• Anxiety and mood
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2019

Objective : To determine predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in burn injured patients and evaluate factors for identifying high risk group of PTSD. Methods : This study examined sixty one patients aged in the range of 19-65 years with burn injuries. All subjects completed self-assessment inventories about PTSD (The PTSD Check List for DSM-5. PCL-5), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, PHQ-9), embitterment (Posttraumatic embitterment disorder self-rating scale, PTED scale) and meaning of life (Meaning in Life Questionnaire, MLQ). Stepwise multiple regression and ROC curve analysis were the tools used for analysis. Results : The results revealed higher depression, embitterment and lower presence of meaning in life predicted severe PTSD symptoms. ROC analysis indicated PTED scale and PHQ-9 were useful for discriminating high risk group of PTSD. Conclusion : The present study established that the need to consider embitterment, depression and meaning of life for alleviation and prevention of PTSD symptoms in burn patients.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 1999

This study was designed to evaluate anxiety & depression symptoms and pressure pain threshold in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder(n=23) and to find out the relationship between the affective symptoms and the pressure pain threshold scores. And this was compared with healthy control subjects(n=18). The scores of pressure pain threshold were checked with algometer. The results were as follows : PTSD patients showed higher scores of anxiety & depression symptoms than that of the control group. In contrast with our hypothesis, pressure pain threshold in PTSD patients presented statistically significant higher scores than that of the control group. These results may be derived from following factors. First, chronic depression has influenced the pain perception of patients with PTSD rather than anxiety symptoms, second, abnormal state of the opiate system in PTSD patients, third, the sick role of the PTSD patients, fourth, the socio-environmental factor of the PTSD patients. In conclusion, affective symptoms, especially depression, were related to the chronic pain in patients with PTSD, however, the causality of elevated pressure pain threshold was uncertain in this study. To understand more clearly the relation between affective symptoms and chronic pain, it will be necessary to control the other specific factors.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.451-472
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine implicit associations of negative emotion (i.e. anxiety and depression) and self among a college students having experienced posttraumatic stress symptoms. The participants were 61 college students(male 16, female 45). They were classified into two groups, trauma group(n=35) and control group(n=26) according to scores of Korean version of Impact of Events Scale-Revised. Two groups were compared with regard to automatic self-anxious and self-depressive associations measured with the Implicit Association Test using both words and facial expression pictures, respectively. As results, trauma group showed more enhanced self-anxious association in the words conditions, and stronger self-anxious and self-depressive associations in the pictures conditions than control group, whereas there were no significant differences between two groups in explicit cognition and depression. These results suggest that traumatic experiences could influence self-concepts in the automatic process. Limitations of the current study and suggestions for future research were discussed.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2020

Objectives : This study investigated lifetime experiences of trauma, treatment retention, and psychiatric symptoms among outpatients with panic disorder after initiation of pharmacotherapy. Our research hypothesis was that panic patients with childhood trauma would display more severe symptoms and less treatment retention compared to those without such history. Methods : A total of 135 first-visit outpatients with DSM-IV panic disorder were approached during the period from March 2012 to August 2016. Fifty-three patients (39%) either refused or returned incomplete questionnaires, leading to a final sample size of 82. Participants completed the Trauma History Screen, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Abbreviated PTSD checklist. Results : The number of lifetime trauma was significantly correlated with treatment retention (rho=-0.269, p=0.015). Among subtypes of trauma, only childhood physical abuse was significantly correlated with treatment retention (rho=-0.298, p=0.007). Conclusions : Our results indicated that psychological trauma, particularly of an interpersonal nature from childhood, can affect pharmacotherapy treatment retention in panic disorder. This may be mediated by poor patient-doctor relationships originating from trust issues among childhood trauma survivors or lack of perceived improvement due to the more severe symptoms and unfavorable course experienced by those with childhood trauma. Further studies are needed to explore the reasons for poor treatment adherence in this population.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2015

Objective : Police officers are exposed to job-related traumatic events and have a high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examined the relationship between PTSD symptoms and dimensions of temperament and character in police officers. Method : Thirty-six police officers participating in a psychological support program were enrolled. All subjects were asked to complete a demographic questionnaire, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and other self-reported symptoms scales. Results : Among all participants (age $40.8{\pm}10.2$, men 94.4%), the rate of 'post-traumatic stress symptoms group' was 47.2%. After controlling for confounding factors, lower self-directedness scores were significantly associated with higher PTSD symptoms (${\beta}=0.6$, p=0.03) in multiple regression analysis. Conclusion : Character traits, especially self-directedness, were associated with the severity of PTSD symptoms severity. These findings may provide useful information regarding personality factors related to PTSD in police officers.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 2012

