• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2020

Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by the core symptom of chronic widespread pain, along with fatigue, sleep disturbances, mood changes, and cognitive difficulties. The etiology of fibromyalgia involves a combination of biological factors, such as genetic vulnerability, alterations in pain processing and stress response system ; psychological factors, such as anxiety, depression, anger, and perceived stress ; environmental factors, such as infections, febrile diseases, and trauma. Central sensitization, which is amplified in the process of sensory stimulation, has been emphasized as a key etiological factor, as supported by enhanced wind-up, delayed aftersensation, decreased nociceptive flexion reflex threshold and functional imaging studies. Several guidelines recommend that a multimodal approach be used to treat fibromyalgia, including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, tailored to each individual, and that clinicians should provide an intellectual framework through sufficient education and emphasis on the importance of self-management. The prevalence of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and other psychiatric problems is 7-9 times higher in patients with fibromyalgia than in the general population ; moreover, the association between fibromyalgia and certain psychopathologies or sleep problems has also been suggested. Since psychiatric problems, with shared vulnerabilities and risk factors, interact with fibromyalgia bidirectionally and also affect the disease course, an integrated management approach is needed to determine the risk of comorbidities.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2021

One year has passed since the pandemic of COVID-19, which occurred in Wuhan, China, in November 2019 began. Worldwide, as of January 2021, more than 95 million people have been infected, and the death toll is higher than 2 million. In Korea, there are 74,262 infected and 1,328 dead, and government policies such as social distancing to prevent infection are being implemented. Accordingly, many inconveniences occurred in the physical activity environment, such as the closure of various sports facilities. It was necessary to consider physical activities to maintain healthy life while cooperating with the national policy while preventing infection. This study investigated the benefits of physical activity to reduce the risk of trichomoniasis and diabetes, improve bone mineral density, prolong healthy lifespan, maintain activity performance with aging, and improve psychological anxiety and depression. In addition, the physiological changes that may occur in the situation of stopping exercise due to social distancing to prevent COVID-19 infection were reviewed. In addition, moderate-intensity exercise that helps strengthen immune function by activating natural killer cells, neutrophils, and antibody responses was investigated. In addition, it reduces the level and function of blood B-cells, T-cells, and natural killer cells for several hours, decreases phagocytosis of neutrophils in the nasal cavity, increases inflammatory cytokines, decreases immune function, and increases infection. High-intensity exercise was considered. Therefore, in the age of COVID-19, long-term high-intensity exercise such as marathon, which causes impaired immune function, should be refrained from. And you should do moderate-intensity regular aerobic exercise such as fast walking to help prevent infection. It is also recommended to participate in resistance exercises to prevent loss of muscle mass.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.330-347
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• 2022

Folate, a water-soluble vitamin, acts as a coenzyme for one-carbon metabolism in nucleic acid synthesis and amino acid metabolism. Adequate folate nutritional status during the periconceptional period is known to prevent neural tube defects. In addition, insufficient folate intake is associated with various conditions, such as anemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, cardiovascular disease, cancer, cognitive impairment, and depression. This review discusses the rationale for the revision of the 2020 Korean dietary reference intakes for folate, and suggestions for future revisions. Based on the changes in the standard body weight in 2020, the adequate intake (AI) for infants (5-11 months) and the estimated average requirements (EARs) for 15-18 years of age were revised, but there were no changes in the recommended nutrient intakes (RNIs) and tolerable upper intake levels (ULs) for all age groups. Mean folate intake did not reach RNI in most age groups and was particularly low in women aged 15-29 years, according to the results of the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The percentages of folate intake to RNI were lower than 60% in pregnant and lactating women, but serum folate concentrations were higher than those in other age groups, presumably due to the use of supplements. Therefore, total folate intake, from both food and supplements, should be evaluated. In addition, the database of folate in raw, cooked, and fortified foods should be further expanded to accurately assess the folate intake of Koreans. Determination of the concentrations of erythrocyte folate and plasma homocysteine as well as serum folate is recommended, and quality control of the analysis is critical.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.605-634
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate families' responses and attitudes and the experiences of Korean LGBT individuals after revealing their sexual identity and sexual orientation and to determine how families' attitudes affected the mental health of these individuals. For this purpose, in-depth interviews were performed with 12 male and female LGBT participants, ranging from 19-30 years of age, who resided in Seoul and metropolitan areas, and reported coming out to or being outed by their families. One-to-one interviews were carried out using semi-structured questions, and the data from the interviews were analyzed using consensual qualitative research (CQR). Most of the families had very negative responses and attitudes to the participants coming out and exhibited rejection or avoidant attitudes; only a few of the families responded with receptive attitudes. As a result, the LGBT participants reacted with friction and coping behaviors, such as persuasion, participation in professional counseling, abandonment or avoidance, and running away from home. Most of the effects of the families' attitudes on the participants were negative psychological effects, such as anger, sadness, a sense of alienation, depression, anxiety, fear, trauma, helplessness, lowered self-esteem, alcohol dependence, and suicidal ideation and attempt, while receptive attitudes provided a sense of stability. For all participants, they reported that they were more likely to be hurt by their families' negative attitudes than by social attitudes. This study is significant because it provides framework for specifying families' attitudes and LGBT individuals' experiences after coming out in Korean society. It also outlines LGBT individuals' coping behaviors, psychological difficulties, and the process of coming out and provides suggestions for individuals to overcome. The results are expected to help counselors create practical strategies to better understand LGBT individuals and the psychological difficulties they may experience and provide proper interventions while counseling both the individual and the family.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.55-77
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• 2019

