cimetidine etc). Transdermal scopolamine which is usually used to prevent motion sickness has anticholinergic property, and so it can induce delirium. The authors report two cases of delirium induced by transdermal scopolamine. The cases shared common characteristics which were as follows : 1. All of two patients were elderly women. 2. Delirium symptom was abruptly occurred during trip after attaching scopolamine patches. 3. Delirium symptom was rapidly improved within 2-3 days. It is important to educate for both users and managers about directions for transdermal scopolamine patch usage to prevent delirium. And careful history taking is needed to diagnose delirium induced by transdermal scopolamine accurately.