Objective : The aim of this study was to investigate how trauma and personality system was related by comparing TCI profiles of the trauma versus non-trauma groups and PTSD symptom positive (PTSD symptom [+] group) and PTSD symptom negative groups (PTSD symptom [-] group). Methods : We compared the difference of Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) profiles between the trauma (n=61) and the non-trauma (n=61) groups, and between the PTSD symptom [+] group (n=40) and PTSD symptom [-] group (n=21). Results : Comparison of the TCI's seven higher dimensions between the PTSD symptom [+] and [-] groups showed significant differences only in C (Cooperativeness). And in the analysis of TCI's lower dimensions the significant differences were observed in the HA1 (Worry and pessimism), HA2 (Tension regarding uncertainty), and C4 (Compassion) subscales. However, significant differences in the higher dimensions appeared more clearly between the non-traumatized group and the traumatized group. Compared to the non-traumatized group, the traumatized group scored significantly higher in HA (Harm avoidance) and RD (Reward dependence), while lower in SD (Self-directedness). Conclusion : Overall, present results suggest that traumatic experiences may affect personality systems regardless of the development and of PTSD symptoms.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2008

Objective : The aim of this study is to examine the characteristics of somatic symptoms in patients with PTSD according to trauma type. Methods : The subjects of this study were 84 patients diagnosed with PTSD according to the DSM-IVTR and CAPS criteria. The subjects ranged in age from 18 to 76 years, and they were recruited from 18 hospitals across the nation. All participants were asked about their trauma history, and they all completed the Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and Korean-Physical Somatic Symptom Inventory (K-PSI). The items of the K-PSI were categorized into 5 groups according to organ system, and the participants were classified into 6 groups according to trauma type. We compared the results of the social demographical scale, DTS, BDI, STAI, IES-R and each recategorized subscale of the K-PSI among the six groups. Results : There were significant differences between the 6 groups in terms of the Korean-Physical Somatic Symptom Inventory scores for each organ system, except for the cardiopulmonary system, as well as the BDI scores. Post hoc analysis revealed differences between the combat-related trauma group and all other groups but not among any of the other groups. Conclusion : Our result showed that there were significant differences in the somatic symptom scores among the 6 trauma groups. However, patient age and the time elapsed since the traumatic event may have hada crucial influence on the result of this study.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 2008

Objective : The present study investigated gender differences in the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Korean PTSD patients from a multicenter sample. Methods : Data were collected from 18 psychiatric units of training hospitals nationwide. All the patients were interviewed by attending psychiatrists using a structured format for PTSD by DSM-IV diagnoses. Additionally the Davidson Trauma Scale was used to evaluate all self-reported symptomatology. Results : Forty-three patients with PTSD, 23 female and 20 male patients, were enrolled in this study. There were significant differences in the frequency and severity of avoidance symptoms, and severity of re-experience symptoms. The female patients reported a higher level of re-experience and avoidance symptoms than the male patients. Conclusion : The results of the present study were found to be consistent with previous studies on gender differences. Women were more susceptible to PTSD symptoms than men, especially exaggerated re-experience and chronic avoidance. Since all patients groups were enrolled from the hospital, this findings needs to be reexamined using community samples.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.83-92
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• 2022

This study is to investigate the factors affecting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among hospital nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea. Cross-sectional, descriptive design is used in this study. Data collection was completed through an online self-administered survey from December 2020 to January 2021 among 180 registered nurses dealing with COVID-19 patients at hospitals. This survey includes socio-demographic questions, including a 22-item PTSD questionnaire, a 14-item type D personality questionnaire, a 25-item resilience questionnaire, and a 23-item Social Support Scale questionnaire. 56.1% of the subjects in this study were at risk of PTSD. In the high-risk group for PTSD, resilience and social support were lower than those in the low-risk group for PTSD. But there was no statistically significant difference in both variables (resilience t=0.21, p=.836, social support t=1.07, p=.287). However, education (OR = 2.23, p= .041) and type D personality (OR = 3.67, p < .001) were significant factors for PTSD symptoms. The results of the study can be utilized to recognize PTSD in nurses by identifying factors influencing PTSD during epidemics such as COVID-19, and to apply management systems such as psychological programs to help overcome them.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.360-368
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between parenting behavior, parenting efficacy, adaptation stress and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) among mothers who have defected from North Korean. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted to illustrate the parenting behavior, parenting efficacy, adaptation stress and PTSD and report the relationships among them. Data were collected between August and November of 2009 in Hanawon and 105 mothers who met eligibility criteria participated in the study. Results: Ignorant/controlling parenting behavior of parenting showed the highest score in our study. The level of parenting efficacy was $2.72{\pm}0.36$ and adaptation stress level was $3.35{\pm}0.47$ showing perceived hostility the highest and homesickness the lowest. Participants with moderate to severe PTSD accounted for 79.5% of the mothers, and 75% of them reported symptoms for 3 months or more. Authoritative parenting behavior showed negative relationships with parenting efficacy, cultural crisis and fear, adaptation stress and PTSD. Conclusion: Mothers who have defected from showed negative parenting behaviors and high adaptation stress level and PTSD while parenting efficacy was high. These findings indicate that parenting intervention programs which can guide these mothers towards positive parenting behaviors need to be developed.