• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.227-235
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• 2016

Objectives : The aims of this study were to know the frequency of cognitive dysfunction among patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders, and to reveal influencing factors on it, especially to clarify association with autoimmune thyroid antibodies. Methods : From sixty-five female patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders, demographic data were obtained by structured interview. Their cognitive funtions were measured using the MMSE-K and the MoCA-K tests. Depression was evaluated by the K-HDRS. Results : 1) Among patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders, 7.69% of them were below 24 on the MMSE-K, while 10.77% were below 22 on the MoCA-K. The frequency of cognitive deficit was not significantly different according to having positivity to antimicrosomal antibodies or not. 2) The antimicrosomal antibody-positive patients had significantly higher antithyroglobulin antibody titers, antimicrosomal antibody titers, and TSH concentration, while had significantly lower free T4 levels(p<0.05, respectively). 3) The total scores of the MMSE-K and the MoCA-K had significant correlation with age, marital status, antithyroglobulin antibody titers and K-HDRS(p<0.05, respectively). 4) The regression analysis revealed that variables such as age, education, autoimmune thyroid antibodies, thyroid function and depression did not influence on cognitive function of patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders. Conclusions : Our results could not support that cognitive function of patients with autoimmune thyroid disorders had correlation with autoimmune thyroid antibodies.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.184-190
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• 2016

Objectives : This study analyzed the differences of body mass index(BMI) in Korean patients with Alzheimer's diseases(AD), Mild Cognitive Impairment(MCI), and healthy controls to verify whether low BMI is associated with cognitive impairment. Furthermore, this study also sought to examine any association between BMI and Mini Mental State Examination-Korean version(MMSE-K), Clinical Dementia Rating(CDR), and Global Deterioration Scale(GDS). Methods : A total of 257 subjects were included in the study. History taking, mental status examination, physical examination and neurocognitive function test were carried out for the diagnosis of AD and MCI. The subjects' demographic data and presence of diseases were also surveyed. The overall cognitive function and severity of diseases were assessed using MMSE-K, GDS, and CDR. Results : The order of BMI was found to be healthy controls>MCI>AD, with statistically significant differences among the groups. The order of MMSE-K scores was similar, with healthy controls>MCI>AD in statistically significant differences. The healthy controls had the lowest CDR and GDS scores, and AD patients had the highest scores. There was a significant positive correlation between BMI and MMSE scores(r=0.238, p=0.000). BMI was negatively correlated with CDR(r=-0.174, p=0.008) as well as with GDS(r=-0.233, p= 0.000). Conclusions : Measuring BMI of patients with AD or MCI is expected to be meaningful in that BMI could be a clinical indicator of AD. We expect this to be beneficial for the diagnosis, prevention, and therapeutic approach of AD and also expect large-scale, long-term longitudinal studies to follow.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.7-23
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• 1994

구강내 작열감 증후군은 객관적 징후없이 구강점막에 작열감을 나타내는 만성동통장애이다. 다양한 원인요소들이 제시되어 있지만, 이러한 요소들의 관련성에 대해서는 아직 분명하지 않은 실정이다. 그러므로, 이러한 구강내 기능이상의 근본적이고 효과적인 치료를 위해서는 다양한 임상적 관찰과 원인요소의 분석등이 계속 연구 조사되어져야 할 것이다. 저자는 구강내 작열감 증후군의 증상을 호소하는 112명의 환자의 임상적 특징에 대해 조사하고자, 환자군과 대조군에 대해 구강내 작열감 증후군에 관한 설문조사 및 구강검사와 혈액학적 검사를 시행하였으며, 점도계를 사용하여 구강내 작열감 증후군 환자의 자극이 전타액의 점도를 측정하였다. 또한, 환자의 심리적 요인을 파악하고자 간이정신진단검사를 실시한 결과 다음과 같은 결론을 얻었다. 1. 구강내 작열감 증후군은 주로 페경기 전후의 여성에서 많이 나타났으며, 호발부위는 혀, 치주 및 치조점막, 구개, 협점막의 순이었다. 2. 구강내 작열감 증후군 환자에게서 대조군 비해 구강건조감, 미각 및 수면장애, 빈혈, 소화기 장애, 두통과 기타 다른 신체불편감의 호소 등이 더 많이 나타났다. 3. 혈액학적 검사결과, 구강내 작열감 증후군 환자중의 26%와 12%에서 각각 혈중 엽산농도와 철분농도의 저하를 나타냇다. 4. 자극시 분비된 전타액의 점도는 40대와 50대이상의 연령군에서 구강내 작열감 증후군 환자가 정상인에 비해 높았다.(p<0.01). 5. 구강내 작열감 증후군 환자군의 간이정신진단검사의 각 증상차원 및 전체지표의 T점수의 평균치는 정상범위내에 있었으며, 신체화(SOD)와 우울 (DEP)차원의 평균치가 가장 높았다.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.268-277
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• 2017

