• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2006

Background : Some reports have suggested that decreased nitric oxide metabolites($NO_x$) and activity of nitric oxide synthase could be related to the pathophysiology of depression. We evaluated plasma levels of $NO_x$ in pregnant women with and without postpartum depression at prenatal and postnatal period. Methods : The plasma concentrations of $NO_x$ were measured in 104 pregnant women in the third trimester and at 6 weeks postpartum and in 64 normal controls. The severity of depression and anxiety was measured with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale(EPDS), Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), and Beck Anxiety Scale(BAI). Results : Plasma $NO_x$ levels at 6 weeks postpartum were significantly lower in cases of postpartum major depression(EDPS scores${\geq}$13 points) than in cases without depression(EDPS scores${\leq}$9 points). Plasma $NO_x$ levels had significantly negative correlation with EPDS scores at 6 weeks postpartum. Conclusion : We demonstrate that decreased plasma $NO_x$ is associated with postpartum depression. Further studies are required to determine whether individual serum concentration of plasma $NO_x$ alone could predict maternal depression.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2008

Objective : Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has been established as an effective treatment for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the literature is unclear as to whether EMDR is effective in the treatment of other psychiatric disorders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential use of EMDR in the treatment of psychiatric disorders other than PTSD by using a clinician's impression of patient response and a subjective symptom evaluation. Methods : Seventeen diagnostically heterogenous patients without PTSD underwent an average of 4.3 sessions of EMDR. Symptom severity was assessed by the Clinical Global Impression-Change Scale (CGIC), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Symptom Checklist-90- Revised (SCL-90-R) before and after EMDR. Those whose CGI-C scores were 'very much improved' and 'much improved' after EMDR were classified as 'responders.' The patients' before and after treatment scores of symptom severity and group differences were compared. Results : Twelve of the 17 participants (12/17, 71%) were classified as 'responders.' The patients' scores on all of the scales, with the exception of the trait anxiety scale and obsession-compulsion scale of the SCL- 90-R, significantly decreased after treatment. There was no difference in sociodemographic and clinical variables between the responders and non-responders. Conclusion : The results of our study suggest that EMDR can be a promising candidate for the treatment of patients with psychiatric disorders other than PTSD, and thus further controlled studies are needed to determine whether EMDR can be applied to various psychiatric populations.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2014

Objectives: In this study, the meditation programs (${\alpha}$ version), which are properly coordinated according to the motion, breathing, and relaxation, are evaluated and researched upon to have positive effects on stress and in the area of psychology. Methods: Approved by the Clinical Trials Deliberation Committee in Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University, Ilsan Hospital, this study collected data according to the applicant's consents, demographic information and anthropometry for the Sasang Constitutional diagnosis. Sasang Constitutional diagnosis measured the beta tools by Institute of Oriental Medicine and a decision tree was made for the Sasang Constitutional questionnaires. The STAI, STAXI, BDI, and HRV were measured before and after the meditation in order to compare the effects of meditation according to Sasang Constitution. The HRV was used as a ProComP KM Tech (co). Results: 1) The positive changes available in the Time-domain analysis of heart rate variability assessment showed that the peace of mind is increased. By analyzing the Sasang constitution, So-eum In's peace of mind included a physical stability of the autonomic nervous system. 2) According to the psychological scale evaluation, each depression scale, trait anger, anger-in, state anxiety and trait anxiety index proved significantly positive effects. By analyzing the Sasang constitution, Eun-In which involved So-eum In and Tae-eum In, had positive effects. 3) The psychological scale changed the group of diagnosed depression or anxiety, it did not mean that the psychological scale changes in the depression group, but the index of the anxiety group had been significantly reduced. This program had clinical effects for anxious patients and Eum-In which involved Tae-eum In and So-eum In according to the analysis of Sasang constitution. 4) Correlations between the gender of each psychological scale showed that women have overall low correlations, but, there were no significant changes. Conclusions: The meditation program developed by adequately mixing Action, relaxation and breathing shows that it is effective for overall Eum-in physical and mental relaxation and concentration. In the future, It will have to be developed Meditation program to show the same effect for all people.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2006

