• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.2636-2643
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• 2011

The aims of this study is to look for lifetime prevalence of suicide and to identify and compare their risk factors of suicidal ideation group and suicidal planning group. For six monthes from September 2008 to March 2009, researchers of Chungnam province studied 1,400 adults living in 7 cities and counties who are more than nineteen years old. Of those surveyed, suicide ideation, suicide plan and suicide attempt rates were 15.9%, 4.3% and 1.8% each. In conclusion, to prevent and manage suicide behavior effectively, we propose that people with more stress, greater depression, old age, lower quality of life and unemployment should be managed primarily.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.103-116
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• 2011

Objective: The study analyzed degrees of participation in physical activities, demographic and sociological characteristics of middle and high school students, and the relations to mental health related factors, based on "Korea youth risk behavior web-based survey." Therefore, the study can be used as preliminary data for establishing mental health promotion plans for youth and setting contents and directions of health education. Methods: The study analyzed the data, collecting from 75,066 middle and high school students, regarding their demographic and sociological characteristics, mental health, and relations to physical activities by using SPSS Win 15.0. Results: 19.1% of the students answered they had seriously contemplated suicide during the past 12 months, and 43.2% said they are usually under enormous pressure. 55.3% answered that academic achievements and the pressure from future paths are major factors of their stress. The students showed noteworthy differences in whether they think about suicide depending on whether the students live with their father or mother. The study found that the students whose parents' levels of education are low, or their academic records are low, or economic conditions are poor are more likely to think about suicide. The students tend to think more about killing themselves if they spend more time sitting to study than being engaged in physical activities, or spend little time walking. And they are more likely to think about committing suicide if they spend little time exercising, or are not engaged in physical activities on the playground or a gym in PE classes.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.71-81
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• 2009

Objectives: This study furthers the currents understanding of alcohol use disorders, stress, mental health status and suicide among Seoul citizens. This study is to identify differences according to socio-demographic variables and variables which affect stress, mental status and suicide for developing mental health programs. Methods: The study subjects using cluster-stratified sampling method were 1234 adults over 19 years old from 17 dong, S-Ku in Seoul City. A cross-sectional study with face-to-face interview was used to collect data. A questionnaire measuring socio-demographic variables, Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) and psychosocial wellbeing index-short form (PWI-SF) was utilized. Results: Three findings in this study were discussed: (1) The prevalence of problem drinking and alcohol dependence and AUDIT score were significantly higher among male, younger age, and high level of education and income; (2) AUDIT score were related with stress, all 9 symptoms of SCL-R and suicide plan; (3) Problem drinkers were more likely to have 2.5 times of anxiety, 3.0 times of hostility, and 2.4 times psychoticism than non alcohol problem drinkers. Alcohol dependence drinkers were more likely to have 1.9 times of high risk group of stress, 4.1 times of obsessive-compulsive, 4.7 times of anxiety, 5.5 times of hostility, and 2.3 times psychoticism than non alcohol dependence drinkers. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the future intervention of Mental Health programs should be carefully designed and tailored by socio-demographic variables.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2022

