• 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 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.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.419-428
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• 2020

Objectives: Adolescent suicide is a global problem. This study aimed to identify associations between parental marital status and suicidal behavior. Methods: This study analyzed 118 715 middle and high school students from the 13th and 14th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. The odds ratios (ORs) of suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts were calculated based on parental marital status, living situation, and socioeconomic factors. The data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Results: When compared to those living with 2 married biological parents, the ORs of suicidal ideation among adolescents living with either remarried or no parents were 1.34 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17 to 1.53) and 1.36 (95% CI, 1.11 to 1.66), respectively. For suicidal planning, the OR of those living with 1 remarried biological parent was 1.24 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.52), and that of those living without parents was 1.28 (95% CI, 0.95 to 1.73), when compared to adolescents living with 2 married biological parents. For suicide attempts, when compared to adolescents with 2 married biological parents, the OR of those living with 1 remarried biological parent was 1.48 (95% CI, 1.17 to 1.87) and that of those living without parents was 2.02 (95% CI, 1.44 to 2.83). For adolescents living with 1 remarried biological parent, suicidal behavior was strongly associated with having no siblings and were weakly associated with not living with grandparents. Conclusions: Suicidal behavior among adolescents was associated with the remarriage and loss of parents. Therefore, special attention and interventions are needed for adolescents in those situations.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.82-88
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• 1997

Background : Patients with command hallucinations are commonly assumed to be at high risk for dangerous behavior. However the issue of whether command hallucinations hold any clinical relevance in schizophrenic patients has not been established. Method : The author analyzed the clinical and research records of schizophrenic patients with auditory hallucinations who participated in outpatient research follow-up for 9 months after discharge. Patients with auditory hallucinations were classified as experiencing or not experiencing command hallucinations based on clinical psychiatric assessment. Results : Of 63 patients with auditory hallucinations, 29(46%) reported the command hallucinations and these hallucinations often were violent in content(44.8%). Patients with command hallucinations were not significantly different from patients without command hallucinations on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and clinical or prognostic course variables, but patients with command hallucinations had significantly more short hospitalizations(less than one month) than patients without command hallucinations. 3 of the patients with command hallucinations who committed suicide during the follow up periods were died. Conclusion : Command hallucinations may be frequent, and in most cases they have minimal influence on the outcome of schizophrenia, but if the patients with command hallucinations have a history of suicide attempts before admission, the possibility of suicide attempts by command hallucinations should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.36-49
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• 2021

Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide, especially among adolescents and young adults. Considering this fact, it is imperative that we understand the neural mechanisms underlying suicidal thoughts and behaviors in youth from a neurodevelopmental perspective. In this review, we focused on the magnetic resonance imaging studies that examined the neural correlates of suicidal ideations (SI) or attempts (SA) in youth. We reviewed twenty-three cross-sectional studies reporting the structural and functional alterations in association with SI or SA among adolescents and young adults with various mental disorders. The previous literature suggests that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and ventral frontolimbic circuit, may play an important role in the pathophysiology of suicidal behavior in youth through altered top-down control over emotion and impulsivity. Future studies with a longitudinal design and using multimodal imaging techniques may be of help to identify novel therapeutic targets specific for youth with suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.329-341
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• 2018

This study was a qualitative study performed to understand the nature and structure of the suicide attempt process experienced by maladjustment soldiers. The survey participants targeted 10 soldiers who entered 'Camp Green' due to lack of duty by the 00 Corps of ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$ Prefecture. Data were collected by individual in-depth interviews from October 2016 to September 2017 and analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method. The suicide attempt process by maladjusted soldiers was delineated into four categories such as 'A prison without bars', 'Walk on eggshells', 'A pretentious series of life', and 'A life of desperation'; 9 theme clusters; and 25 themes. As a result, maladjusted soldiers had a generally negative experience related to military culture. Soldiers who fail to adapt to military culture will show extreme behavior unless they are able to overcome their depression. Unless specific understanding of the suicide attempt process is attained, the suicide prevention policies of mission-maladjusted soldiers will be ineffective. The results of this study hope to serve as the basis for a suicide prevention and nursing intervention program.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.24-33
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• 2024

