• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.5-14
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• 2011

Neuroimaging in psychiatry encompasses the powerful tools available for the in vivo study of brain structure and function. MRI including the volumetry, voxel-base morphometry(VBM) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) are useful for assessing brain structure, whereas function MRI, positron emission tomography(PET) and magnetoencephalography(MEG) are well established for probing brain function. These tools are well tolerated by the vast majority of psychiatric patients because they provide a powerful but noninvasive means to directly evaluate the brain. Although neuroimaging technology is currently used only to rule in or rule out general medical conditions as opposed to diagnosing primary mental disorders, it may be used to confirm or make psychiatric diagnoses in the future. In addition, neuroimaging may be valuable for predicting the natural course of psychiatric illness as well as treatment response.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers D
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.206-214
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• 2005

In these days the virtual reality technology has been applied to treat such an anxiety disorders. And also a medical doctor can diagnose the patient in distance with the telemedicine system. In this thesis, an telemedicine assistant system for treatment of acrophobia using biomedical signals and virtual reality technique is proposed. I made two virtual reality simulations for treatment of acrophobia and telemedicine system for communication between doctor and patient using personal computer. Multimedia conference service, online questionary, signal transfer system are needed to configure such system. Virtual reality simulation system that composed of position sensor, head mount display, and audio system, is also included in this telemedicine system. I added virtual environment update system to this virtual reality telemedicine system for treatment of acrophobia. With this virtual environment update system, the doctors can change virtual reality simulation stage based on the status of each patient and symptom of phobia. We will apply this system to the acrophobia patient in distance and be able to offer better medical treatment for mental illness in near future.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.65-74
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• 2019

Purpose: This study applied the Korean Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (K-MBSR) program for mothers of children and adolescents with mental illnesses, and verified its effectiveness on perceived stress and depression based on the Middle-range theory of caregiver stress. Methods: A quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group pre-post test design was used. The K-MBSR program was reconstructed with experts' advice to adjust subjects' characters. Using a group approach, sessions were conducted once a week for six weeks, and each session took 2.5 hours. Results: The experimental group did not show a significant decrease in perceived stress than the control group. However, the experimental group showed a significant decrease in depression than the control group. Conclusion: The K-MBSR program was effective for depression. Future studies on high-stress groups or with an extended program are necessary to clarify the effects of the K-MBSR program on perceived stress. These results are consistent with the middle-range theory of caregiver stress, the theoretical framework of this study. When caregivers have similar inputs, proper intervention can change the control process. Further, it can be assumed that this change positively affects the output.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.451-460
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine occupational risk factors that affect the mental health (depression, anxiety, anger, insomnia, self-esteem, trauma) of hospital facility workers. Methods: A survey was conducted from November 17, 2020 to December 1, 2020 for 700 non-medical workers (Temporary and contract workers: cleaning, security, information, office workers, etc.) working at a general hospital in Seoul. Results: As a result of the study, the risk of musculoskeletal disorders was found to have a significant effect on depression, anxiety, insomnia, and trauma. Noise had a significant effect on depression and anger, dust hazard had an effect on depression and self-esteem, and high temperature had a significant effect on anxiety and insomnia. Conclusions: Based on these results, it is necessary to examine the influence of occupational risk factors to improve the mental health of non-medical hospital facility workers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess excavator drivers in order to determine the proportion showing subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders and to evaluate the association between the symptoms and characteristics of the subjects. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect the information on participants' age, average working hours per day, duration of career (years), work-related musculoskeletal symptoms, and more. The final dataset included 141 excavator drivers. Frequency and percentage were summarized and then the associations between the characteristics of the subjects and symptoms were evaluated as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Seventy-six percent of the currently reported musculoskeletal symptoms. Those who have musculoskeletal symptoms attributed their symptoms to unstable posture at work, mental stress or vibrations. There was a significant association between symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders and career of excavator drivers (P for trend=0.04). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders may be high among excavator drivers and warrants well-designed studies on work-related disorders among excavator drivers.

