• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.23-42
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference of somatization psychological mechanism among Sasang constitution. Methods : Subjects were seventy four students of Won-Kwang university responded the questionnaire. We evaulated the subjects using Minnesota Questionnaire for the Sasang Constitution Classification II(QSCC II), Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2(MMPI-2), 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Somato-Sensory Amplification Scale(SSAS), Symptom Interpretation Questionnaire(SIQ) and The Ways of Stress Coping Questionnaire(SCQ). Results : From the results of Clinical scale of MMPI-2, the scores of 2nd, 9th, 10th scales was significantly difference. In Lesser Yin group 10th score was the significantly highest of the others, 1st, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th score were the highest but not significant. and From the results of PSY-5 scale(The Personality Psychopathology Five scale) of MMPI-2, In Lesser Yin goup, INTR(Introversion/Low Positive Emotion) score was significantly highest, PSYC(psychoticism), NEGE (Negative Emotionality/Neuroticism) was higher than the others. In TAS-20K, SSAS, SIQ and SCQ Lesser Yin group was not significantly difference. but Lesser Yin group had the tendency of difficulty describing feelings and externally oriented thinking and higher score in physical and psychological interpretation. We observed generally lower levels of stress coping strategy scores than the others. Conclusions : These results showed that Lesser Yin group tend to somatization compared other constitution.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2005

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate depression, anxiety, alexithymia, stress res ponses in caregivers of patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Methods : The subjects were 38 attention deficit hyperactivity disorder patients caregivers(38 women, mean age $37.5{\pm}6.5$). Patients were diagnosed with DSM-IV ADHD criteria. Korean version of Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), State and Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI), Toronto Alexithymia Scale(TAS) and Stress Response Inventory(SRI) were used for assessment. Results 1) The BDI scores of ADHD patients caregiver group were significantly higher than control group$(16.4{\pm}7.1\;vs.\;10.9{\pm}5.5)(p=0.011)$. 7 of the 38 caregivers(18.4%) and none of control group(0%) had BDI scores over 20 points(p=0.021). Calculated relative risk for ADHD in the presence of caregivers' depression was 1.516 overall(95% confidence interval, 1.234-1.862). 2) In ADHD patient's caregiver group, the scores of Stress Response Inventory were significantly higher than control group$(44.2{\pm}20.2\;vs.\;26.5{\pm}16.8)(p=0.006)$. 3) No significant differences were found in the score of STAI, SIAIS, SIAI-T, TAS between caregiver and control group. Conclusion : This study suggest that ADHD patients' caregivers are likely to have more depressive symptoms and higher stress response level than control group. We propose that physicians should consider integrated approaches for caregiver's psychopathology in the management of ADHD.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2013

Objectives : Type D personality was originally introduced to study the role of personality in predicting outcomes of heart disease. However, researches showed that other medical conditions are also affected by this personality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between type D personality and somatic symptom complaints in depressive patients. Methods : Eighty-two individuals diagnosed with depressive disorder were included. Type D personality was measured with DS14. Patient Health Questionnaire(PHQ) 9 and 15 were used to measure depression severity and somatization tendencies. For alexithymia, TAS-20 was used. Student T-test and linear regression analysis were performed. The best regression model was determined by stepwise variable selection. Results : More than half of the subjects(56%) complained at least medium degree somatic symptoms according to PHQ-15 criteria. Two-thirds of the subjects were classified as Type D personality(63.4%). The mean PHQ-15 score of the Type D individuals was significantly higher than the remaining subjects(PHQ-15 mean=12.7, $p=8.2{\times}10^{-7}$). The best regression model included age, PHQ-9 score and NA subscale score as predictor variables. Among these, only the coefficients of age($p=1.5{\times}10^{-3}$) and NA score($p=1.5{\times}10^{-7}$) were found to be statistically significant. Conclusions : The result showed that Type D personality was one of the strong predictors of somatic complaints among depressive individuals. The finding that negative affectivity rather than social inhibition was more closely associated with somatization tendencies does not fully agree with the traditional explanation that inability to express negative emotion predispose the individuals to somatic symptoms. The finding that alexithymia was not shown to be a significant predictors also substantiated this discrepancy. However, it might be possible that the high correlation between NA and SI subscore(r=0.65) and between NA and TAS-20 score(r=0.44) hid the additional effects of social inhibition and alexithymia. Further research with a larger sample would be needed to investigate the effects of the latter two components over and above the effect of negative affectivity on the somatic complaints in depressive patients.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.157-164
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• 2004

