• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.89-97
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• 2020

Objectives : We investigated heart rate variability (HRV) patterns in patients with somatic symptom disorder (SSD) and the relationships of these patterns with alexithymia. Methods : In total, 42 patients with SSD and 33 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Demographic, psychological, and HRV data were assessed at baseline, and 24 patients with SSD were reassessed after 6 months of treatment. The psychological data included somatic symptoms and levels of depression, anxiety, and alexithymia as indicated by the somatic symptom subscale of the Symptom Checklist 90-Revision (SCL-12), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale 20 (TAS-20), respectively. Results : Patients with SSD had a lower standard deviation of normal-to-normal R-R intervals (SDNN) and lower proportions of adjacent R-R intervals greater than 50 milliseconds (pNN50) compared with controls. These HRV parameters were negatively correlated with alexithymia severity. After treatment, patients exhibited significantly decreased levels of somatic symptoms and reduced anxiety and depression, but there were no significant differences in the HRV parameters. In patients with alexithymia, a high baseline SDNN and pNN50 were associated with a decrease in somatic symptoms. Conclusions : Patients with SSD have different HRV patterns, and several HRV parameters are associated with alexithymia severity. These findings suggest that ANS regulation is involved in the pathophysiology of SSD, mediated by alexithymia. Furthermore, these results suggest that certain HRV parameters may be associated with clinical outcomes of SSD.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.196-202
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• 1999

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of vitamin B complex on stress-induced immune alteration. 21 medical students participated in the study 4 weeks before an academic examination period(baseline), 2 weeks before the exam period and during the exam period. Among them, 10 subjects were given vitamin B complex for 4 weeks, and 11 were not given vitamin B during the whole period. Cell-mediated immune function was measured by lymphocyte proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin(PHA) and interleukin-2(IL-2) production. Global assessment of recent stress(GARS) scale and symptom checklist-90-revised(SCL-90-R) were used to measure the level of subjective stress and psychopathology. Vitamin group had significantly lower scores of anxiety scale on SCL-90-R than non-vitamin group. No significant differences were found in lymphocyte proliferative response to PHA and IL-2 production between vitamin and non-vitamin groups during each period. There were no significant differences in change of of each of the two immune parameters over time as well as between vitamin and non-vitamin groups. However, lymphocyte proliferative response to PHA was significantly increased over time. In conclusion, it was suggested that vitamin B complex is likely to decrease anxiety level, and that exam stress might enhance lymphocyte proliferation regardless of vitamin B.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.103-114
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• 2012

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between mental health status, stress, coping ability, and coping strategies of college students. Methods: The questionnaires were handed out to 162 college students in the Gyeonggi province. Data was collected using the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) scale of the 90 items, the 'Person in the Rain' drawing test, and the 20-item coping strategies questions. Results: 17.3% of the respondents were belonged to the groups of abnormal or abnormal tendency in the mental health status according to the Global Severity Index (GSI) scores. The clinical/border groups were more commonly used in the 'emotion-focused' coping strategies compared to the normal group. This difference was also statistically significant. Both coping resource and coping ability were significantly associated with the mental health status. Conclusions: These findings suggest that future intervention for effective coping strategies should be carefully designed to promote better mental health among college students. It is also important to detect problematic and weak student's behaviors in the early stages.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.99-109
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• 2016

Purpose: This study investigated factors influencing the xerostomia symptoms in the patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Methods: Eighty-six participants over the age of twenty were randomly enrolled from patients with TMDs. The patients were diagnosed by Diagnostic Criteria-TMD (DC-TMD). Intensity of the pain and level of stress of the patients were recorded using TMD pain visual analogue scale (VAS) and stress VAS, respectively. The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90R), dry mouth symptom questionnaire, unstimulated salivary flow rate (USFR) and oral moisture were measured. Results: The patients who had above the mean of the TMD pain VAS had significantly higher scores on the stress VAS, subjective dry mouth symptoms and T-score of somatization. The patients who suffered from pain more than three months had significantly higher TMD pain VAS, subjective dry mouth symptoms and T-score of somatization. There were no significant differences in xerostomic symptoms according to the diagnosis of TMDs. Moreover, TMD pain VAS and the stress VAS did not correlated to USFR and oral moisture. Conclusions: The level of individuals' TMD pain and stress significantly affect their subjective dry mouth symptoms, however, it did not affect USFR and oral moisture.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.219-222
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• 2009

Various somatic symptoms are known to be related to stress in a general population. Korean red ginseng has been used as a therapeutic agent for the treatment and prevention of many diseases in Oriental medicine. There exist no data, however, on the effect of Korean red ginseng on somatic symptoms in a general population. In this study, 21 normal subjects were randomly assigned to the Korean-red-ginseng group, and 18 subjects to the placebo group. The subjects took 3 g Korean red ginseng or placebo every day for three weeks. After the three-week treatment, there was a interaction effect of a greater reduction in the Symptom checklist-90-revised (SCL-90-R) somatization score (p=0.04) in the Korean-red-ginseng group. This study suggests that Korean red ginseng is effective for the management of somatic symptoms in a general population.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.361-368
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• 1998

