• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.102-130
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• 2022

Objectives: The persistence and unpredictability of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and new measures to prevent direct medical intervention (e.g., social distancing and quarantine) have induced various psychological symptoms and disorders that require self-treatment approaches and integrative treatment interventions. To address these issues, the Korean Medicine Mental Health (KMMH) center developed a field manual by reviewing previous literature and preexisting manuals. Methods: The working group of the KMMH center conducted a keyword search in PubMed in June 2021 using "COVID-19" and "SARS-CoV-2". Review articles were examined using the following filters: "review," "systematic review," and "meta-analysis." We conducted a narrative review of the retrieved articles and extracted content relevant to previous manuals. We then created a treatment algorithm and recommendations by referring to the results of the review. Results: During the initial assessment, subjective symptom severity was measured using a numerical rating scale, and patients were classified as low- or moderate-high risk. Moderate-high-risk patients should be classified as having either a psychiatric emergency or significant psychiatric condition. The developed manual presents appropriate psychological support for each group based on the following dominant symptoms: tension, anxiety-dominant, anger-dominant, depression-dominant, and somatization. Conclusions: We identified the characteristics of mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic and developed a clinical mental health support manual in the field of Korean medicine. When symptoms meet the diagnostic criteria for a mental disorder, doctors of Korean medicine can treat the patients according to the manual for the corresponding disorder.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.353-361
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• 2023

Background: Noise has been linked to an increased risk of various health issues, including stress, anxiety, insomnia, and cardiovascular disorders. However, research on the relationship between residential traffic noise and mental health in South Korea is limited. Objectives: This study aims to examine the correlation between regional traffic noise levels and mental health using an ecological study design. Methods: In this ecological study, all data were collected from the Korean Statistical Information Service. Traffic noise data in residential areas and the prevalence of mental health indices in 44 cities with noise monitoring stations were obtained. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the relationship between regional traffic noise levels and mental health indices. Results: Daytime traffic noise levels were found to have a positive correlation with stress perception (r=0.428, p=0.004) and showed a borderline positive correlation with depressive symptom prevalence (r=0.273, p=0.073). In cities with airports, significant correlations was observed between 24-hour average noise levels and depressive symptoms (r=0.604, p=0.010), whereas this relationship was not observed in cities without airports (r=0.048, p=0.813). Multiple regression analysis, which adjusted for factors such as age, gender ratio, smoking, obesity, unemployment, urban size, and the presence of an airport, confirmed the relationship between 24-hour average noise levels and stress perception (beta=0.287, p=0.024). Conclusions: This study identified correlations between regional traffic noise levels and depressive symptoms or stress perception in adults, with a more pronounced effect in areas with airports. These findings suggest a potential impact of residential traffic noise on mental health, highlighting the importance of preventive measures like noise management in urban planning to promote mental well-being.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2017

Objectives : The aims of present study was to investigate clinical characteristics of male patients with eating disorders. Methods : The present study included 32 male patients with eating disorders and 75 female patients with eating disorders, recruited from an eating disorders specialized clinic in a university hospital, Seoul, Korea. We compared clinical characteristics of eating disorders and comorbid conditions of depression and anxiety between men and women with eating disorders. Correlations between eating disorders psychopathology in men with eating disorders and their weight suppression(WS) were investigated. Results : There was no difference in age at presentation, age of onset, illness duration, and body mass index at presentation between genders. Male patients with eating disorders had higher rates of premorbid overweight or obesity than female patients with eating disorders had. WS in the male patients was associated with the severity of their eating disorders. Conclusions : The present study provides grounds for improved understanding for clinical features of eating disorders in males.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.84-93
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• 2019

Objective : The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between occupational stress and depression, as it is seen to be corresponding with the work characteristics of local government officials. Methods : The data of 671 local government officials who participated in this study from July to December 2015 as a part of an occupational stress management program, were analyzed retrospectively in this study. Likewise, the participants completed questionnaires, including a short form of the Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS), and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) the results of which were evaluated and reviewed. Results : The study noted that the subscales of occupational stress related to depression were varied, according to the work characteristics of the participants, after adjusting for age and job grade. It was found that the participant's variables of job insecurity, lack of reward, organizational system and occupational climate were significantly related to the development of a depressed mood in the participant in a general sense. Notably, the factor of interpersonal conflict was significantly related to depressed mood among the general administrative group; meanwhile, lack of reward in the welfare group and insufficient job control in the technical group were significantly associated with the likelihood of developing a depressed mood in participants reviewed. In the operation and maintenance of facilities group, job insecurity was significantly related with depressed mood, whereas job demand was related more with the incidence of depression in the field work group. Conclusion : This study revealed that the influence of occupational stress on depression varied according to the occupational characteristics experienced by the participants in the work environment. These findings may be used to enhance the occupational stress management program for local government officials according to their work characteristics, to bring awareness to this issue.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.639-645
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• 1999