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate depression, anxiety, alexithymia, stress responses between well-controlled and poorly-controlled diabetic patients by glycated hemoglobin levels. Methods : The subjects were 55 diabetic patients(mean age : $49.9{\pm}9.9$, 27 men and 28 women) who were confirmed to have diabetes depending on the laboratory findings as well as clinical symptoms at the St. Vincent Hospital Diabetes Clinic, from Mar. 2004 to Aug. 2004. Korean version of Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), State and Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI), Toronto Alexithymia Scale(TAS) and Stress Response Inventory(SRI) were used for assessment. Based on glycated hemoglobin levels, the patients were divided into 10 well-controlled group(below 7%) and 45 poorly-controlled group(above 7%). We compared BDI, STAI, TAS and SRI scores between two groups by independent t-test. Results 1) Well-controlled diabetics, compared with poorly controlled group, manifested decreased illness duration($12.2{\pm}55.4$months vs. $55.4{\pm}66.6 months)(p=0.000), but other demographic data showed no difference between two groups. 2) The STAI scores of poorly-controlled group were significantly higher in both state anxiety sores $(38.7{\pm}3.8 \;vs.\;43.7{\pm}6.7)(p=0.29)$ and trait anxiety scores$(36.9{\pm}5.7\;vs.\;41.5{\pm}6.4)(p=0.43)$ than well-controlled groups. 3) No significant differences were found in the score of BDI, TAS, SRI between well and poorly-controlled diabetic groups. Conclusion : The above results suggest that poorly-controlled diabetic patients are more likely to have higher anxiety level than well-controlled diabetic patients. However, there were no differences in depression, alexithymia, stress responses between two group. We suggest that physicians should consider integrated approaches for psychiatric problems in the management of diabetic patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.84-86
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• 2016

Globus pharyngeus or globus sensation is the painless sensation of a lump in the throat and may be described as a foreign body sensation, a tightening or choking feeling. It is often associated with persistent clearing of the throat, chronic cough, hoarseness, and catarrh. Its etiology remains unclear ; however, laryngopharyngeal reflux may play a role in a subset of patients. Psychogenic problems have often been thought to cause or trigger the globus sensation. Personality studies have found higher levels of alexithymia, neuroticism, and psychological distress (including anxiety, low mood, and somatic concerns) and lower levels of extraversion in patients presenting with globus. Globus patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux exhibited weaker psychological symptoms than non- laryngopharyngeal reflux globus patients, and globus patients who did not respond to proton pump inhibitor had significantly higher anxiety scores. In cases with negative clinical investigations and consistent globus symptom, other treatment strategies, including speech therapy, antidepressants, and cognitive-behavioral therapy, should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 2004

Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous, chronic, progressive disease characterized by hyperglycemia and abnormality in protein, carbohydrate, fat metabolism. Recent studies have reorted two times prevalence of depression in individuals with diabetes compared to individuals without diabetics. This study was designed to investigate glycemic controls, anxiety, alexithymia, stress responses between depressed diabetic patients and non-depressed diabetic patients. Methods The subjects were 60 diabetic patients(mean age : $50.3{\pm}9.7$ years, 31 men and 29 women) who were confirmed to have diabetes depending on the laboratory findings as welt as clinical symptoms at the St. Vincent Hospital Diabetes Clinic, from Mar. 2004 to Sep. 2004. Laboratory test including, blood chemistry. glycated hemoglobin, urinalysis for proteinuria and Korean version of Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), State and Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI), Toronto Alexithymia Scale(TAS) and Stress Response Inventory(SRI) were used for assessment. Based on BDI scores, all diabetics were divided into 13 depressed-diabetics group(above 20 point) and 47 non-depressed group(below 20 point). We compared demographic data. glycemic controls, STAI, TAS and SRI scores between two groups by independent t-test. Results : 1) Depressed diabetic groups were 13(mean age : $55.4{\pm}7.2$ years, 7 men and 6 women) and non depressed groups were 47(mean age $48.9{\pm}9.8$ years, 24 men and 23 women). In depressed diabetics, compared with non-depressed group, manifested aged(p=0.031), but other demographic data showed no difference between two groups. 2) No significant differences were noted in FBS, PP2h, Hb A1C, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, SGOT/SGPT, BUN levels between depressed and non-depressed groups. But, blood creatine levels of depressed group were significantly increased than non-depressed group(p=0.026). 3) No significant differences were found in the score of STAI, STAI-S, STAI-T, TAS between depressed and non-depressed groups. 4) The SRI scores of depressed groups were significantly higher than non-depressed groups$(59.7{\pm}24.9\;vs.\;31.5{\pm}22.0)(p=0.000)$. Conclusion : The above results suggest that depressed diabetic patients are have more stress responses and higher blood creatine levels. However, there were no differences in laboratory data related to glycemic controls, and anxiety. alexithymia levels between two groups. We suggest that physicians should consider integrated approaches for psychiatric problems in the management of diabetes.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.60-68
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• 2003

