• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.172-180
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• 2000

Objectives : We investigated the characteristics of perceived stress response and relationship between some variables of gastrointestinal symptoms(esp., dyspepsia) and subscales of perceived stress response inventory(PSRI) in patients with upper gastointestinal disorder when they perceived stress. Methods : 84 patients with upper gastrointestinal disorder(gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer etc.) and 94 normal controls completed the PSRI developed by Korean psychiatrists. The patient group performed the questionnaire including some variables of gastrointestinal symptoms. Results : Internal consistency was statistically significant in all subscales of PSRI. The patient group was significantly higher at total score of PSRI, general somatic symptom subscale score, specific somatic symptom score than control group. As the result of stepwise regression analysis for relationship between some variables of gastrointestinal symptoms ans subscales of PSRI, specific somatic symptom subsclae closely related with illness duration, past illness history and severity of symptom, and the lowered cognitive function & general negative thinking subscale related with the existence of emotional distress. Conclusion : Patients with upper gastrointestinal disorder showed stronger perceived stress response than control group and they experiences somatic symptoms related to autonomic nervous system and/or gastrointestinal symtoms rather than emotional, cognitive, behavioral symtoms when they perceived stress. They also responded to stress as they expeirenced specific somatic symtom when they had long illness duration, past illness history, and high severity of symptom and the existence of emotional distress could develop lowered congnitive function and general negative thinking.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2000

Objectives : The object of this study was to make a comparison regarding perceived stressor, perceived stress responses, and coping strategies between patients with gastric ulcer and patients with chronic gastritis. Subject and Methods : Subjects consisted of 40 patients with gastric ulcer and 100 patients with chronic superficial gastritis. Global assessment of recent stress(GARS) scale and perceived stress response inventory(PSRI) were used to measure perception for stressors and stress responses. Coping scale was used to measure coping strategies. Results : Scores of perceived stress related to work or job, changes in relationship on GARS scale were significantly higher in patients with gastric ulcer than those with chronic gastritis. Scores of perceived stress responses related to general somatic symptom, specific somatic symptom, passive-responsive and careless behavior on PSRI were significantly higher in patients with chronic gastritis than those with gastric ulcer. Scores of seeking social support, escape-avoidance on coping scale were significantly higher in patients with gastric ulcer than those with chronic gastritis. Conclusion : The above results suggest that perception for stressors were likely to be higher in patients with gastric ulcer than those with gastritis, whereas perception for stress responses were likely to be higher in the latter than the former. It is also suggested that patients with gastric ulcer were likely to use more dependent and passive coping strategies than patients with gastritis.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.26-41
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• 1999

The perceived stress response inventory(PSRI) was developed to measure 4 types of current stress responses : emotional, somatic, cognitive, and behavioral responses. 242 patients with psychiatric disorders(71 patients with anxiety disorders, 73 patients with depressive disorders, 47 patients with somatoform disorders, 51 patients with psychosomatic disorders) and 215 healthy subjects completed the questionnaire including the PSRI. Global assessment of recent stress(GARS) scale, perceived stress questionnaire(PSQ) and symptom checklist-90-revised(SCL-90-R) were also administered at the same time. Factor analysis for each of 4 types of stress responses yielded 8 factors : negative emotional responses, general somatic symptoms, specific somatic symptoms, lowered cognitive function and general negative thinking, self-depreciative thinking, impulsive-aggressive thinking, passive-responsive and careless behavior, and impulsive-aggressive behavior. Both test-restest reliability(r= .83 -.93) and internal consistency(Cronbach's alpha : .79 -.96 for each of 8 subscales and .98 for total items of the scale) were all at statistically significant levels. Total scores of the PSRI significantly correlated with total scores of GARS scale, PSQ, and global indicies of SCL-90-R, respectively. The patient group had significantly higher scores than healthy subjects in each of all the subscales except impulsive-aggressive behavior subscale. These results suggest that the PSRI is a reliable and valid tool stable over time which may be effectively used for the research in stress-related field including psychosomatic medicine.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2002