This study was performed to determine the level of physical health(ADL, IADL) and mental health (cognitive impairment, dementia) among centenarians and to find the related factors. The study subjects were 268 centenarians who received medical check-ups from the National Health Insurance Corporation during 2011-2014. From the results, the factors that significantly influenced the ADL of the study subjects were gender, residential area, IADL, cognitive impairment and dementia. ADL and cognitive impairment were selected as the influencing factors of IADL, smoking status, ADL and IADL were selected as the influencing factors of cognitive impairment, and gender and ADL were selected as the influencing factors of dementia. These results suggested that the levels of physical and mental health of the centenarians were significantly affected by socio-demographic characteristics and health-related variables. Especially, the levels of physical and mental health were decreased with the poor group of health-related variables such as smoking, alcohol drinking and regular exercise.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2014

Objectives : Mild cognitive impairment(MCI) and dementia of Alzheimer's type(AD) are characterized by progressive decline of cognitive abilities and a wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms like depression. Among various diagnostic tools of AD, many studies showed that elevated levels of serum total homocysteine are associated with increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. We investigated whether elevated homocysteine concentrations are associated with depressive symptoms in MCI and AD. Methods : A total of 86 patients diagnosed with MCI or AD participated. Total serum homocysteine levels in fasting blood samples were measured. We examined cognitive symptoms by MMSE-KC, Global Deterioration Scale(GDS), Clinical dementia rating(CDR) and depressive symptoms by Korean version of Geriatric Depression Scale(K-GDS). Results : The total serum homocysteine levels were significantly higher in MCI with depression than in MCI without depression. There was no significant difference in the mean homocysteine levels between AD patients with depression and AD patients without depression. The total homocysteine levels showed a negative correlation with MMSE-KC and a positive correlation with CDR, GDS. Conclusions : These findings suggest that elevated homocysteine level is a risk factor for the decline of cognitive function and depression. We found a significant relationship between elevated serum homocysteine level and depressive symptoms in MCI. But our study had several limitations, thus more research is needed to confirm this finding.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.2002-2011
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• 2015

This study was performed to determine the levels of physical function (ADL, IADL) and to reveal its association with the related factors in the elderly people. The study subjects were 1,756 (male 872, female 884) people aged over 70 who received medical check-ups and long-term care services between 2009 and 2012 from the National Health Insurance Corporation. As a result, the distribution of impaired ADL and IADL increased significantly with age. Logistic regression showed that the risk ratio of impaired ADL was increased significantly in the following groups: female, urban, low weight, stroke history group, smoking, alcohol drinking, and not regular exercise group. The risk ratio of an impaired IADL were increased significantly in the group of females, low weight, smoking, alcohol drinking. On the other hand the risk ratio of an impaired ADL and IADL was similar in each age group. As above results, the levels of ADL and IADL in the study subjects are closely related to the socio-demographic characteristics and health related behaviors. In particular, they suggested that the levels of ADL and IADL were lower in the poor group of the health-related behaviors, such as smoking, alcohol drinking, and regular exercise.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.271-279
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• 2004

Purpose: The object of this study Is to investigate sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, psychology, self-esteem and quality of life in cancer patients on radiation therapy and to provide useful information for therapeutic approach to cancer patients on radiation therapy. Materials and Methods: The subjects were 36 patents who had been treated with radiation therapy and 20 normal people. Sociodemographic information and clinical characteristics of cancer patients on radiation therapy were investigated, and symptom checklist-90-revised, Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale for self esteem, World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument for quality of life were administered to subjects. And Spearman's correlation analysis was used among these. Result : The tendency of somatization, depression, anxiety and hostility in cancer group were significantly higher than normal group. Self esteem and quality of life in cancer group were significantly lower than normal group. No significant difference was found in comparison of psychology, self esteem and qualify on life according to sociodemographic variables. Among clinical characteristics, in the presence of metastasis in cancer patients, the scores of anxiety, phobia and paranoid ideation were higher In patients with pain, the score of somatization was higher And in case of weight loss, the score of somatization was higher. The higher score of depression, anxiety and hostility were significantly associated with lower self-esteem. And higher score of somatization, depression, anxiety and hostility were significantly associated with lower quality of life. Conclusion: Understanding and management of psychological symptoms, such as somatization, depression, anxiety, and hostility, and pain control are necessary to improve quality of life in cancer patients on radiation therapy.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2012

