• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2003

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate 1) the prevalence of depressive symptoms, 2) the severity of depressive symptoms, 3) the correlation of depressive symptoms with clinical variables, and 4) factors that contribute to depressive symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods: One hundred eighteen patients with Parkinson's disease referred from the Parkinson's Disease Clinic of Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea, completed a self-administered questionnaire package, which included basic demographic data, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Parkinson's disease quality of life questionnaire, the Symptom Checklist-90-Revision(SCL-90-R), and the Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. In addition, a structured interview and a complete neurological examination, including the Hoehn and Yahr stage, the motor part of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale(some selected scales of UPDRS part III), the Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living scale(ADL), and the Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination were performed. Results: 1) Based on BDI score, subjects were divided into four groups:severely(40.7%), moderately(13.6%) and mildly(12.7%) depressive and non-depressive(33.1%). 2) The severity of depressive symptom in Parkinson's disease was positively correlated with Hoehn and Yahr(H & Y) stage(r=0.34, p<0.0001), the severity of motor symptom(r=0.35, p<0.0001), and trait anxiety inventory(r=0.33, p<0.001). On the other hand, the severity of depressive symptom was negatively correlated with educational level(r=-0.34, p<0.001), ADL(r=-0.37, p<0.0001) and Parkinson's disease quality of life (PDQL)(r=-0.69, p<0.0001). Among several clinical variables, the PDQL was the most influential factor predicting whether the depressive symptom was present or not. Conclusion: This study suggests that depressive symptom is very prevalent among patients with Parkinson's disease. Data from this study indicate that medical staffs who take care of patients with Parkinson's disease should pay attention to finding and treating depressive symptom among their patients. With appropriate psychiatric intervention, patient's depressive symptom can be minimized or alleviated and thus, the quality of life in these patients is likely enhanced.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.43-54
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate the effect of acupuncture with various scales on symptoms of Idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Methods: Subjects were voluntarily recruited through newspapers and internet advertisement. All the subjects were confirmed as idiopathic parkinson's disease by a neurologist. The acupuncture therapy was performed twice a week for 4 weeks by oriental medical doctor at Kyung-hee University hospital. Patients were randomly assigned to three groups : sham acupuncture group, acupuncture treatment group and Sasang-Constitution acupuncture treatment group. Acupun cture points used in acupuncture treatment group were $GB_{34}$, $LR_3$, and $ST_{36}$, which were proven to be effective in rat Parkinson's disease study. Acupuncture points used in sham treatment were non-acupoints near $GB_{34}$, $LR_3$, and $ST_{36}$. In Sasang-Constitution acupuncture treatment, we classfied Sasang constitution of patients by QSCCII. Acupuncture was applied based on theory of Korean medicine. The patient's symptoms were assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment by one evaluator with Unified Kingdom Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), modified Hoehn-Yahr(H-Y) stage, and Schwab & England activ ity of daily living and freezing of gait questionnaire (FOGQ). Results : The results were as follows ; 1. UPDRS IV score differences between sham group and Sasang-Constitution acupuncture treatment were statistically significant(p=0.001). 2. UPDRS total score differences between Sasang-Constitution acupuncture treatment and acupuncture treatment group, Sasang-Constitution acupuncture treatment and sham group were statistically significant(p=0.041, p=0.014). 5. FOGQ score differences between Sasang-Constitution acupuncture treatment and acupuncture treatment group, Sasang-Constitution acupuncture treatment and sham group were statistically significant(p=0.001, p=0.001). Conclusion : The results suggest Sasang-Constitution acupuncture treatment can be applicable to improve symptoms in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.231-239
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• 2005

Purpose: Investigation of the quality of life (QoL), family support and associated variables in patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods: The data were collected from 102 patients registered in the neurology department of C University Hospital. QoL was assessed using the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) and Family Support Scale. Modified Hoehn and Yahr (H & Y) stages were obtained from an interview and clinical examination by a neurologist. Collected data were analyzed using the SAS program. Results: The participants' PDQ-39 average score was 34.34. The scores were significantly higher for participants who were older, who had a job and who were over 2.5 on the H & Y stage. The average for Family support scores was 41.6. Participants who had a living spouse, religion and a job scored higher than those who did not. PDQ-39 score had a positive correlation with age, job, and H & Y stage. Family support and PDQ-39 score were also positively correlated. Conclusion: It is recommended a program involving family that improves family support and be developed and that it be varied according to different H & Y stages, in order to improve QoL.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2017