In order to evaluate the clinical features of the rcurred patients with temporomandibular disorders, 52 patients were subjected at the Dept. of Oral Medicine, PNUH from 1985 through 1996. As related to gender, duraton and diagnosis, Ll the relate factors-multiple diagnosis, emotinal problem, history of treatment, parafunctional habit, life distrubance, and trauma were analyzed. The obtained results were as follows : 1. The patients with multiple diagnosis were 83 percent and more often seen in women, chronic group and muscle-joint disorder group. 2. Duration of retreatment in chronic group and muscle-joint disorder was longer. 3. The patients with oral parafunctional habits were 89 percent and more often seen in women, chronic gorup, muscle-joint disorder group. 4. the Recurred patients showed 46 percent in history treatment, 42 percent in life distrubances, 39 percent in macrotrauma and 12 percent in emotional problem.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.959-965
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• 2022

Through psychological evaluation, this study attempted to verify the effect of quality of life improvements from gardening activities in apartment landscaping spaces. The study was conducted on 32 mothers raising children. Psychological valuation was conducted using world Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire(WHOQOL-Bref), the Satisfaction with Life Scale(SWLS), the Life Satisfaction Experience Scale(LSES), and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised(SCL-90-R). The psychological analysis results showed that, engaging in gardening activities for two weeks had, a positive effect on mothers' environmental of quality of life evaluation. The LSES indicates that satisfaction with oneself significantly increased after starting the gardening activities. The activity resulted in a positive change in attitude toward life. The SCL-90-R results showed changes in the mother's psychological state. There was a significant amelioration of obesessive-compulsive behaviors, hostility, and phobic anxiety. In conclusion, this study was found that, for mothers in apartments, outdoor gardening activities can significantly affect their quality of life. Moreover, it can help prevent mental health deterioration, Further study should be conducted on the beneficial effects of gardening on the variety of age groups and activities.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.286-294
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to confirm the mental health and quality of life by type-D personality of the patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The participants in the study were 111 hospitalized patients with CAD at a hospital in Gyeonggi-do. The type-D personality was assessed by the Type-D Personality Scale (DS14). The mental health was measured with Symptom Checklist-90-Revision (SCL-90R) while quality of life was assessed with World Health Quality of Life Assessment Instrument (WHOQOL-BREF). The data analysis revealed that 36.1% of CAD patients were identified as having type-D personality traits. Non type-D personality patients have shown better mental health state than type-D personality patients (p<.001) have. The level of quality of life in the type D personality patients were significantly lower than that of non type-D counterparts (p<.001). It is necessary for type-D personality to be considered, when the nursing intervention programs for improving the mental health and quality of life of the patients with CAD are developed.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.159-169
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• 2003

Objectives: The object of this study was to compare between perceived stress, coping strategies and quality of life between parents of childhood cancer and normal controls. Methods: Global assessment of recent stress(GARS) scale and symptom checklist-90-revised (SCL-90-R) were used to measure perception for stressors and stress responses(psychopathology). Coping scale and Smithklein Beecham quality of life scale were used to measure coping strategies and quality of life. Results: Scores of perceived stress related to interpersonal, changes in relationship, sickness or illness, financial, unusual happenings on the GARS scale were significantly higher in parents of childhood cancer than normal controls. Scores of the SCL-90-R, somatization, depression, anxiety, hostility subscale were also significantly higher in parents of childhood cancer than normal controls. Scores of self control and positive reappraisal were significantly higher in parents of childhood cancer than normal controls. Parents of childhood cancer scored significantly lower in quality of life than normal controls. Scores of depression were also significantly higher in parents of children diagnosed as acute lymphocytic leukemia(ALL) than those as acute nonlymphocytic leukemia(ANLL). Conclusions: The results suggest that patients with parents of childhood cancer were likely to have higher levels of perceived stressor and psychopathology and lower quality of life than normal controls.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2012

Objectives : This research was investigated to evaluate the psychological characteristics and changes of psychological state among dental orthodontic patients. Methods : This cross-sectional questionnaire research was conducted with 230 dental orthodontic patients in Busan from December 23, 2009 to March 6, 2010. The psychological analysis of dental orthodontic treatment patients was performed with Symptom checklist-90-revision(SCL-90-R) considering 5 general characteristics and 2 treatment period related characteristics. Estimated psychological results were changed T-score. Data analysis was performed with descriptive analysis, t-test and ANOVA using SAS(ver 9.1) program. Results : The levels of T-score of SCL-90-R were $43.88{\pm}7.50$ in hostility(HOS), $43.38{\pm}4.64$ in phobic anxiety(PHOB), $43.20{\pm}6.24$ in somatization(SOM), $42.13{\pm}6.71$ in paranoid ideation(PAR), $41.39{\pm}8.16$ in interpersonal sensitive(I-S), $41.01{\pm}7.90$ in obsessive-compulsive(O-C), $40.96{\pm}5.37$ in psychoticism(PSY), $40.96{\pm}5.19$ in anxiety(ANX) and $39.81{\pm}6.80$ in depression(DEP), respectively. The T-score of phobic anxiety in before treatment group was higher than that of treatment groups. The T-score of interpersonal sensitive and paranoid ideation in over 36 months treatment period group were higher than that of other treatment period groups. Conclusions : Phobic anxiety(PHOB), interpersonal sensitive(I-S) and paranoid ideation(PAR) were affected in pre-treatment and long-term treatment dental orthodontic patients. Psychological management methods considering treatment period are needed to improve mental health of dental orthodontic patients.