Objective : The aims of this study were to explore the relations of internet addiction to depression, impulsivity, and obsessive-compulsivity in adolescents. Methods : 1410 high school students (male=611, female=799 : mean age=$16.2{\pm}0.7$) were included in this study. The questionnaire consisted of items on demographic characteristics and internet use pattern. We assessed the level of internet addiction using Young's internet addiction scale (IAS) Barratt impulsiveness scale (BIS) and Maudsley obsessive compulsive inventory (MOCI) were also self-rated. In this study, We defined upper 25% of IAS as 'addiction group' and lower 25% as 'non-addiction group'. Results : The results were as follows ; 1) Male students had significantly higher mean scores on Internet addiction scale than females and there was significantly higher rate of male students in addiction group. 2) The addiction group spent more time for internet use, especially for games than non-addiction group. 3) The addiction group showed significantly higher total scores on BDI, BIS, and MOCI than non-addiction group. 4) Significant associations have been found between the level of internet addiction and depression, impulsivity, and obsessive-compulsivity, respectively. Conclusion : Depression, impulsivity, and obsessive-compulsivity could be significant factors predicting internet addiction. Especially, direct effect of impulsivity could be the most significant to explain internet addiction. Adolescents with high impulsivity may be vulnerable to internet addiction.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.6-11
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• 2013

Objectives There are only a limited number of studies on instruments assessing fatigue in university students, although fatigue exerts negative influences on their health and academic performances and fatigue-related complaints are more frequently reported in young adults than middle-aged adults. The aim of this study was to validate the 9-item Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) among university students including both undergraduate and graduate students in South Korea. Methods A total of 176 university students completed a battery of self-report questionnaires, including the FSS, the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 version 2 (MOS-SF36v2), and the Inclusion of Community in the Self Scale (ICS). The data were collected from February of 2012 to June of 2012. The reliability, convergent validity, divergent validity, and exploratory factor analyses were conducted to assess psychometric properties of the FSS. Results The mean FSS score was 3.20 (standard deviation = 1.43). The FSS demonstrated an excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ = 0.93) and item-total correlations ranged from 0.56 to 0.90. Correlations of the FSS with the BFI (r = 0.71, p < 0.01), BDI-II (r = 0.54, p < 0.01), BAI (r = 0.46, p < 0.01), MOS-SF36v2 physical component summary (r = -0.28, p < 0.01), MOS-SF36v2 mental component summary (r = -0.55, p < 0.01), and ICS (Spearman's rho = -0.07, p = 0.33) showed acceptable convergent and divergent validity. Exploratory factor analysis defined one underlying factor (eigenvalue = 5.67) that explained 93.50% of the total variance. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate reliability and validity of the FSS in university students. The FSS exhibits good psychometric properties for evaluation of fatigue among university students in South Korea. Since the FSS is easy to administer, score, and interpret, it could be a useful tool in research and practice for assessing fatigue among university students.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.146-156
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• 2016

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between vasomotor symptoms and factors such as sociodemographics, health behaviors, medical condition, depression, stress, anxiety, attitude toward menopause, and quality of life. Methods : We conducted a cross-sectional study in peri- and post-menopausal women enrolled by the Korean Association of Health Promotion. Subjects submitted self-report questionnaires about vasomotor symptoms and other clinical symptoms. Associations between vasomotor symptoms and clinical variables were analyzed using stepwise multiple regression analyses. Results : 1951 women completed self-report questionnaires and 1022 women were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of vasomotor symptoms in peri- and post-menopausal women was 63.9%. Variables showing significant differences between subjects with vasomotor symptoms and subjects without them were score of Beck Depression Inventory, Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument-Korean Version, proportions of clinically significant depression(Beck Depression Inventory ${\geq}16$), Menopausal rating scale, attitude towards menopause, the 4 subscales of World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF(Physical health, psychological, social relationships, environment), and a History of Premenstrual syndrome/Premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Stepwise multiple regression analyses indicated that Beck Depression Inventory, Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument-Korean Version, Menopausal Rating Scale, and the Psychological subscale of World Health Organization Quality of Life -BREF show associations with vasomotor symptoms. Conclusions : Menopausal vasomotor symptoms are associated with various psychological factors, especially with depression. Midlife women suffering vasomotor symptoms should therefore be screened for depression. Future prospective studies where clinical subjects are diagnosed using structured interviews, focusing on the causal relationship between depression and vasomotor symptoms are necessary.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.833-845
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• 2021