Objective: To describe the effects of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) on a patient diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Methods: The patient was treated with Korean medicine, including pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, and Chungpajunsin-bang. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and modified Hoehn and Yahr staging (H-Y stage) were used to measure changes in amplitude and improvements in the patient's symptoms. Results: After treatment with the Korean medicine, according to the UPDRS and H-Y stage assessments, the patient's tremor improved, with the tremor amplitude decreasing from 30 cm to 5 cm. Conclusions: We suggest that TKM could be effective in reducing tremor in Parkinson's disease.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.954-961
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• 2006

As society ages, the seriousness of Parkinson's disease in the elderly increases. This study was performed in order to evaluate the effect of Korean medical treatments on Parkinson's symptoms. An elderly patient was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease by clinical symptoms, which were resting tremor, pill-rolling tremor and mild bradykinesia. We treated her disease with Korean medical treatment, including herbal medicine and acupuncture therapy and excluding western medication. For the herbal medicine, Insamyangyeong-tang (人參養榮湯), Bobi-tang (補脾湯), Dokhwaljihwang-tang (獨活地黃湯) and Sipimijihwang-tang (十二味地黃湯) were primarily used. In result, the clinical symptoms, measured by unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS) and modified Hoehn and Yahr stage (H-Y stage), of Parkinson's disease in this patient had improved after the Korean medical treatment. This study suggests that Korean medical treatments can be applicable to improve symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.363-373
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• 2011

Purpose: Fatigue is a common problem in Parkinson's disease (PD), affecting 30~65% of patients with that diagnosis. Only recently has fatigue been recognized as an important clinical feature of PD. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of fatigue and related factors in patients with PD. Methods: Between March 1, and September, 30, 2010, a sample of 181 PD patients agreed to be interviewed. Results: The female patients' PFS (Parkinson Fatigue Scale) score was higher than those of the male patients. Household income and having a Job were significantly correlated with the PFS scores. Among the disease characteristics, motor fluctuations, dyskinesia and modified Hoehn and Yahr stage were significantly correlated with the PFS scores. On stepwise regression analysis, the most important factors related to the PFS scores were depression and sleep disturbance. Conclusion: Fatigue in patients with PD was associated with many factors and strongly associated with depression and sleep disturbance. Fatigue is a multidimensional construct; therefore, multidimensional strategies for relieving specific aspects of fatigue are needed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.172-183
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• 2003

Objective : This study was designed to determine whether manual acupuncture therapy is effective for symptoms of patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Methods : Nineteen patients consecutively enrolled in this study. The subjects were divided into two groups : the first group (n=12) discontinued antiparkinsonian drug treatment, the second group (n=7) continued antiparkinsonian drug treatment Acupuncture therapy was performed twice a week for 8 weeks. In the first group, the acupuncture was performed after 2 weeks of drug wash-out period. The patient's symptoms were assessed at pre-treatment, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the acupuncture by unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS), modified Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) stage, Schwab & England activity of daily living and Freezing of Gait Questionnaire(FOGQ). Results : In the first group that discontinued. antiparkinsonian drug treatment, the total UPDRS scores were significantly improved after 4 weeks (p=0.0l4) and after 8 weeks (p=0.049) compared to the pre-treatment. Particularly, the scores of UPDRS III were significantly improved after 8 weeks (p=0.032). In the second group that continued antiparkinsonian drug treatment, the total UPDRS scores were significantly improved after 4 weeks (p=0.027) and after 8 weeks (p=0.018). Particularly, the scores of UPDRS II were significantly improved after 4 weeks (p=0.042) and after 8 weeks (p=0.043), and UPDRS IV were significantly improved after 8 weeks (p=0.043). The scores of ADL were significantly improved after 8 weeks (p=0.046). Conclusion : This study suggests that manual acupuncture therapy is effective for the improvement of certain symptoms in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.91-97
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• 2005