Objectives : Thyroid cancer patients may experience emotional distress during cancer treatment including surgical operation and radioactive iodine treatment. The aims of this prospective study were to investigate changes of anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer(DTC) under preoperative, postoperative and short-term hypothyroidism state. Methods : Using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale(HAD) and the Distress Thermometer, we sequentially assessed the levels of anxiety, depression and distress in 41 DTC patients at 3 time points such as preoperative state, postoperative state and short-term hypothyroidism state. Results : The HAD-anxiety score was significantly higher in preoperative state($6.93{\pm}3.97$) than postoperative state($4.22{\pm}2.92$) and short-term hypothyroidism state($4.93{\pm}3.64$). Any other significant change in depression or distress thermometer score was not observed. Especially, difference of HADS score between the distress and none-distress groups was significant in preoperative state and post-operative state, but the difference become not significant in the short-term hypothyroidism state. Conclusions : Induced thyroid hormone deficiency during cancer treatment does not significantly affect emotional distress in patient with DTC. Anxiety and depression in these patients may be associated with distress of the patient before active cancer treatment.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 1999

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to investigate 1) the incidence of insomnia, 2) the clinical characteristics of the insomniacs, 3) the correlation of severity of insomnia with somatic complaints and psychological distresses, and 4) the beliefs and attitudes about sleep in patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis. Methods: The author evaluated 153 patients, receiving hemodialysis therapy at the four outpatients hemodialysis units in Pusan, Korea. The patients had completed a self-administered questionnaire package, which consisted of basic demographic findings, questions characterizing insomnia, Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Spielburger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI), and visual analogue scales measuring quantitatively the severity of the self-perceived psychological and somatic symptoms. And several laboratory data were collected. Diagnosis of insomnia was made in the base of insomnia criteria of DSM-IV and international classification of sleep disorders. Subjects were dichotomized into those who reported any characteristics of insomnia or those who had no insomnia during the preceding two weeks. Results: Insomnia was found in 100(65.4%) of 153 patients. No statistical differences were found between the patients with and without insomnia in terms of age, gender, education, marital status, mean duration of hemodialysis and all considered laboratory findings except serum albumin. The patients with insomnia had significantly higher BDI score and predialysis systolic blood pressure, and lower serum albumin as compared to non-insomnia group. Significant differences were found between two groups in terms of self-perceived distress such as sadness, anxiety, worry, pruritus, and dysfunction of daily life. The data showed statistically significant correlation between insomnia severity and some variables such as physical dysfunction, pruritus, bone pain, sadness, anxiety, worry, dysfunction of daily life and excessive daytime sleepiness. The patients with insomnia had significantly several dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep than those without insomnia. Conclusion: These results indicate that insomnia is very common in hemodialysis patients and likely contribute to the impaired quality of life experienced by many these patients. The author suggests that physical and psychological distresses would be reduced and the quality of life could be improved if their sleep disturbances are properly ameliorated in patients on hemodialysis.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.313-323
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• 2018

This study was conducted to develop an individualized upper extremity exercise program for patients after mastectomy and evaluate its effectiveness. A nonequivalent control-group pretest-posttest design was used for this investigation. Research participants were patients with breast cancer who underwent mastectomy at two university hospitals (experimental group, n=17; control group, n=16). The experimental group received an individualized upper extremity exercise program three times a week for 7 weeks. Data were analyzed by the ${\chi}^2-test$, Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U-test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test using SPSS WIN 21.0. Inter-group comparison revealed significant differences between pre-test and post-test in hands behind the back, flexion, abduction, external rotation, internal rotation, and grip strength. Moreover, the experimental group showed significant improvements in hands behind the back, flexion, abduction, external rotation, internal rotation, and grip strength relative to the control. In conclusion, the individualized upper extremity exercise program was shown to be an effective intervention to improve physical functions in upper limbs and shoulders. Therefore, this program should be applied to patients after mastectomy in clinics since many patients have suffered from decreased physical functions in upper extremities.