• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.361-367
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• 2016

Objective: This clinical study reports on the effect of traditional Korean medicine on a patient with generalized anxiety disorder.Method: A patient who suffered from generalized anxiety disorder was treated with herbal medicine (Guibiondamtang-gami), acupuncture, moxibustion, and pharmacopuncture. We assessed the changes of anxiety-related symptoms with the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) score, the Beck anxiety inventory (BAI) score, a heart rate variability (HRV) test, and a second derivative of photoplethymogram waveform (SDPTG) test.Results: After taking Guibiondamtang-gami for 22 days, the patient’s STAI score, BAI score, and LF/HF (low-frequency/high-frequency heart rate variability) ratio decreased, while the differential pulse wave index and stress power in the SDPTG test increased.Conclusion: This clinical case study has demonstrated that traditional Korean medicine may be an effective option for treating generalized anxiety disorder.