Parkinson's syndrome is a degenerative brain disease that presents characteristic motor symptoms of tremor, rigidity, and gait disturbance. In addition to these motor symptoms, Parkinson's syndrome also presents non-motor symptoms (NMSs) such as sleep disturbance and cognitive decline. NMSs reduce patient's quality of life and psychosocial functioning and cause economic burden on the patient, so appropriate evaluation and treatment are required. Lewy body dementia is one of the several diseases belonging to Parkinson's syndrome. Its symptoms such as cognitive function, memory impairment, and hallucinations occur with Parkinsonism. Although drug therapy is being used with drug treatment to treat non-motor symptoms, it has limitations such as side effects, which stimulated interest in other complementary treatment methods such as oriental medicine treatment, dance, and yoga. The patient in this case complained of tremor in the right upper extremity, muscle hypertension and pain, and persistent vision, memory, and cognitive decline. The patient was diagnosed with probable Lewy body dementia. The patient was hospitalized for 4 months and received acupuncture and herbal medicines. After treatment, the patient's NMS scale scores decreased from 90 to 63, and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale scores (summed I, II, and III) decreased from 17 points to 8 points. The Beck Depression Inventory score decreased from 22 points to 13 points. In addition, the patient's subjective evaluation revealed improvement. In this case, a patient diagnosed with probable Lewy body dementia who did not respond to the standard treatment and did not want to take medications showed improvement in not only motor symptoms but also NMSs after integrative Korean medicine treatment.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.892-901
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• 2020

Objective: This study reports the effect of Korean traditional medicine on persistent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Methods: The patient was treated with Korean traditional medicine that included acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine. The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated by the Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30), the Quality of Life Questionnaire Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (QLQ-CIPN20), the Medicinae Doctor Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI), and a numeral rating scale (NRS). We also used the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to evaluate the patient's mood change after relieving the paresthesia. Results: After treatment, the symptoms were improved. Paresthesia decreased 80%p after Korean medicine treatment. Conclusions: According to this study, Korean traditional medicine can be an effective treatment for paresthesia in patients suffering from CIPN over 2 years.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.109-120
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing emotional and behavioral characteristics of high school students. Methods: This was a descriptive survey using a convenience sample of 672. $1^{st}$, $2^{nd}$ and $3^{rd}$ grade high school students in Inchoen city. Emotional and behavioral characteristics were measured by AMPQ-II scale consisting of 38 items and depression was measured by BDI consisting of 21 items. The subjects were given a self-reporting questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed by frequency, mean, t-test, ANOVA, Scheff$\acute{e}$-test, ${\chi}^2$-test and multiple regression using the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. Results: General high school students and vocational high school students were more likely to have emotional or behavior troubles, experience depression, and plan suicide than special-purpose high school students. Significant predictors influencing emotional and behavior characteristics were the 'type of high school' and 'depression'. Conclusion: There is a need to develop school-based mental health programs, especially targeting female students, general high school students and vocational high school students.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.131-146
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• 2009

Purpose: The purposes of this descriptive survey study were to describe levels of father involvement in child-rearing and maternal depression. Method: Data were collected from 277 mothers who had one to three years old infant at 8 day care centers and 2 public health centers in S and B city. The instrument used for this study was a self-report questionnaire that included the father involvement in child-rearing scale and maternal depression(BDI). Results: The mean score for father involvement in child-rearing was $44.60{\pm}12.06$. For father involvement in child-rearing, there were significant differences according to chid birth order, father's education, mother's job, income, marriage satisfaction, support for child-rearing. The mean for maternal depression was $10.24{\pm}7.70$. For maternal depression, there were significant differences according to mother's religion, parent's education, father's job, income, marriage satisfaction, support for child-rearing. There is significant difference in the maternal depression according to the father involvement in child-rearing. Conclusion: Father involvement in child-rearing and maternal depression influence child development. It is essential to assess father's participation in child-rearing and maternal depression, to develop knowledge about role of father for child health.