Objectives : The object of this study was to investigate the relationship between coping strategies and perceived stress or pain discomfort in patients with chronic low back pain. 80 patients with chronic low back pain and 100 normal controls participated in this study. Methods: Global assessment of recent stress (GARS) scale and Stress Response Inventory (SRI) were used to measure perception for stressors and stress responses. Coping scale and pain discomfort scale were used to measure coping strategies and pain perception. Results : Scores of perceived stress related to work or job, interpersonal relationship, changes in relationship, sickness or illness and the total scores on the GARS scale were significantly higher in those with chronic low back pain than normal controls. Scores of the SRI fatigue subscale scored significantly higher in those with chronic low back pain than normal controls. No significant difference was found on total scores of the pain discomfort scale between those with chronic low back pain and normal controls. The patients with chronic low back pain scored significantly higher on planful problem solving and positive reappraisal than normal controls. In the patient group, pain perception had significant positive correlations with total scores of the SRI and scores of stress perception related to illness or injury. The extent of escape-avoidance showed significant negative correlations with age, whereas the extent of distancing or escape-avoidance had significant negative correlations with the level of education. Significant difference was also found in accepting responsibilities between male subjects and females. However, no significant correlations were found between coping strategies and perceived stressors, stress responses or pain perception. Conclusion : The results suggest that patients with chronic low back pain were more likely to use more active coping strategies than normal controls, though the former had more perception for stressors than the latter. It was also found that coping strategies used by the patients were associated with sociodemographic factors, but that they were not associated with perceived stressors, stress responses or pain perception.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.201-211
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• 2000

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliablity of the Korean version of the Global Assessment of Recent Stress(GARS) Scale developed for assessing the severity of current perceived stressors, and then to use the scale in clinical practice. Methods : The questionnaire was completed by 215 healthy subjects. A comparison was made regarding the perception of stressors among 242 patients(71 with anxiety disorder, 73 with depressive disorder, 47 with somatoform disorder, and 51 with psychosomatic disorder) and 215 healthy subjects. Factor analysis was done using oblique rotation after maximum-likelihood factor analysis. Results : Factor analysis yielded 1 subscale. Reliability was computed by administering the GARS Scale to 69 healthy subjects during a 2-week interval. Test-retest reliability for 8 items and the total score was significantly high, ranging between 0.85-.95. Internal consistency was significant(Cronbach's a for 7 items : .86). Convergent validity was computed by correlating the 8 items and the total score with the total score of the stress response inventory(SRI), the perceived stress questionnaire(PSQ), and the somatization, anxiety, depression, hostility subscales and general indices of the symptom checklist-90-revised(SCL-90-R). The correlations were all at significant levels. Discriminant validity was computed by comparing the 8 item scores of the patient and control groups. Significant differences were found in area relevant to sickness or illness and the overill global area. The patients with anxiety disorder were significantly higher in area relevant to sickness or illness than the healthy group, whereas the patients with depressive disorder was significantly higher in the overall global score than healthy group. The depressive disorder group was the highest in overall global score of the GARS scale among 4 patient groups, and showed a significant higher scores in interpersonal relationship and overall global area than the psychosomatic disorder group. Conclusions : These results indicate that the Korean version of the GARS scale is highly reliable and valid, and that it can be utilized as an effective measure of perceived stressors for research in stress-related fields. It is suggested that depressive disorder patients are more likely to perceive recent stressors than psychosomatic disorder patients.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2003

Objectives: The object of this study was to compare perceived stress and quality of life among patients with HIV infection, patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and normal controls. Methods: Stress response inventory(SRI) and Symptom checklist 90-Revised(SCL-90-R) were used to measure perceived stress responses and psychopathology. Smithklein Beecham quality of life scale was used to measure quality of life. Results: Patients with HIV infection scored significantly higher on scores of tension, anger, depression, fatigue and frustration subscale of the SRI than those with pulmonary tuberculosis and normal controls. Scores of the SCL-90-R, somatization, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation and psychoticism subscale were also significantly higher in patients with HIV infection than those with pulmonary tuberculosis and normal controls. Patients with HIV infection scored significantly lower in quality of life than those with pulmonary tuberculosis. In patients with HIV infection, age had a significantly negative correlation with scores of somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation and psychoticism subscale of the SCL-90-R. but the level of education had a significantly positive correlation with somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation and psychoticism subscale of the SCL-90-R. Conclusion: The results suggest that patients with HIV positive were likely to have higher levels of perceived stress response and psychopathology, and lower quality of life than those with pulmonary tuberculosis and normal controls.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.120-129
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• 2002

