• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.53-66
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• 2000

Objectives: The studies in biological, behavioral and psychosocial perspectives in nursing research are fundamental in the balanced development of nursing knowledge. Many nursing researchers have placed a strong emphasis on developing psychological and behavioral aspects of nursing knowledge as is evidenced by the large body of research in these areas. However, the paucity of nursing research using the principles of biological science for measurements and techniques have often invited open criticism by many nursing researchers. This study attempts to characterize the researches performed in master and doctoral thesis which used physiological variables. Methods: We analyzed masters' thesis from 1962 to 1996 and doctoral thesis from 1982 to 1996 listed in CD from Korean Nurses Association. Results: Out of 3060 masters' thesis from 1962 to 1996, 342 (11.2%) thesis used physiological variables whereas 43 (10.1%) doctoral thesis used physiological ones. Number of thesis with physiological variables was the highest in Seoul National University for masters' thesis whereas for the doctoral thesis the number was the highest in Yonsei University. The research subjects in these thesis with physiological variables were mostly patients (53.5% in masters' and 69.8% in doctoral). Master's thesis often conducted either nonexperimental or survey research (69.9%) whereas experimental research design prevailed vital signs(181 thesis), blood tests(133), body composition(124), microorganisms(74), gastrointestinal functions(36), lab test(33), drug(21), urinary functions(20), movement(17), Apgar Score(15), reproductive functions(9), skin related functions(6), body fluid and electrolytes(4), parasite(4), metabolism(3), and sensory(1), Among the 338 master' thesis which studied the common nursing concepts such as anxiety, pain, stress, and depression, 48(14.2%) thesis utilized physiological variables while 15 out of 35 doctoral thesis addressed these concepts using physiological variables. Conclusion: In summary, our results indicate that despite the large amount of nursing research performed over the last decades, there are a few nursing researches done with physiological variables either in masters' or doctoral thesis. To enrich nursing knowledge with different perspectives of nursing including especially biological ones, the efforts have to be made to conduct bionursing science research.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 1998

Purpose : Validity of WHO guideline of cancer pain management has been proven and many trials were done for resolution of inadequate management of cancer pain. We assessed the severity of pain in terminal cancer patients and patient's characteristics influencing inadequate pain management. Methods : This study was done on 100 patients who was confirmed as terminal in Seoul National University Hospital from lune 1997 to November. For getting the informations about dermographic and medical characteristics such as performance and metastasis, and drug-adjusted pain severity the patients, we reviewed the medical records and interview the patients. we assessed the adequacy of prescribed analgesics with WHO guidelines of pain management, and patient's characteristics influencing on adequacy of pain management. Results : 85.0 percent of cancer patient had pain when diagnosed as terminal cancer and 68% of patient had pain above moderate severity. 38.0 percent of those were given inadequate pain management and the greater pain severity, the less adequate(P<0.001). Sex, age, primary site of cancer, metastasis, symptoms such as depression and anxiety, and performance were not significant. Conclusion : Despite guidelines for pain management, many patients with terminal cancer received inadequate pan management. Their is a need for education about evaluation of pain and guidelines of pain management.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2012

Objective : Psychiatry in North Korea is believed to seem very different from psychiatry in South Korea. However, there is nearly no information regarding psychiatry in North Korea until now. Our study aimed to get information about North Korean psychiatry. Methods : Three North Korean defectors in South Korea, whose clinical experience as medical doctors in North Korea was over 10 years, were recruited. They underwent the semi-structured interview, content of which included the clinical experience with psychiatric patients, the details of psychiatry, the treatment of psychiatric patients, the stigma of mental illness, and the suicide, in North Korea. Results : In North Korea, psychiatric department was called as 49th(pronounced as Sahsip-gu-ho in Korean). Only patients with vivid psychotic symptoms came to psychiatric department. Non-psychotic depression or anxiety disorders usually were not dealt in psychiatry. The etiology of mental illness seemed to be confined to biological factors including genetic predisposition. Psychosocial or psychodynamic factors as etiology of mental illness appeared to be ignored. Psychiatry was apparently separated from political or ideological issues. The mainstay of psychiatric treatment is the inpatient admission and out-of-date therapy such as insulin coma therapy. Stigma over mental illness was common in North Korea. Suicide is considered as a betrayal to his/her nation, and has been reported to be very rare. Conclusion : The situation of psychiatry in North Korea is largely different from that of South Korea. Although some aspects of North Korean psychiatry are similar to psychiatry in former socialist countries, North Korean psychiatry is considered to have also its unique characteristics.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.953-959
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• 2015