Negative experience related to work-family multiple roles has been associated with internalizing problems in mothers. In particular, employed mothers with preschool children report high degree of stress. As such, the need to examine potential factors that may explain and alleviate such difficulties has been emphasized. The purpose of this study was thus to examine the mediating effect of sociotropy on the relationship between negative work-family multiple roles and internalizing problems in employed mothers with preschool children. The Negative Experience of Work-Family Multiple Roles Scale, Adult Self Report (ASR) Scale, and Personal Style Inventory-II (PSI-II), were completed by 208 employed mothers with preschool children through an online survey. The results indicated that the direct effect of negative experience of work-family multiple roles on internalizing problems was statistically significant and the indirect effect of sociotropy in this relationship was significant. These findings suggest that sociotropy in employed mothers may indirectly explain internalizing problems related to multiple roles. The implications of sociotropy in negative experience of work-family multiple roles and internalizing problems are discussed.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.343-365
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• 2013

This study examined the effects of various individual differences on children's memory of a stressful experience. The participants for the current study were children (N=85) aged 4-9 years those who experienced a naturally occurring stressful experience from a dental procedure. There was overall negative relation between the level of stress and children's memory performance. However, more interestingly, the results of this study provided some further evidence that several cognitive (i.e., receptive language ability and working memory capacity) and emotional (i.e., children's general anxiety condition, children's self-report of pain and anxiety about the event) individual difference factors were associated with variations in children's remembering across ages. The results suggest that the relation between stress and children's memory might be impacted in part by children's various individual characteristics. Furthermore, the findings are discussed in the applied context that based on the results clinical and legal professionals can tailor interviews to best meet children's needs and capabilities, and create developmentally and individually sensitive guidelines for interviewing children in the legal system.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.72-78
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• 2023

Objectives : This study aims to identify various psychiatric symptoms and psychosomatic symptoms caused by COVID-19 infection and investigate their long-term impact. Methods : A systematic literature review was conducted, selecting papers from domestic and international databases using keywords such as "COVID-19" and "psychosomatic." A total of 16 papers, including those using structured measurement tools for psychosomatic symptoms, were included in the final analysis. Results : Psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and somatic symptoms have been reported in acute COVID-19 infection, while long-term post-COVID symptoms include chest pain and fatigue. The frequency of long-term psychosomatic symptoms has been estimated to be 10%-20%. Factors contributing to these symptoms include psychological and social stress related to infectious diseases, gender, elderly age, a history of psychiatric disorders, and comorbid mental illnesses. It is suggested that systemic inflammation, autoimmune responses, and dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system may be involved. Conclusions : Psychosomatic symptoms arising after COVID-19 infection have a negative impact on quality of life and psychosocial functioning. Understanding and addressing psychiatric aspects are crucial for symptom prevention and treatment.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.142-153
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• 2002