This research was for investigating the physiological effect caused by genetic disorder and others. Serum protein, serum LDH, and serum CPK were analyzed on Fragile X syndrome patients, carriers, unclassified mental retardees, and Down's syndrome patients by cellulose acetate plate electrophoresis. Also enzyme activity of LDH and CPK were measured. Significant differences were observed between normal group and mental retardees in compositions of serum protein, serum LDH, serum CPK, and enzyme activities. Mean percentages of albumin were 53.70$\pm$7.73% for Fragile X syndrome patients, 57.09$\pm$7.73% for carriers, 47.33$\pm$6.06% for unclassified mental retardees, 50.19$\pm$ 15.72% for Down's syndrome patients. Mean percentages of ${\gamma}$-globulin were 19.64$\pm$6.71% for Fragile X syndrome patients, 19.24$\pm$3.38% for carries, 25.66$\pm$4.74 for unclassified mental retardees, 23.41$\pm$6.08% for Down's syndrome patients. Mean percentages of LDH3 were 27.76$\pm$2.72% for Fragile X syndrome patients, 22.70$\pm$2.76% for carriers, 25.42$\pm$1.26% for unclassified mental retardees, 27.72$\pm$2.58% for Down's syndrome patients. Mean percentages of LDH4 were 2.70$\pm$2.04 for Fragile X syndrome patients, 3.79$\pm$2.74% for carriers, so both of them were significantly lower than normal(P<0.05). Mean percentages of CK-MB were 3.96$\pm$5.56% for Fragile X syndrome patients, 8.80$\pm$7.92%. Mean percentages of CK-MM were 95.81$\pm$5.50% for Fragile X syndrome patients, 91.20$\pm$7.92% for carriers. These results showed that significant abnormal compositions of blood proteins might be caused by genetic disorder. However, further analysis of many patients will be needed for clear conclusion.

• 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 Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.731-740
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of oral and mental health status on temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) and the effects of TMD symptoms on quality of life using data from the 5th 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Methods: A total of 1,154 people were selected as subjects for the study. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds (672 persons), TMJ pain (227 persons), and TMJ dislocation (255 persons) were the factors studied. The complex sample chi-square test was performed to compare demographic characteristics according to the three groups of TMD symptoms. Complex sample logistic regression analysis was performed to confirm the effect of oral and mental health status on TMDs, and complex sample linear regression analysis was performed to check the effect of TMDs on the quality of life (EQ-5D). Results: After adjusting for demographic characteristics, those without TMJ sound symptoms had lower pain/discomfort (OR: 0.055, CI: -0.095 to -0.016) and anxiety/depression (OR: 0.053, CI: -0.092 to -0.014). Those without TMJ pain had lower pain/discomfort (OR: 0.119, CI: -0.192 to -0.046) and anxiety/depression (OR: 0.071, CI: -0.137 to -0.004). Pain/discomfort (OR: 0.063, CI: -0.125 to -0.001) was lower in those without TMJ dislocation symptoms. After adjusting for mental health status, pain/discomfort (OR: 0.088, CI: -0.161 to -0.014) was found to be lower in those without TMJ pain symptoms (p<0.05). Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, the treatment of TMDs, oral health, and also mental health, is needed to improve the quality of life.

• Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.34-41
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was performed to examine the effects of the public attention to 'crime of schizophrenia' on the use of mental health services in patients with schizophrenia using big data analysis. Methods: Data on the frequency of internet searches for 'crime of schizophrenia' and the patterns of mental health service utilization by patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders by month were collected from Naver big data and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Services in Korea, respectively. Their correlations in the same and following month for lagged effect were examined. Results: The number of outpatients correlated negatively with public attention to 'crime of schizophrenia' in the same month. The lagged relationship between public attention and the number of admissions in psychiatric wards was also found. In terms of sex differences, the use of outpatient services among female patients correlated negatively with public attention in the same month while the number of male patients' admissions in both same and following month correlated positively with public attention. Conclusion: These findings suggested that public attention to 'crime of schizophrenia' could negatively affect illness behavior in patients with schizophrenia.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.190-202
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• 1996

This study assessed psychiatrically referred 5-to 13-year-old children who presented inattention or hyperactivity as chief complaints. Demographic characteristics, primary diagnosis, and comorbid psychiatric conditions of them were identified, and they were assessed using questionnaires and neuropsychological tests. Primary diagnoses included ADHD, anxiety disorder, mental retardation, depression, oppositional defiant disorder, developmental language disorder and others. functional enuresis, conduct disorder, and developmental language disorder were among the secondarily diagnosed disorders. In patients diagnosed as ADHD, overall comorbidity rate was 55.3%. The disorders that frequently co-occured with ADHD were specific developmental disorder, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, anxiety disorder and other. ADHD groups with or without comorbidity differed in performance IQ and CPT scores. ADHD group differed from externalizing disorders group in the information subscore of IQ, MFFT, and CPT scores, and differed in teachers rating scales, the uncommunication factor of CBCL, and CPT card error compared with internalizing disorders group. The authors concluded that inattentive or hyperactive children should be assessed using various instruments to differentiate other disorders and to identify possible presence of comorbid conditions.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.127-139
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• 2006

Objectives: To explore the quality of life in patients with temporomandibular disorders and to evaluate it in terms of source and duration of the pain. Methods: A total of 61 patients with temporomandibular disorders participated in this study. According to pain source, they were divided into 2 groups, masticatory muscle pain (MMP) group and intracapsular pain (ICP) group. And each group was divided into acute phase group (pain duration <6 months) and chronic phase group (pain duration=6 months). The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to measure patients' quality of life. The scores for eight-scale profile and the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) of the SF-36 were compared between groups (MMP vs. ICP and acute vs. chronic). Student t-test was used to analyze the difference of the scores of the SF-36 between MMP and ICP groups. Results: MMP group showed significantly lower score in the 3 scales of the SF-36 (Role limitations due to emotional problems, Vitality, Bodily pain) when compared to ICP group. In acute phase there was no significant difference between MMP and ICP group in PCS as well as MCS scores, but in chronic phase MMP group showed significantly lower MCS score than ICP group. Conclusions: The masticatory muscle pain in patients with temporomandibular disorders,negatively influences the quality of life especially in chronic phase, and the mental components of quality of life are significantly interfered in the TMD patients with chronic masticatory muscle pain.