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate individual- and community-level factors on suicidal ideation and suicide attempt among Korean adults. Methods : This study was conducted on 225,965 adults collected through data from the 2021 Community Health Survey and the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS). The general characteristics, suicidal behavior (e.g., suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts), and community-level characteristics of the study subjects were analyzed using frequency (%) and mean (standard deviation). The effects on individual- and community-level factors on suicidal ideation and suicide attempts was analyzed using multilevel logistic regression models. Results : The community-level factor associated with suicidal ideation was unmet health care (Odds Ratio [OR]=1.053, 95% CI=1.035-1.071), and the community-level factor associated with suicide attempt was the aging rate (OR=1.015, 95% CI=1.001-1.030). Regarding health-related variables, the individual-level factors associated with suicidal ideation were stress status (OR=9.388, 95% CI=8.629-10.213), depressive experience in the past year (OR=6.737, 95% CI=6.454-7.032), and the predominantly individual-level factors associated with suicide attempt were also stress status (OR=5.213, 95% CI=3.699-7.347), and depressive experience in the last one year (OR=13.433, 95% CI: 11.247-16.044). Conclusions : We confirmed individual-level and community-level factors influencing suicidal ideation and suicide attempt. Through these findings, we need to establish suicide prevention policies, considering managing individual-level factors such as stress and depression as well as community-level factors such as unmet health care.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.13-29
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of stress, depressive mood and suicide ideation with oral health behavior in Korean adolescents. Methods: The subjects were 57,904 adolescents who were selected from the web-based survey of the 10th(2014) Korean Youth Risk Behavior of Korean Center for Disease Control. Data were analyzed by SPSS 18.0. A web-based self-reported questionnaire was completed by 72,060 middle and high school students. The subjects consisted of 28,269 man students(48.8%) and 29,635 women students(51.2%) from 500 middle schools and 400 high schools. Results: Multiple logistic regression analysis after adjustment to demographic characteristics and stress, depressive mood and suicide ideation by man and women of middle, high school students the subjects whose have had different oral health behaviors. low level of stress, do not think about suicide ideation, they were increased their oral brushing frequency of yesterday($$3{\geq_-}$$) with brushing after lunch(p<0.05). alternatively subjects whose do not have depressive mood, they were decreased their oral health behaviors(p<0.05). Conclusions: According to gender by middle and high school students are mental health of the youth, which has direct and indirect effects on physical health, is closely associated with their oral health according to oral health behaviors.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.455-463
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• 2022

Objectives: Economic hardship has a serious impact on adolescents' mental health. The financial impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was more severe for low-income families, and this also impacted adolescents. This study aimed to examine the associations of economic deterioration (ED) caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and low socioeconomic status (SES) with adolescents' suicidal behaviors. Methods: This study analyzed data from the 2020 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, which included 54 948 middle and high school students. Odds ratios (ORs) of suicidal ideation, suicidal planning, and suicide attempts related to ED and SES were calculated using multivariable logistic regression. We calculated relative excess risks due to interaction to assess additive interactions. Results: The ORs for suicidal ideation, suicidal planning, and suicide attempts related to combined severe ED and low SES were 3.64 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.13 to 4.23), 3.88 (95% CI, 3.09 to 4.88), and 4.27 (95% CI, 3.21 to 5.69), respectively. Conclusions: ED and low SES were significantly associated with suicidal behaviors in adolescents. Although no significant additive interaction was found, the ORs related to suicidal ideation, suicidal planning, and suicide attempts were highest among adolescents from low-income families with severe ED. Special attention is needed for this group, considering the increased impact of economic inequality due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.109-120
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing emotional and behavioral characteristics of high school students. Methods: This was a descriptive survey using a convenience sample of 672. $1^{st}$, $2^{nd}$ and $3^{rd}$ grade high school students in Inchoen city. Emotional and behavioral characteristics were measured by AMPQ-II scale consisting of 38 items and depression was measured by BDI consisting of 21 items. The subjects were given a self-reporting questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed by frequency, mean, t-test, ANOVA, Scheff$\acute{e}$-test, ${\chi}^2$-test and multiple regression using the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. Results: General high school students and vocational high school students were more likely to have emotional or behavior troubles, experience depression, and plan suicide than special-purpose high school students. Significant predictors influencing emotional and behavior characteristics were the 'type of high school' and 'depression'. Conclusion: There is a need to develop school-based mental health programs, especially targeting female students, general high school students and vocational high school students.