• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.86-95
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to investigate the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the development of major mental disorders in patients visiting a university hospital. Methods: The study participants were patients with COVID-19 (n=5,006) and those without COVID-19 (n=367,162) registered in the database of Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital and standardized with the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model. Data on major mental disorders that developed in both groups over the 5-year follow-up period were extracted using the FeederNet computer program. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the incidence of major mental disorders. Results: The incidences of dementia and sleep, anxiety, and depressive disorders were significantly higher in the COVID-19 group than in the control group. The incidence rates per 1,000 patient years in the COVID-19 group vs. the control group were 12.71 vs. 3.76 for dementia, 17.42 vs. 7.91 for sleep disorders, 6.15 vs. 3.41 for anxiety disorders, and 8.30 vs. 5.78 for depressive disorders. There was no significant difference in the incidence of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder between the two groups. COVID-19 infection increased the risk of mental disorders in the following order: dementia (HR, 3.49; 95% CI, 2.45-4.98), sleep disorders (HR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.76-2.91), anxiety disorders (HR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.25-2.84), and depressive disorders (HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.09-2.15). Conclusion: This study showed that the major mental disorders associated with COVID-19 were dementia and sleep, anxiety, and depressive disorders.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.200-204
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• 2016

Numb chin syndrome, or mental neuropathy is a rare sensory neuropathy characterized by abnormal sensation such as hypoesthesia, paresthesia, or dysesthesia in the chin and lower lip innervated by the mental nerve. Sensory neuropathy of mental nerve is somewhat familiar to dentists because it can occur following nerve damage by trauma or dental treatment such as implant surgery or third molar extraction. It can also result from dental causes including abscess or osteomyelitis. However, it can be the first sign of the systemic disease or malignancy if it is not related to dental causes. In this study, we present the case of a patient who present with hypoesthesia and pain in chin area without other symptoms and is later diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.165-176
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of mental stress stimulation and acupucnture applied at HT7 point on heart rate variability (HRV) in normal subjects. Methods : Thirty seven healthy volunteers participated in this study. The volunteers were randomly allocated into two groups. Both groups performed a mental arithmetic stress test and stroop color-word test for 10 minute. Then, acupuncture needles were inserted on HT7 for the study group and on non-acupucnture point for the control group. HRV was recorded three times at test time and before and after acupuncture stimulation. Results : After giving mental stress stimulation to both groups, LF and LF!HF ratio were increased and HF was decreased significantly. After giving acupuncture to study group, LF and LF/HF ratio were decreased and HF was increased, but it was not significant. After giving acupuncture to control group, LF and LF/HF ratio were increased and HF was decreased, but it was not significant. Conclusions : This results show that mental arithmetic stress test and stroop color-word test contribute to activation of the sympathetic nervous system Acupuncture at HT7 could be relatively useful to decrease sympathetic activity and balance autonomic nervous system for those who are under stress.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.56-72
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence the performance and importance of clinical nutritionists. Methods: Ninety-nine nutritionists working in mental health institutions were assessed. Results: Factors affecting the performance of clinical nutritionists in certified hospitals were shown to have a significant positive effect on the description of treatment diet, status of clinical nutrition management, and presence of a nutrition counselor. The factors affecting importance were the number of permission beds and total work experience. Conclusions: In order to improve the accreditation system of mental hospitals, it is necessary to expand the scope of this study to include hospitals with fewer beds, and clinical nutrition management should be mandatory.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.251-256
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• 2013

Objectives : Qi gong is generally considered to be safe in most people when learned from a qualified instructor. But abnormal psychosomatic responses or mental disorder may be induced when Qigong is practiced inappropriately, excessively, or when practiced unguided in predisposed individuals. Here we reported a case of Qigong-induced Mental Disorder (QIMD). A woman who had not had a psychiatric disease, by chance started Qigong practice, and felt raising- Qisymptoms, including headache. Methods : We identified the unique characteristics of QIMD and discusses differences with other diseases such as somatoform disorder and schizophrenia. Results : To conclude, QIMD does not come under current somatoform disorder subtypes and schizophrenia. Conclusions : It has distinct characters that occurring after Qigong practice, symptoms of upper body, feeling that something to rise up.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.25-39
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this manuscript was to come up with ideas about supportive policies and multi-sectoral collaboration for Mental health Promotion. Methods: The authors reviewed about 40 various international & internal scientific articles including WHO's publications related with mental health programmes and mental health promotion. Besides, we reviewed inter-sectoral and multi-sectoral collaborations of mental health works for policy recommendations. Results: There are many problems in present mental health services; lack of budgets, existence of many vulnerable people, lack of mental health indexes, low accessibilities to mental health services, lack of supportive policies, and no existence of comprehensive control tower. Conclusions: It is important to strengthen public mental health services focused on health promotion. In addition, reinforcement of the infra-structures and establishment of a comprehensive control tower for mental health promotion should be done immediately. The control tower will have specific roles in structures of different government sectors and infrastructures for inter-sectoral collaboration.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.42-57
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• 2020