• Psychiatry investigation
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.1053-1063
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• 2018

Objective This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Korean Anxiety Screening Assessment (K-ANX) developed for screening anxiety disorders. Methods Data from 613 participants were analyzed. The K-ANX was evaluated for reliability using Cronbach's alpha, item-total correlation, and test information curve, and for validity using focus group interviews, factor analysis, correlational analysis, and item characteristics based on item response theory (IRT). The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the K-ANX were compared with those of the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7). Results The K-ANX showed excellent internal consistency (${\alpha}=0.97$) and item-total coefficients (0.92-0.97), and a one-factor structure was suggested. All items were highly correlated with the total scores of the BAI, GAD-7, and Penn State Worry Questionnaire. IRT analysis indicated the K-ANX was most informative as a screening tool for anxiety disorders at the range between 0.8 and 1.6 (i.e., top 21.2 to 5.5 percentiles). Higher sensitivity (0.795) and specificity (0.937) for identifying anxiety disorders were observed in the K-ANX compared to the BAI and GAD-7. Conclusion The K-ANX is a reliable and valid measure to screen anxiety disorders in a Korean sample, with greater sensitivity and specificity than current measures of anxiety symptoms.

• Journal of Platform Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2021

Our daily lives have changed a lot because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is essential to reduce the spread of COVID-19 due to public health measures such as social distancing. At the same time, however, they are exposed to depression, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, trauma and stress-related disorders. For this, we developed an application that can check HRV data and stress index by measuring ECG and PPG based on a Smart Watch device that can measure bio-signals in real time. In the case of the developed application, the heart rate is measured and displayed in real time to deliver basic exercise information by measuring exercise, steps and calories, and total distance, and smoothly based on blood pressure, heart rate, and HRV data as a measurement program. Through this, I believe that the IoT Smart Stress Care Application, which can manage mental health by itself, will be helpful to patients with stress and depressive trauma disorders.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.80-86
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• 2001

The purposes of this study were to: a) examine characteristics of foodservice management practices; b) investigate characteristics of recipients; c) analyze foodservice systems; and d) provide feedback for the efficient and effective foodservice management of mental disorder care sites in Korea. A total of 46 sites was analyzed by questionnaire survey. Statistical data analysis was completed using the SPSS package program for descriptive analysis. As results of site recipients' characteristics, 60% of total sites were males and 40% were female recipients. Average 60% of recipients were from 30 to 40 years old. Major diseases of recipients were mental disorder, high pressure, and obesity. According to the result of foodservice system analysis, the average meal cost per day was about 2,921 won and average food cost percentage was 39%. Average number of meals per day was about 600 meals. All sites had on dietitian and 88.3% of sites had one cook as a full-time employees. In the part of procurement, dietitians were major chargers of sites for purchasing foods. Major purchasing method was the order and delivery contract. About a half of sites used cycle menu system and standardized recipies. Most of sites had recipients survey systems for evaluating meal satisfaction. About 60% of sites provided liquid diets to recepients and 22% provided diabetic diets. Dietitians at sites had problems on low meal cost budget, lack of cooking professionals, and lack of information about treatment meals for mental disorders for providing higher quality of foods cure recipients. The results suggested that financial and systematical supports by the government would be very necessary to meet the goal of nutritional balanced meal services.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2006

Objectives : Since prostitution is multitraumatic phenomena, it is known that most women in prostitution have symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental illness. In Korea, new anti-prostitution law launched in the year of 2004 imposes protecting prostituted victims at government-supported shelter. The objective of this study was to compare the mental symptoms, especially PTSD features of women who escaped from prostitution with those of control subjects. Methods : We assessed 113 ex-prostituted women who live in shelter for 8 months on the average and 65 normal control subjects. Demographic data, questionnaire for sleep, physical illness, smoking, alcohol and drug use, Stress Response Inventory, Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS), Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) were used. Results : Ex-prostituted women had significantly higher scores of DTS, IES-R, stress related responses, sleep problems, smoking problems, and alcohol problems than control group. Age and duration of sex trade of the subjects were significantly correlated with the severity or frequency of PTSD symptoms. The degree of smoking, alcohol drinking and sleep problems were also significantly correlated with the PTSD symptoms. Conclusion : These results suggested mental symptoms did not disappear even after women escaped from prostitution.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.70-80
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was conducted to explore the mediating effects of internalized stigma on the relationship between hospitalization stress and quality of life among patients with mental illness in closed wards. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed. The participants were 141 hospitalized patients with mental illness in the closed wards of K university hospital and Y psychiatric hospital in Korea. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires including hospitalization stress, internalized stigma and quality of life. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 21.0 programs and the mediating effects were examined by the method suggested by Baron and Kenny. Results: There was a significant correlation between hospitalization stress, internalized stigma and quality of life of psychiatric patients. In addition, internalized stigma was found to have a partial mediating effect on the relationship between hospitalization stress and quality of life. Conclusion: The results suggest that the internalized stigma plays an important role in improving the quality of life of the people with mental illness in a closed unit. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a program focusing on internalized stigma for improving the quality of life in hospitalized patients in a closed unit.