Objective : This study was designed to evaluate the effect of moxibustion with various scales on symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Methods : Subjects were voluntarily recruited by newspapers and internet. All the subjects are confirmed as idiopathic parkinson's disease by a neurologist. The moxibustion therapy was performed 5 times a week by patient's family at home and once a week by oriental medical doctor at hospital. Moxibustion points were GV2O, CV12, ST36, BL18, BL2O. Intensity was up to pain threshold according to patients not to get burned. The patient's symptoms were assessed before, after 4 weeks and after 8 weeks treatment by unified Parkinson's disease rating scale(UPDRS), modified Hoehn-Yahr(H-Y) stage, Schwab & England activity of daily living and freezing of gait questionnaire(FOGQ). Results : Total UPDRS scores were significantly improved after 4 weeks(p<0.01) and after 8 weeks(p<0.01) compared to the pre-treatment. There were significant changes in H-Y stage after 4 weeks(p<0.05), but there were no significant changes in H-Y stage after 8 weeks. The scores of ADL were not significantly improved after 4 weeks(p>0.05) and after 8 weeks(p>0.05). There were significant changes in FOGQ scale after 4 weeks(p=0.05) and but there were no significant changes in FOGQ scale after 8 weeks(p=0.13). Conclusion : This study suggests that moxibustion treatments can be applicable to improve symptoms in the patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.59-68
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• 2004

Objective : This study was designed to evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture with various scales on symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Methods : Subjects were voluntarily recruited by newspapers and internet. All the subjects are confirmed as idiopathic parkinson's disease by a neurologist. The acupuncture therapy was performed twice a week for 8 weeks. Acupuncture points for EA group were GB34, and LR3, electrical stimulation frequency was 120Hz, duration 15 minutes, and intensity is up to pain threshold according to patients. The patient's symptoms were assessed before, after 4 weeks and after 8 weeks treatments by unified Parkinson's disease rating scale(UPDRS), modified Hoehn-Yahr(H-Y) stage, Schwab & England activity of daily living and freezing of gait questionnaire(FOGQ). Results : UPDRS I, II, III, IV and total UPDRS scores were significantly improved after 4 weeks(p<0.05) and after 8 weeks(p<0.05) compared to the pre-treatment. The scores of ADL were significantly improved after 4 weeks(p<0.05) and after 8 weeks(p<0.05). There were significant changes in H-Y stage after 4 weeks(p<0.05), but There were no significant changes in H-Y stage after 8 weeks. There were significant changes in FOGQ scale after 4 weeks(p<0.05) and after 8 weeks(p<0.05). Conclusion : This study suggests that electroacupuncutre treatments can be applicable to improve symptoms in the patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 2007

Objective : To report cases of patients with Parkinson's syndrome. Design : Case-series Patients and methods : 35 of patients with Parkinson's syndrome who visited Department of Cardiovascular and Neurologic Diseases of Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center were treated by acupuncture and herbal medicine from May until December 2007. 35 patients were participated in this study. 21 patients were dropped out during the trial, and we evaluated symptom progress of 14 patients by using several questionnaires such as Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale(UPDRS), modified Hoehn & Yahr stage (H&Y stage) and Schwab & England ADL scale(S&E ADL scale). Results : The whole group consists of 14 male patients and 21 female patients. Mean±SD age range is 64.5±8.4. There were no significant differences of the demographic and clinical characteristics between the case group and drop-out group. The mean±SD medical treatment period of the Case group were 8.4±6.3weeks, the mean±SD of the total score in first medical treatment UPDRS section 1~3 were 29.6±11.0, the mean±SD of the final score were 27.1±12.6, all of which showed significant improvement(p=0.007). There were no significant changes on the H&Y stage and S&E ADL scale. Conclusion : Patients with Parkinson's syndrome who visited Department of Cardiovascular and Neurologic diseases of Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center had a tendency of showing improvement in clinical symptoms.