Optogenetics is the combination of optical and molecular strategies to control designated molecular and cellular activities in living tissues and cells using genetically encoded light-sensitive proteins. It involves the use of light to rapidly gate the membrane channels that allows for ion movement. Optogenetics began with the placing of light-sensitive proteins from green algae inside specific types of brain cells. The cells can then be turned on or off with pulses of blue and yellow light. Using the naturally occurring algal protein Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), a rapidly gated light-sensitive cation channel, the number and frequency of action potentials can be controlled. The ChR2 provides a way to manipulate a single type of neuron while affecting no others, an unprecedented specificity. This technology allows the use of light to alter neural processing at the level of single spikes and synaptic events, yielding a widely applicable tool for neuroscientists and biomedical engineers. An improbable combination of green algae, lasers, gene therapy and fiber optics made it possible to map neural circuits deep inside the brain with a precision that has never been possible before. This will help identify the causes of disorders like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, addiction, sleep disorder, and autism. Optogenetics could improve upon existing implanted devices that are used to treat Parkinson’s disease, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other ailments with pulses of electricity. An optogenetics device could hit more specific subsets of brain cells than those devices can. Applications of optogenetic tools in nonneuronal cells are on the rise.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.299-315
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• 1993

Koreans are one of the fastest growing immigrant groups in America. Stress responses and stressors among this large cultural minority has been rarely been studied by nursing researchers. Adjusting to life in foreign country produces a great deal of stress. Differences in culture, language, expectations and social behavior can lead to misunderstandings between health care providers and clients. These misunderstandings are not well accounted for in health assessment. This study investigated the relationship between life events or / and daily activities as a stressor and the symptoms of stress among a sample of Korean immigrants in America. The symptoms of stress scale (SOS) was used to identify stress responses and open-ended questions were used to identify life events and daily activities considered by the respondents to be stressful. A simple random sample of 283 subjects was selected from the Directory of the Korean Society of Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Seattle. Demographically, the subjects ranged in age from 20 to 69 years, and the percentage of women and men was approximately 50% each. Almost ninety percent of the subjects were highly educated, 17% owners of business, 19% white collar professionals, 14% employed in sales or as skilled /unskilled labor, 27% as housewives and students and 3％ had no occupation. The total group SOS mean was 0.8042 ; the SOS men for man was 0.7371, and for women was 0.8713. The stress response of this subject group was high, -the stress response of women higher than that for men. In an earlier study(June, 1992) with another sample, the total mean SOS score was similar to this one. The main stressful life events or / and daily activities were, in order, economic problems (N=97), interpersonal problems (N=68), children care problems (N=258), health problems (N=49), communication problems (N=42), family problems (N=38), worry about future career (N=36), and religious problems (N=25). There was a significant difference in the SOS means between the group that expressed life events or / and daily activities to be stressful and the group that did not. Interpersonal relationships and economic and family problems were stressors for those who complained about peripheral manifestations. cardiopulmonary symptoms, central-neurological symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, muscle ten-sion, habitual patterns, depression, anxiety, emotional irritability and cognitive disorganization. In summary, interpersonal relationships and economic and family problems influenced stress response manifestations. Income, the number of people in the family, the year of immigration. the level of education, and marital status were related to physiological and psychosocial stress responses.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2005

