• 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.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.2
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• pp.233-240
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to make a comparison in perceived stressor and psychopathology among premenstrual, menstrual and postmenstrual phases, in high school girls. Three hundred forty-one high school girls(164 academic school girls, 177 art school girls) participated in this study. Global assessment of recent stress(GARS) scale and symptom checklist-90-revised(SCL-90R) were used to measure perceived stressors and psychopathology. The scores of perceived stressor relevant to change in relationships were significantly higher during the premenstrual and the postmenstrual phases than during the menstrual phase. However, no significant differences were found in psychopathology among three mentstrual phases. Scores of perceived stressor relevant to change or no change in routine were significantly higher in academic school girls than in art school girls. The scores of obsessive-compulsion subscale and positive symptom total were significantly higher in academic school girls than in art school girls. In conclusion, a perceived stressor was higher during the premenstrual and the postmenstrual phases than during the menstrual phase in adolescents, but psychopathology was not related to the menstrual cycle. These results indicated that the psychopathology in adolescent girls might be influenced by other factors than menstrual cycle.

• 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.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.11 no.2
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• pp.159-169
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• 2003

Objectives: The object of this study was to compare between perceived stress, coping strategies and quality of life between parents of childhood cancer and normal controls. Methods: Global assessment of recent stress(GARS) scale and symptom checklist-90-revised (SCL-90-R) were used to measure perception for stressors and stress responses(psychopathology). Coping scale and Smithklein Beecham quality of life scale were used to measure coping strategies and quality of life. Results: Scores of perceived stress related to interpersonal, changes in relationship, sickness or illness, financial, unusual happenings on the GARS scale were significantly higher in parents of childhood cancer than normal controls. Scores of the SCL-90-R, somatization, depression, anxiety, hostility subscale were also significantly higher in parents of childhood cancer than normal controls. Scores of self control and positive reappraisal were significantly higher in parents of childhood cancer than normal controls. Parents of childhood cancer scored significantly lower in quality of life than normal controls. Scores of depression were also significantly higher in parents of children diagnosed as acute lymphocytic leukemia(ALL) than those as acute nonlymphocytic leukemia(ANLL). Conclusions: The results suggest that patients with parents of childhood cancer were likely to have higher levels of perceived stressor and psychopathology and lower quality of life than normal controls.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.81-92
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• 2001

Stress has been linked to the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of various psychiatric illnesses. Over the past few years, our understanding of the brain and neuroendocrine systems that are linked to stress responses has increased enormously. This article reviews a series of animal and human studies to understand what are the central pathways by which stress is perceived, processed, and transduced into a neuroendocrine response. We focus on the limbic-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(LHPA) axis and several neurotransmitter systems such as norepinephrine, CRF, serotonin, acetylcholine, and dopamine. LHPA stress circuit is a complex system with multiple control mechanisms which are altered in pathological states. CRF and related peptides in the central nervous system appear to enhance behavioral responses to stressors. Norepinephrine systems are also activated by stressors and cause the release of catecholamines from the autonomic nervous system. CRF-norepinephrine interaction makes a feed-forward system which may be important for an organism to mobilize not only the pituitary system but also the central nervous system, in response to environmental challenges. The interactions among several neurotransmitters and endocrine systems appear to play key roles in mediating various behavioral and psychological stress responses involving abnormal responses to stressors such as anxiety and affective disorders.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2001

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the relationship between gastric emptying, psychopathology(especially anxiety and depression), and various factors that can mediate stress and response, such as coping style, social support and level of perceived stress. Methods : A total 30 patients who complained of the non-ulcer dyspepsia and did not have any abnormal finding on the gastroduodenal endoscopic examination, 24 hour ambulatory esophageal manometry and conventional gastroesophageal manometry were tested with gastric emptying that would be a functional examination of stomach. The correlations between the gastric emptying and psychological vaiable such as quantity of perceived stress, Symptom Checklist-90-Revision(SCL-90-R), Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Spielberger Stait-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI), Ways of Coping Checklist and Interpersonal Support Evaluation List were evaluated. Results : 1) The mean and standard deviation of the time for half of the meal to empty(T50%) was $118.50{\pm}23.64$ minute which showed no gastric stasis in terms of gastric emptying test. 2) There were significant positive correlations between T50% and the state anxiety, T50% and thedepression. 3) There was no significant correlation between T50% and the quantity of perceived stress, T50% and mediating factors(coping style and social support). Conclusion : These results suggested that psychopathology, especially emotional components such as depression and anxiety, could affect on the current physiological functional gastric activity(gastric emptying), but quantity of perceive stress and mediating factors of stress and response such as coping style and social support could not affected on the functional gastric activity. These results showed that psychological interventions should considered in management of the patients with functional dyspepia.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.280-289
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the difference of health behavior modification between male and female patients with cardiovascular disease; and to compare the predictors of health behavior between the male and female subjects. Methods: A comparative study design was used in the study. A total of 228 patients(male 114, female 114) with cardiovascular disease were recruited from outpatients clinics in 2 university hospitals in Korea. Data were analyzed using t-test, $X^2$, ANOVA, ANCOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression with SPSS 20.0. Results: There was significant difference of health behavior between male and female patients with cardiovascular disease (F=9.45, p=0.002). The significant predictors of health behavior among male subjects were self-efficacy, perceived barriers, perceived susceptibility, medical support and autonomous motivation, accounting for 45%; the significant predictors of health behavior among female subjects were self-efficacy, medical support and autonomous motivation, accounting for 51%. Conclusions: It is suggested to take different health promotions strategies to maintain the performance of health behaviors among male and female patients with cardiovascular diseases.