Purpose: Adolescent suicide is an important issue worldwide. Although literature on preventing suicide among adolescents tends to focus on suicidal ideation, suicidal planning is also an important issue as a stage leading to suicidal behavior. This study aims to identify suicidal planning-related factors, including generalized anxiety disorder, among adolescents who had suicidal ideation. Methods: This secondary study used data generated from the 16th(2020) Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, which included 5,979 students who had suicidal ideation. Factors related to suicidal planning were identified by performing a logistic regression analysis of the participants. All analyses were performed using SPSS 27.0. Results: Among adolescents who had suicidal ideation, 23.8% had suicide plans. The suicidal plans were significantly related to school level (middle, OR=1.38, 95% CI=1.22~1.55), whether they were living with family (no, OR=1.36, 95% CI=1.06~1.75), perceived body image (normal, OR=1.23, 95% CI=1.05~1.44; Obese, OR=1.33, 95% CI=1.14~1.54), depression (yes, OR=1.47, 95% CI=1.25~1.72), tobacco use (yes, OR=1.31, 95% CI=1.12~1.54), alcohol use (yes, OR=1.21, 95% CI=1.06~1.38), drug use (yes, OR=1.96, 95% CI=1.44~2.66), and/or generalized anxiety disorder (severe, OR=1.76, 95% CI=1.44~2.14). Conclusion: The findings of the study suggest that in addition to the commonly recognized factors for adolescent suicide, generalized anxiety disorder should also be considered when establishing strategies to prevent suicide planning in adolescents who had suicidal ideation.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and risk factors of suicidal ideation among middle class Korean. Methods: Cross sectional study was designed for secondary data analysis. From the 8th Korea Health Panel survey (2008~2013), a total of 6,037 data was drawn and analyzed by developmental stage using descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, $x^2$ test, and logistic regression analysis. Results: Across all age groups, high physical-mental stress, frustration, anxiety about the future and low self-perceived health status or social class were found to be the risk factors of suicidal ideation. Peer-compared subjective health status and frustration significantly influenced the adolescents. The young adults'suicidal ideation was mainly influenced by physical and mental stress, frustration and absence of economic activity. For the middle-aged, physical and mental stress, frustration, future anxiety, low peer-compared subjective health status were found to be the major influencing factors. The predominant risk factors for the elderly were frustration and low peer-compared subjective health status. Conclusion: Making comparisons to others significantly influence suicidal ideation throughout all life cycles. Improvement of mental health and suicide prevention can be enhanced by avoiding negative comparison to others.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2039-2043
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• 2012

Objectives: Depression is common in cancer patients. However, only limited evidence is available for Asian populations. The authors therefore examine the prevalence of depression in Thai patients with cancer. In addition, associated factors were determined. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in cancer patients admitted to a university hospital during December 2006 - December 2007. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess all cancer patients. Suicidal risk was assessed by using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) in the module of suicidal risk assessment. Results: Of 108 cancer patients, 29.6 % were diagnosed with a depressive disorder (mild, 14.8 %; moderate, 5.6 %; severe, 9.3 %). However, only 25.0 % of these were recognized as being depressed by the primary physician. According to the MINI., 28.1 % of these depressed cancer patients had a moderate to severe level of suicidal risk. In addition, the findings suggest that increased risk of depression is significantly associated with increased pain score, lower number of cancer treatments (< 2 methods), increased educational duration (>13 years), increased age (> 50 years old) and being female. Conclusions: The prevalence of depression is high in Thai cancer patients. However, depressive disorder in those patients is frequently undiagnosed. It is associated with several factors including pain, a number of cancer treatments, education duration, age and sex. To improve quality of life, increase compliance with treatments and prevent of suicide, screening for depressive disorders in this patient group is strongly recommended.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.227-234
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• 1999

An association of low total cholesterol in blood with psychiatric diseases and suicidal behavior has been suggested. As part of an attempt to further explore this relationship, we examine first, whether serum cholesterol levels in psychiatric patients with suicidal attempt would be lower than in non-suicidal psychiatric inpatients or normal controls, second, whether such significant difference of cholesterol levels would be present when the diagnostic groups are analyzed separately, third, whether low cholesterol level would be associated with a history of serious suicidal attempts, and finally, whether low cholesterol level in suicide attempters is a state or a trait marker. We determined the serum cholesterol levels in 231 patients admitted to an emergency room following an suicidal attempt, in the same numbers of age-, sex- and diagnosis- matched non-suicidal psychiatric controls, and in the same numbers of age-, sex matched normal controls. The seriousness of an attempt was divided into 5 grades according to the degree of the resulting medical injury. Total cholesterol levels in suicide attempters were significantly lower compared with both psychiatric and normal controls, when sex, age, and nutritional status (i.e., body mass index) were controlled for. This significant relationship was observed in major depressive disorders and personality disorders, but not in schizophrenia and bipolar type I disorders. The severity of suicide by a lowering of blood cholesterol was related to the magnitude of the cholesterol reduction. After treatment of their psychiatric ailments, the cholesterol levels in suicide attempters were significantly increased. This result suggests that low cholesterol level in psychiatric patients might be a potential biological marker of suicide risk. It is hypothesized that low cholesterol levels is associated with the suicide by modifying the serotonin metabolism, the production of interleukin-2 and melatonin metabolism in psychiatric patients.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.291-299
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• 2016