The authors intended to investigate personality characteristics and those influence on the outcome of cognitive behavioral therapy in patients with panic disorder. 167 patients who met DSM-IV criteria for panic disorder were assessed by the PDQ-R(Personality Disorder Questionnaire-Revision) and various self-report tools for assessing symptoms of panic disorder. The effect of therapy was measured by the changes of scores and the end state functioning before and after 12-sessions of CBT. The patients with panic disorder were more likely showed obsessive-compulsive, avoidant and paranoid personality disorder and also Cluster C. If is needed when patients were divided into two groups according to total scores of PDQ-R(high or low personality disorder groups), high personality disorder group showed many evidences for increased psychopathology at the start of treatments, this suggested the close linkage between panic disorder and personality disorder. Interestingly, there were no significant differences between both groups in scores of clinical variables and the end state functioning. In conclusion, although patients with high tendency of personality disorder had more generalized problems at the beginning of treatments, they could improve as much as the patients with low tendency of personality disorder. They can be helped by cognitive behavioral therapy for panic disorder and seem to profit as much as patients with low tendency of personality disorder. If is needed to seek other factors in poor responders for cognitive behavioral therapy.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.61-74
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• 2004

Objectives：This study was performed to introduce a psychoeducational family therapy model for the families of schizophrenic patient and to investigate the effect of this model on the changes in coping style and depressive symptoms of the family members, and in perception of emotional support by families and depressive symptoms of patients. Methods：Nine preschool children, 3-5 years old, experiencing physical injuries caused by attack from a psychotic patient at kindergarten, were evaluated for psychological assessments；Intelligence test, MSSB(MacArthur Story-Stem Battery), H-T-P test(House-Tree-Person test). And their parents completed rating scale, KPI-C(Korean Personality Inventory for Children about children’s psychological conditions). Results：With respects to the contents and emotional reactions of MSSB, 9 preschool children showed generally high levels of anxiety, depression, avoidance, aggression, probably related to the traumatic experiences. Even though children couldn't verbally report directly about their traumatic experiences, in both MSSB, structured play narrative assessment tool, and HPT, free drawing and association test, they demonstrated psychiatric problems through reenactment plays, regardless of clinical diagnoses. Conclusion：Present study allowed us the chance to see beyond the outer pathological behaviors of PTSD in preschool children, through deeper evaluations of their mental representation. These preliminary data suggest deep understanding of internal representation would be of help for thorough evaluations and treatment plan for preschool children, experiencing severe trauma.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.257-267
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• 2008

The mentophysical disease causes diseases in digestive, respiratory, circulating systems, including chronic pain, through combined reactions from different individual characteristics, mental stress and temperamental factors. The most common symptom related to orofacial area is pain and the contributive factors include biological, behavioral, environmental, social, emotional, recognitive factors. These factors affect the course of the symptom according to individual's character and human nature. In pain, sleep acts as a contributive factor, and pain could bring about sleep disturbance and vice versa. Deterioration of sleep quality would act as a factor that aggravates mental stress. Therefore, relatively accurate and simple mental examinations and sleep quality test should be carried out for the patients with symptoms related to orofacial area. This study evaluated the mental state in relation to the sleep quality which could affect orofacial pain. The number of poor sleeper was 18 in male subjects, and 1 in female subjects and PSQI global index was higher in male($6.11{\pm}2.38$) than female($4.67{\pm}2.18$). SCL-90-R index showed no sex difference. Poor sleeper showed significantly high value in SOM, O-C, I-S, ANX, PHOB, PSY, GSI, PST. When SCL-90-R T scores were compared according to sleep quality, higher the subjective sleep quality score, O-C and I-S showed significant increase. As sleep disturbances score increased, PAR, PSY, PST showed statistically significant increase. In comparison of SCL-90-R T score according to daytime dysfunction, statistically significant increase in DEP, ANX, HOS, PHOB, PAR, GSI was observed. Therefore, the quality of sleep and psychological status have a high correlation. This is likely to influence chronic pain in the orofacial field. As a result, clinicians treating orofacial pain should evaluate the sleep quality and psychological status of the patient. Further studies of larger sample sizes including various age, occupation, and pain groups are necessary in order to apply the results to clinical practice.