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop a Korean version of the Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale(LEAS-K) and to examine its validity and reliability. Methods: LEAS-K was developed from translating original LEAS into Korean. The subjects were 476 Korean medical students(322 males and 154 females). The internal consistency was evaluated with the Cronbach's alpha coefficients and 40 protocols were independently scored by two raters to confirm interrater reliability. Additionally, a Korean version of 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale(TAS-20K), Korean versions of the Openness to Experience Inventory(OE), the Marlowe-Crowne Scale (MCS), the Bendig short form of the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale(TMAS) and the Emotional Expressivity Scale(EES) were rated to evaluate concurrent validity. Results: The internal consistency measured by Cronbach's alpha was 0.81 and interrater reliability was high{r(40)=0.99}. Correlation coefficients for concurrent validity were nonsignificant with TMAS and EES. LEAS-K correlated significantly with TAS-20K{r(476)=-0.10, p<0.05}, OE {r(476)=0.10, p<0.05} and MCS {r(476)=0.10, p<0.05}. Conclusion: LEAS-K was demonstrated to have high reliability and validity.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.216-225
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• 2016

Objectives: The purposes of this study are to evaluate the effect of a school-based social skills training program on the emotional regulation of children and adolescents and to assess the plan for effective school-based mental health services. Methods: The Child and Adolescent Mental health promotion team of Bugok National Hospital conducted school-based social skills training (N=90, 7 sessions) for elementary and middle school students. Evaluations were conducted before and after the application of the program using a prosocial behavior questionnaire, a cohesiveness questionnaire, the Korean version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, a self-esteem scale, and the Novaco anger scale, in order to identify any changes. Results: The social skills training program increased the prosocial behavior and cohesiveness of the children and adolescents and decreased their alexithymic tendency and degree of anger, but did not significantly change their self-esteem. Conclusion: The social skills training program positively influences the emotional and behavioral levels of children and adolescents. The emotional regulation program based on a social skills training program is expected to have positive results in school-based mental health services. Future investigations are needed to validate the long term effects of this program.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.186-190
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• 2000

Objective : The authors experienced that cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) could replace medication for controlling panic attacks and anticipatory anxiety symptoms. The objective of this study was finding out predicting factors of discontinuation of medication after CBT for patients with panic disorder. Method : A hundred forty-eight patients who met DSM-IV criteria for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia for at least 3 months had completed 12 weekly sessions of Panic Control Therapy(PCT ; Barlow et al). Eighty-one patients who could discontinue medication and sixty-seven patients who could not discontinue medication were measured with several scales as the pre- and post-treatment aassessment. The scales were Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Clinical Global Impression(CGI), Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory(STAI-state), Anxiety Sensitivity Index(ASI), Body Sensation Questionnaire (BSQ), Panic Belief Questionnaire(PBQ), Agoraphobic Cognition Questionnaire(ACQ), Fear Questionnaire(FQ), Toronto Alexithymia Scale(TAS). Results : At the pre-treatment assessment, the scores of BDI, CGI, STAI-state, ACQ, BSQ were higher in the patients who could discontinue medication than in the patients who could not discontinue medication(t=-2.68, t=-4.88, t=-3.07, t=-3.68, t=-3.35, p<0.01). Conclusion : Patients with panic disorder who were less depressed, less anxious, less agoraphobic and who had less negative cognitions for the bodily sensation and who had higher scores in the therapist's assessment could discontinue their medications.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.113-122
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• 2000

In order to understand the psychological charateristics of Sasang Constitution. the Korean version of 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale(TAS-20K) was completed by 59 sixth grade students of oriental medical college of KyungHee university who defined as one of Sasang constitution from June 2000 to August, and the mean scores of Yangin versus Eumin and Sasang constitution on TAS-20K was compared. The results of this study were as follows.1. Comparison between male and female on Means of TAS-20K ScoreMann-Whitney U test detected no significant differences between mean ranks of TAS-20K scores of male and those of female in F1, F2 and Total, but significant difference in F3(Mann-Whitney U test, t=2.493. p=.018)2. Comparison between Yangin and Eumin on Means of TAS-20K ScoreMann-whitney U test detected no significant differences between mean ranks of TAS-20K scores of Yangin and those of Eumin in F1. F3 and Total, but significant difference in F2(Mann-Whitney U test. t=-2.805. p=.008)3. Comparison among Sasang constitution on Means of TAS-20K ScoreAlthough mean of TAS-20K score of Taeyangin. Soyangin and Soeumin, there were no significant differences among Sasang constitution in F1, F2 and F3 as well as Total when mean ranks of TAS-20K scores of Sasang constitution were compaed by one-way ANOVA.