Objectives : Few studies have examined the relation between the attachment styles of the primary caregivers and the behavioral problems of their children. This study was performed to identify the impact of the insecure parental attachment patterns on the development of their higher grades elementary school children's psychiatric manifestations and disorders. Methods : 504 higher elementary pupils and their primary caretakers were included in our study. Relationship Questionnaire, Kovacs Children's Depression Inventory, Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for children, and Korean Child Behavior Checklist were applied to them. Results : The grade-school children of the parents who belonged to preoccupied attachment type revealed higher Withdrawn, Anxious/depressed, Social Problems, Attention Problems, Delinquent Problems, Aggressive Problems, Internalizing Problems, Externalizing Problems, Total Behavioral Problems scores than ones of securely attached parents (p<0.01). Internalizing Problems score of preoccupied parents' children was highest, and one of avoidant and secure typed parents' kids followed in order (p=0.004) . More youngsters revealed Total Behavior Problem score high enough to clinically meaningful level in insecure parental attachment style than in secure one (p=0.038). Higher CDI score in insecure parental group was reported than in secure one (p=0.040). Conclusion : Parental insecure attachment can be associated with the development of the behavioral problems and psychiatric illness of their children.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.72-78
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• 2005

Objectives : This study is to investigate the clinical characteristics of psychiatric consultation for children and adolescents in a general hospital. Methods : Hospital records of 302 children and adolescents who were referred for psychiatric consultation in a general hospital over 4 years were reviewed and analyzed. Results : The mean referral rate for psychiatric consultation for school age children and adolescents was $2.15\%$. While more girls were referred in middle and high school age group, more boys were referred in pre-school age group. Fifty percent of the consultation was requested from department of internal medicine and pediatrics. Main reason for requesting psychiatric consultation was fur the assessment of the patients from psychiatric point of view $(31.1\%)$, followed by the management of depression $(11.6\%)$ and anxiety $(11.3\%)$. Most frequently rendered psychiatric services for the treatment was psychosocial education and supportive therapy $(21.2\%)$. Conclusion : There are differences in clinical nature of psychiatric consultation and referral patterns between adult patients and child and adolescent patients. Future research is needed to strengthen the services for child and adolescent psychiatric consultation.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.93-103
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• 2002

The aim of this study is to examine the diagnostic profiles and related clinical variables of children with attention and hyperactivity in psychiatric outpatient clinic. Seventy one children with age range of 5 to 14 were diagnosed by DSM-IV, and assessment battery including KEDI-WISC, KPI-C, ADS(ADHD Diagnostic System) were completed. The subjects were divided into 3 diagnostic groups：ADHD only(n=17), ADHD comorbid(n=27), Other diagnosis(n=27). The results were as follows：In ADHD comorbid group, tic disorder, developmental language disorder, borderline intellectual function, oppositional defiant/conduct disorder, and learning disorder were combined in descending order. Other diagnosis group consisted of tic disorder, borderline intellectual function, depression/anxiety, oppositional defiant/conduct disorder, and others. There were significant differences in IQ, PIQ, and VIQ among the three groups, and ADHD only group showed higher scores of IQ and VIQ than ADHD comorbid group. On the KPI-C, there were no significant differences in all subscales among the three groups. On the visual ADS, omission error and sensitivity showed significant differences among the three groups, and ADHD comorbid group represented higher omission error and lower sensitivity than other diagnostic group. The findings indicated that the inattention and hyperactivity symptoms could be diagnosed into diverse psychiatric disorders in child psychiatry, and ADHD children with comorbidity will show more problems in academic performance and school adjustment.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.240-251
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• 2000

This study was a preliminary study on the adolescent psychiatric patients that show the characteristics of peer group neglect or rejection. We divided the adolescent psychiatric patients(n=25) into neglect-reject group(n=15) and non-neglect group(n=10). Each patient answered 8 scales and several questions about general relationships with friends. And, both the score of each 8 scales and answer about qusetions were examined. Lastly, records of 5 cases from neglect-reject group were analyzed. The depression dimension score of SCL-90-R, anxiety dimension score of SCL-9O-R, paranoid dimension score of SCL-90-R, interaction anxiousness scale(IAS) score were significantly different between 2 groups. On the result of case analysis about 5 patients of neglect-reject group, the adolescent psychiatric patients had a tendency to be rejected or neglected in case of having developmental problems(for example, language development or cognitive impairment).

• 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.