Objectives : The object of this study was to compare perceived stress and quality of life among patients with HIV infection, patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and normal controls Methods: Stress Response Inventory(SRI) and Symptom checklist 90-Revised(SCL-90-R) were used to measure perceived stress responses and psychopathology. Smithklein Beecham quality of life scale was used to measure quality of life. Results : Patients with HIV infection scored significantly higher on scores of tension, anger, depression, fatigue and frustration subscale of the SRI than those with pulmonary tuberculosis and normal controls. Scores of the SCL-90-R, somatization, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation and psychoticism subscale were also significantly higher in patients with HIV infection than those with pulmonary tuberculosis and normal controls. Patients with HIV infection scored significantly lower in quality of life than those with pulmonary tuberculosis. In patients with HIV infection, age had a significantly negative correlation with scores of somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation and psychoticism sub scale of the SCL-90-R. but the level of education had a significantly positive correlation with somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation and psychoticism sub scale of the SCL-90-R. Conclusion : The results suggest that patients with HIV positive were likely to have higher levels of perceived stress response and psychopathology, and lower quality of life than those with pulmonary tuberculosis and normal controls.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the various aspects of stress in patients with chronic prostatitis. Methods : Thirty two chronic prostatitis patients meeting the criteria of NIH-category III were compared with sixty four controls. Data pertaining to the source of, response to, and coping with stress, as well as chronic prostatitis symptom index were collected using a self-report questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of a Global Assessment of Recent Stress(GARS), Stress Response Inventory(SRI), Ways of Coping Checklist(WCC), in addition to the NIH-CPSI. Results : From the results of GARS subscales, the scores of changes in relationship, sickness or injury and financial were significantly higher in patients with chronic prostatitis than normal controls. Chronic prostatitis patients had greater amplification of somatization, depression and anger in SRI and significantly lower score in ways of coping checklist compared with controls. In the NIH-CPSI of chronic prostatitis patients, the degree of symptom played a role in depression as stress response item and significant negative correlationship between the symptom point and problem focused, seeking social support coping strategy was observed. Conclusion : These results show that patients with chronic prostatitis have greater stress, higher stress response and insufficient coping strategy. Therefore, these efforts should be considered that enhancing healthier coping strategy and evaluation and management of stress experienced by chronic protatitis patients

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.136-143
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• 2021

Objectives : The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is a global medical crisis imposing particular burden on public sector employees. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychiatric distress among public sector workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods : We conducted a cross-sectional study with 531 public sector workers in Gwangmyung city who completed Korean versions of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Impact of Event Scale-Revised-Korean (IES-R-K). Results : The results revealed more than moderate levels of stress (85.2%), depressive symptoms (22.2%), and posttraumatic stress symptoms (38.8%). PSS total score was significantly correlated with PHQ-9, IES-R-K total scores as well as IES-R-K subscale scores. Total scores on the PSS, PHQ-9, and IES-R-K were all inversely correlated with age. Conclusions : COVID-19-related workers experience considerable stress and depressive symptoms, with self-rated stress correlating significantly with depression scores. Age may serve as a protective factor against occupational stress and burnout. These findings highlight the need for adequate psychiatric screening and intervention for public sector workers.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.207-214
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• 1996

The study was designed to find out the effect of exam stress and vitamin B complex on hormones such as plasma ACTH, cortisol and prolactin. 21 medical students completed the whole period of the study. Global assessment of recent stress(GARS) scale and SCL-90-R were used to measure stress perception and psychopathology. Radioimmunoassay was used to assess plasma ACTH, cortisol and prolactin. Plasma ACTH level was significantly higher 2 weeks prior to examination and exam period, respectively, than 4 weeks prior to the exam. However, there were no significant differences in plasma cortisol and prolactin level among the three periods. No significant differences were also found in plasma ACTH, cortisol and prolactin level between vitamin and non-vitamin groups during each period. Scores of stress perception in economic area significantly had a positive correlation with plasma ACTH and prolactin level, respectively, 2 weeks prior to the exam. In psychopathology, scores of hostility subscale significantly had a Positive correlation with plasma ACTH level. There were no significant differences in change of each of the hormones over time as well as between vitamin and non-vitamin groups. In conclusion, it was found that ACTH was more sensitive to exam stress than cortisol or prolactin, and that vitamin B complex had no significant influence on ACTH, cortisol and prolactin level.