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is indicated for various mental disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder) and the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in elderly patients. Furthermore, ECT is a useful first-line treatment in emergency and crisis situations such as suicide risk, violent behavior, catatonia, and food refusal, which are more frequent in elderly patients. ECT is also effective in the treatment of the motor symptoms of neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. Due to the high risk of various physical diseases, the comorbid physical conditions of elderly patients should be individually controlled to optimize ECT treatment. Compared to young adults, in elderly patients the seizure threshold is higher, the seizure duration is shorter, and the anesthetic dose is lower. On the contrary, the response rate in the elderly is both faster and higher. Considering potential cognitive decline and the prevention of further deterioration of cognitive function in elderly patients, in the absence of significant comorbidities, twice weekly sessions and right unilateral electrode placement with a lower seizure threshold and less cognitive effect are preferred to bilateral electrode placement, which has a high risk of adverse cognitive effects. After an acute course of ECT, continuation and maintenance of ECT, combined with prescription of therapeutic drugs, may prevent possible relapse or recurrence of mental disorders. In conclusion, ECT can be used to treat mental disorders in elderly adults, with safety and effectiveness comparable to that in young adults.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.34
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• pp.1.1-1.13
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• 2022

Background: Recently, there has been a call to improve the holistic welfare of dependent contractors (DCs). Thus, our study examined the relationship between DCs and mental health symptoms and how this relationship was modified by age, sex, and income status of workers. Methods: A total of 27,980 workers from the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey are included in our study. The participants who reported having depression or anxiety over the last 12 months are defined those who had mental health symptoms. We performed exact matching for age group and sex, followed by conditional logistic regression with survey weights. Finally, stratified analyses by age, sex and income level were conducted. Results: DCs were found to be at increased risk of depression/anxiety compared to other workers. The odds ratio (OR) is 1.52 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-2.17). In the stratified analyses, vulnerable groups were middle-aged (OR [95% CI]: 1.68 [1.10-2.54]), female (OR [95% CI]: 1.85 [1.20-2.84]), and low-income (OR [95% CI]: 3.18 [1.77-5.73]) workers. Conclusions: Our study's results reinforce those of other studies that show that DCs are at greater risk of experiencing mental health issues than other workers and that and this risk is greater for middle-aged, female, and low-income workers. These results suggest that appropriate policy efforts should be made to improve the psychological well-being of DCs.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.223-225
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• 2008

Rhododendron species is one of the largest and most diverse genera in the plant kingdom, comprising over 800 species and existing all over the globe. Grayanotoxin intoxication is caused by ingestion of honey and flowers. Grayanotoxin exists in honey, flowers, pollen, and nectar of the Rhododendron species. Grayanotoxin-intoxicated patients may present with nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, hypotension, bradycardia, and syncope for several hours. We report a case of grayanotoxin intoxication associated with mental changes. A 9-year-old male presented with impaired consciousness and delirium 26 hours after eating about 10 rhododendron sclippenbachii flowers. A brain MRI and EEG were normal. Parenteral fluids were administered and these symptoms resolved completely in 17 hours.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.23-42
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to identify the inpatient service quality at mental hospitals and to examine the effect of service quality on patient's overall satisfaction and customer loyalty. Data collection was done through conducting a survey of inpatients in three mental hospitals located in Chungnam, Korea using self administered questionnaire. The questionnaire included the modified version of 'service satisfaction scale for psychiatric patients' invented by Chul Kwon Kim and other members, which consists of five dimension of service quality: staff attitude, treatment quality, ward environment, access/cost and ward rule. Total 236 questionnaires were gathered and 219 were used for analysis. The data was analyzed by using version SAS9.2 and path analysis model was applied to test our hypothesis. As a result, the four factors of service (staff attitude, treatment quality, ward environment and ward rule) were extracted, which counted for 62.89% of the common variance. Moreover, Cronbach Alpha showed relatively high internal consistency of answer, all exceeding 0.6. According to the study, ward environment and treatment quality turned out to have direct influence on the patient's satisfaction. In addition, staff attitude and overall satisfaction directly influenced the customer loyalty while ward environment and ward rule indirectly had influence using overall satisfaction as a medium. In conclusion, in order to enhance the satisfaction and customer loyalty in mental hospitals, efforts in improving environmental service quality in particular is highly demanded.