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of ADHD, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, impulsivity, suicide idea and quality of life as well as burnout of kindergarten teachers for the first time in Korea. Also, it examined the odds ratio with ADHD, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, impulsivity, suicide idea and quality of life between burnout group and the comparison group through logistic regression analysis. A set of questionnaires was provided to a total of 310 participants (80 with higher burnout risk and 230 without burnout risk) from April 2015 to July 2015. All of participants were evaluated using the Korean Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Scales, Beck's Depression Inventory, Beck's Anxiety Inventory, Baratte' Impulsivity Scale, Rosenberg's Self-esteem Inventory and Qulity of Life Scale. The results of this study indicated that burnout risk group is related to ADHD and anxiety and impulsivity. For the treatment of burnout in kindergarten teachers, effective evaluation and treatment of ADHD and impulsivity, as well as anxiety, seem to be necessary.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.189-195
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• 2005

Objects:Some studies have suggested that brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF), one of the most important neurotrophins, is involved in pathophysiology of depression and suicide. This study was performed to determine whether there is an abnormality in plasma BDNF concentration in suicidal attempters. Methods:The subjects were 71 suicidal attempters who visited emergency rooms in multi-medical centers. All subjects had been interviewed by using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV(SCID), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HDRS), Young Mania Rating Scale(YMRS), and Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS). The severity of the suicidal behavior was measured by Lethality of Suicide Attempt Rating Scale(LSARS) and Risk-Rescue Rating(RRR) system. Seventy-one age, sex, and diagnosis matched non-suicidal psychiatric patients who were consecutively admitted to a psychiatric ward during the same period recruited as psychiatric controls. They were drug-naive or drug-free at least more than 2 months. In addition, 80 healthy controls were randomly selected as normal controls. Plasma BDNF level was measured by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) methods. Results:In overall F-test, differences of the plasma BDNF levels among the groups were statistically significant(F=20.226, p<0.001). In the multiple comparisons(Scheffe), while mean levels of plasma BDNF between normal controls and non-suicidal psychiatric patients were similar(p=0.984), the BDNF levels of suicidal attempters were lower than those of other two groups(p<0.001). LSARS and RRR did not reveal any significant correlations with BDNF levels in suicidal attempters. Conclusion:These results suggest that reduction of plasma BDNF level is related to suicidal behavior and BDNF level may be a biological marker of suicidal behavior.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.108-115
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• 2020

Objectives : This study looked at the effects of chronic IPV on suicide ideation among married women in the country. Methods : This study used data from the five-year-old Korea Welfare Panel and analyzed using questions about verbal and physical violence, depression and suicide ideation that were investigated every year. Age, education, and economic levels, drinking, religion, chronic disease, satisfaction with family relationship, satisfaction with social relationship, were included as variables. Results : The five-year cumulative score of verbal violence had a statistically significant effect on the depressive symptom, and the relative risk was 1.180. The relative risk of five-year-old cumulative score of verbal violence in suicidal ideation was 1.276, and it was also significant even if they exclude the effects of depressive symptom. On the other hand, the five-year cumulative score of physical violence was found to have no significant impact on suicide ideation if they excluded the effects of depressive symptom. Conclusions : Unlike previous studies, this study found that chronic verbal IPVs increase suicide ideation, even though they do not contain effects of depression. Such findings suggest that intervention in IPV in married women may help reduce the nation's suicide rate.