• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.338-348
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe healing effects of the forest on alcoholics through a forest experience program. Methods: The qualitative data was gathered from one focus group discussion with 6 alcoholics and individual interviews with 8 alcoholics. They had all participated in a "healing forest" program. All interviews were recorded and transcribed according to thematic content analysis processes. Results: The four main themes on the attributes of forest were "a lively living being", "placidity and tranquility", "acceptive atmosphere", and "beautifulness as it is" which revealed the participants' perceived nature of the forest which was attributed to the healing effects. Eight other themes on participants' positive changes included "revived senses", "aspired to live", "relieved and relaxed from being tense", "gaining insight on self", "having an acceptive attitude", "becoming compliant with his/her life", "learning that life is being together" and "recognizing the value of one's existence". Conclusion: The findings of the study illustrated the participants' self-healing processes through interactions with the nature of the forest. Nursing interventions utilizing healing atmospheres such as "healing forest" programs can be considered helpful in providing a venue to alcoholics to reflect on their lives affirmatively.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.267-276
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the recovering process of men who had abused alcohol and has lived in a therapeutic community. Methods: Individual in-depth interviews were used to collect data from 10 of these men who has lived in the therapeutic community for more than one year. Qualitative data from field notes and transcribed notes were analyzed using the grounded theory methodology developed by Strauss and Corbin. Results: The core category about the recovering process of the men who had abused alcohol and are now in the therapeutic community was identified as "reconstructing a broken life". The recovering process of these men in the therapeutic community consisted of four phases; 'self-awareness stage', 'unfreezing stage', 'readjustment stage', and 'challenging stage'. Conclusion: In this study "reconstructing a broken life", as the core category vividly showed joys and sorrows of men who had abused alcohol and has lived in the recovering process of managing the yoke of life-long disease. In this process of recovery from alcoholic dependence the men gradually adjusted themselves to their given condition. Also they gained coping strategies to care for, and protect themselves. Therefore health care providers can establish supportive programs in the clinical field to empower these men by reflecting their proactive coping strategies.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.109-118
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• 2011

Objectives Many studies have suggested different neurobiological findings and clinical courses in alcoholism. Recently, subtyping in alcohol dependence has become essential to overcome the heterogeneity of patients. Among several criteria of subtypes, Lesch's typology is proposed to integrate biological, social, and psychological factors. This review provides neurobiological findings and treatment-responses of alcohol dependence according to Lesch's typology. Method We searched the international published medical literature using the search terms 'Lesch's typology' and 'alcohol dependence' and using the limits 'human'. Results We identified 17 studies with subjects of alcohol dependence according to Lesch's typology. Conclusion They indicated that each subtype of Lesch's typology can have specific neurobiological factors and different clinical responses as follows. Lesch's subtype 1 is characterized by severe withdrawal symptoms and associated with elevated glutamate and homocysteine. Lesch's subtype 2 is defined by individuals who drink alcohol as self-medication for anxiety. Their craving has significant positive correlations with prolactin, leptin level, or intake-volume (vasopressin). Lesch's subtype 4 is related to cerebral dysfunction and associated with increased glutamate and left-handedness. Clinical trials showed that naltrexone was effective in Lesch's subtype 3 and 4 patients, while acamprosate was effective in the subtypes 1 and 2.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.273-278
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• 2006

Objectives : Biochemical markers can provide an objective evidence of heavy alcohol drinking. The purpose of this study was to compare and evaluate the usefulness of biological markers detecting alcohol dependence, such as mean corpuscular volume(MCV), gamma-glutamyl transferase(GGT), and carbohydrate-deficient transferrin(CDT) in the patients of an alcohol counseling center. Methods : This study was done with 64 patients with alcohol dependence and 36 healthy subjects. Relative values(%) of CDT were determined in their sera with turbidimetric immunoassay(Bio-Rad %CDT assay, Axis-Shield ASA, Oslo, Norway), and were compared with conventional markers of alcohol consumption, GGT and MCV. Results : Among the patients with alcohol dependence, 78.1% showed abnormal %CDT levels compared with GGT(61.9%) and MCV(20.7%). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves(95% confidence interval) for %CDT, GGT, and MCV were 0.934(0.866-0.973), 0.871(0.789-0.930), and 0.575 (0.472-0.673), respectively. Conclusion : %CDT seems to be the most reliable biological marker for the detection and monitoring of alcohol consumption in the patients with alcohol dependence of the alcohol counseling center.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.100-107
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• 2015

This study was conducted to develop a high-acidity vinegar production (over TA 10%) technology using grape juice to reduce the importation of high-acidity vinegar. The manufacturing condition's effect on the quality of high-acidity vinegar using pure grape juice without the addition of other nutrients for fermentation was investigated. Twelve percent acidity in vinegar was obtained from grape wine with 6% alcohol content. The acetic-acid yield from grape wine decreased when the wine's initial alcohol content was high, which extended the induction time. The pH value was similar in all the treatment groups. The sugar content of the 1st-stage fermentation (1st AAF) was proportional to the initial alcohol content whereas in the 2nd-stage fermentation (2nd AAF), the sugar content was highest in the 6%-alcohol treatment. The major organic acids of the high-acidity grape vinegar included tartaric acid, malic acid, and citric acid. The acid content of the high-acidity initial alcohol group was higher than that of the low-acidity initial alcohol group due to the alcohol content added by the fed-batch and acetic-acid yield difference. The ethyl alcohol content was 364~6,091 ppm (the main alcohol while the others had only traces in all the groups). In conclusion, it was possible to manufacture 12% high-acidity vinegar without the addition of an external nutrient source to grape wine containing 6% initial alcohol content. Finally, a complementary study will be required to shorten the fermentation period through the fed-batch-style addition of alcohol for the purpose of industrialization.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.1642-1647
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• 2014

In this study, we investigated the hepatoprotective effects of garlic extracts fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum on alcohol-induced fatty liver damage in C57BL/6J mice. The weight of liver tissue of the lactic acid-fermented garlic extract (LAFGE) diet groups decreased in a dose-dependent manner compared to that of the normal diet group. The activities of typical serum enzymes such as ALT, AST, and ALP were low in the LAFGE 200 mg/kg administered group. The LAFGE 200 mg/kg administered group significantly decreased values of TBIL and DBIL, which are an important index of liver damage. LAFGE also ameliorated alcohol-induced hepatic lipid accumulation in histological analysis dose-dependently. In addition, total GSH and reduced GSH levels in LAFGE-treated groups were gradually recovered up to normal levels. The present study revealed that LAFGE improved unique tastes and odors of raw garlic through lactic acid fermentation technology and thus could be a commercially potential material for hepatoprotective functional foods against alcoholic fatty liver.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.2144-2151
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• 2010

Yoga meditation and music therapy are considered to be appropriate for the spiritual and mental treatment for the patients and employed in many clinics and rehabilitation centers as an alternative medicine. This study aims at the analysis of the effects of yoga and music on the treatment of alcoholism. For this, yoga and music treatments were executed for the patients hospitalized in an alcohol clinic hospital in Gimhae district. Only the patients who were judged as alcohol dependents by a psychiatrist with a diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV participated in the study. During five weeks, from November 10, 2009 to December 29, yoga program was practiced two times per week, totaling 10 times, and music therapy was practiced one time per week, totaling 5 times. Among the patients participated in the programs, 44patients were selected finally. They are 16 patients who performed all the yoga programs, and 28 patients who fulfilled all the music therapies. A survey was conducted on them to estimate the effects of yoga and music treatments for the three cases of 'angry behavior', 'anger expression', and 'psychological state at interview'. The results show that yoga and music treatments have positive effects on the patients, although the statistical significance is not so great. However, the more reliable and significant results could be obtained in further studies by prolongation of the practice period, and by introducing the clinical information such as brain mapping to compensate the emotional bias of the patients.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.632-640
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was to investigate the difference of attitude toward caring for alcoholics of nursing college students according to degree of parents' drinking problem. Methods: The subjects of this study were 281 students in the second and fourth grade students in nursing departments of 4 Universities located in G city. Data were analyzed by the mean and standard deviation, t-test. and ANOVA using SPSS 22.0 program.. Results: Parents' problem drinking perceived by the subjects was $3.70({\pm}5.85)$, $1.25({\pm}1.71)$ in the social drinking group(n=225), $8.59({\pm}2.07)$ in the alcohol abuse group(n=29), and alcohol dependence group (n=27) was $18.85({\pm}5.17)$ points. The average attitude toward caring for alcoholics was $45.25({\pm}6.49)$. The attitude toward caring for alcoholics showed a statistically significant difference depending on whether or not-they participated in the nursing practice of alcoholics. The attitude toward caring for alcoholics in nursing college students was negative as the parents' problem drinking was severe. Conclusion: The results of this study can be used as basic data for the development of psychiatric nursing education and counseling program for nursing college students whose parental drinking problems are serious in the future.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.604-614
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of the acceptance commitment therapy program (ACT) on the psychological flexibility, self-compassion, recovery in alcohol dependents. The ACT program contains skills that establish acceptance and willingness, defusion, self-as-context, contact with the present moment, clarifying values, and committed action. This study was intended to enhance the effects on the psychological flexibility, self-compassion, recovery in alcohol dependents with ACT program. Fifteen inpatients with alcohol dependence were participated in the ACT group and the same number of participants were in the both CBT control group and TAU control group. The ACT program was held once a week, eight times, and each session was 90-minute long. Repeated measure of MANOVA and post-hoc were used to compare pre-test mean with post-test and with follow-up test mean. As a result of ACT program, positive changes were assured in the psychological flexibility including acceptance, cognitive defusion, being present, committed action and the increase of self-compassion and of recovery in alcoholics.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.178-190
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• 2006

Objectives : We investigated the relationship of the alcohol withdrawal symptoms with genetic polymorphism among alcohol dependence patients. Method : The measuring instruments used in this study were the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol(CIWA-Ar). We analyzed DRD2 TaqI A polymorphism, dopamine transporter(DAT 1) polymorphism, and catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT) polymorphism in 108 male alcoholics and 76 healthy controls. Results : The major findings was as follows. No significant differences for genotype distribution or allele frequency were revealed comparing controls and alcoholic patients. DRD2 Taq I : The subscale score of auditory hallucination among CIWA-Ar scale in homozygote was significantly higher than in heterozygote(OR=1.34). The total score of CIWA-Ar scale in heterozygote was significantly higher than in homozygote. DAT1 : In the subject without DAT-9 gene allele, it was significantly higher of the subscale score of sweating, anxiety among CIWA-Ar scale than in the subject with DAT-9 gene allele. And The total score of CIWA-Ar scale in the subject without DAT-9 gene allele was significantly higher than in the subject with DAT-9 gene allele. COMT : The total score of CIWA-Ar scale in heterozygote was significantly higher than in homozygote. Conclusion : Our results suggest the relationship between specific genetic factors and the withdrawal symptoms of alcohol dependent patients. As the candidate gene of the severity of alcohol withdrawal syndrome, DRD2 Taq1 gene was recommended.