• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.307-318
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• 2015

Objectives: This study evaluated the effect of oriental treatments and rehabilitation on a patient with organic mental disorder after head trauma caused by traffic accident. Methods: We treated the patient with acupuncture, herb-medication, oriental psychotherapy, and rehabilitation. MMSE-K, BDI, K-MBI, FIM were evaluated before and after treatment. Results: The results indicated that MMSE-K was maintained at 27 points; BDI was reduced from 16 points to 5 points; K-MBI was increased from 75 points to 99 points; and FIM was increased from 86 points to 115 points. Furthermore, the treatment resulted in reduced mental symptoms and improved work capacity. Conclusions: Oriental medical treatment has potential validity in improving symptoms of organic mental disorder.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.407-412
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• 2023

Objectives: Work stress is associated with non-communicable diseases, increased healthcare costs, and decreased work productivity among employees in the information technology sector. There is a need for regular work-stress screening among employees using valid and reliable tools. The Tool to Assess and Classify Work Stress (TAWS-16) was developed to overcome limitations in existing stress assessment tools in India. This study aimed to test the reliability of TAWS-16 in a sample of managerial-supervisory employees. Methods: This observational reliability study included data from 62 employees. Test-retest and inter-method reliability were investigated using a TAWS-16 web application and interview by telephone, respectively. Kappa values and intra-class correlation coefficients were calculated. Internal consistency was assessed through Cronbach's alpha. Results: For both test-retest and inter-method reliability, the agreement for both work-related factors and symptoms suggestive of work stress exceeded 80%, and all kappa values were 0.40 or higher. Cronbach's alpha for test-retest and inter-method reliability was 0.983 and 0.941, respectively. Conclusions: TAWS-16 demonstrated acceptable reliability. It measured stressors, coping abilities, and psychosomatic symptoms associated with work stress. We recommend using TAWS-16 to holistically identify work stress among employees during periodical health check-ups in India.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2011

Objectives: This study investigated beliefs of Koreans on the usefulness of various resources they use to alleviate depressive symptoms and to identify factors affecting the beliefs on different approaches to depressive symptoms. Methods: A household survey was conducted on a stratified sample of adults of age 18~74 (N=1,607) in 2009. The participants were asked to read a case vignette of depression and to provide their opinion about usefulness of 39 types of resources as ways of addressing the symptoms. Factors affecting opinions on usefulness of various resources were examined with logistic regression. Results: The three approaches identified via factor analysis were believed to be useful in the order of 'psychological/relational/activity-oriented', 'lifestyle/cultural', and 'physical/medical' approaches. The logistic regression analyses revealed that correct recognition of symptoms increased the likelihood of positive opinion about psychological and physical approaches, and so did having current symptoms about physical and popular approaches. Past help-seeking experience increased the likelihood of negative opinion about physical approach, however. Conclusions: Strategies to adopt various types of resources need to be developed, including rigorous use of psychosocial methods, mechanisms to control service quality, and the integration of diverse resources into the current community mental health services.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition Conference
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• 2001.12a
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• pp.38-47
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• 2001

L-theanine is a unique amino acid, found almost solely in tea plants. It is the main component responsible for the exotic taste of green tea. In our studies of L-theanine, we have found a variety of biological activities including relaxation and the alleviation of PMS. In general, animals generate very weak electric pulses on the surface of the brain, called brain waves. Brain waves are classified into four types, namely $\alpha$, $\beta$, $\delta$ and $\theta$-waves, based on their frequency. Brain waves correlate with individual mental conditions. For example, generation of $\alpha$-waves is considered an index of relaxation. In human volunteers, $\alpha$-waves were generated on the occipital and parietal regions of the brain surface within 40 minutes after the oral administration of 50 or 200 mg Suntheanine$^{TM}$ without causing drowsiness. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a symptom unique to women which appears in the luteal phase from the ovulation period through the first day of menstruation. It possesses characteristics of having a peak just prior to menstruation and disappearing 1 - 2 days following the start of menstruation. Symptoms of PMS are generally categorized as mental, physical and social symptoms. When comparing the reported Symptoms of PMS by the methods of MDQ score, the Suntheanine$^{TM}$ group was found to have a lower incidence of PMS symptoms, including physical, mental and social symptoms. Overall, a significant alleviation of PMS symptoms by the administration of 200 mg Suntheanine$^{TM}$ was observed. With the successful industrial production of L-theanine, we are now able to supply Suntheanine$^{TM}$, offering a tremendous opportunity for designing functional foods targeting relaxation and the alleviation of PMS.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.79-92
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• 2011

Purpose: This study is to present substantial data for the development of practicable health related programs with which the dental technicians can enjoy better quality of life. To this end, we have surveyed the self-reported psychosomatic symptoms of the dental technicians in Korea and figured out their current health problems. Methods: Out of the random selection of the registered dental offices of Dental Technicians in Korea, 2,000 working dental technicians were asked to fill out the questionnaire from January 19 to April 30, 2009. We collected the 1,525 sheets of the questionnaire and took frequency analysis, t-test, analysis of variance and structural equation modeling using SPSS Win 12.0 and AMOS program. Results: Concerning the modes of the subjects' appealing of their psychosomatic self-symptoms, scale point of the mental health turned out 18.68, which is higher than the physical health that scored 17.28. In the case of the results from the standardized scores of the sub items, scale point of aggressiveness scored the highest(20.14), whereas that of mouth and annus scored the lowest (15.29). Additionally, the overall satisfaction rates of the health related quality of life was 67.89. Regarding the health related quality of life, self reported mental symptoms(-.736) was more influential than physical symptoms(0.29). Conclusion: The psychosomatic self reported symptoms of the dental technicians proved higher than other occupations, whereas health related quality of life was very low. Consequently, it seems vital to lessen the mental symptoms and the sub items concerned.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 2018

Objective : Several earlier studies have reported similar symptoms in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who have been repeatedly exposed to relevant media after disasters and trauma. This study aimed to examine the effects of indirect trauma experience through media rather than direct traumatic events on an individual's social life. Methods : Five hundred and fifty-four individuals participated in our online, self-reported questionnaire survey. All subjects were asked to complete a demographic questionnaire, Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Korean version of Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, Patient Health Questionnaire-15, Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised. Participants were assessed in regards to their experience of violent media exposure within the past three months. Results : Data from our study indicates that the group exposed to violent media had significantly higher perceived stress, physical symptoms, insomnia, and suicide ideation in comparison to the control group. Among the major symptoms of PTSD, the proportion of intrusion symptoms was relatively high in the media exposed group. Conclusion : This suggests that indirect trauma caused by media exposure could cause post-traumatic stress symptoms. The PTSD caused by indirect trauma may have slight differences from the PTSD caused by direct trauma. Therefore, it is necessary to understand, prevent, and control the adverse effects of media.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.46-55
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• 2022

Objectives Many studies have reported noticeable increases in the proportion of employees working either relatively short or relatively long hours. Such trends have been accompanied by an increasing concern that how much subjective mental well-being of employees would be influenced by their hours of work. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between work hours and clinically relevant depressive symptoms with demographic variables adjusted. Methods Participants were employees of a total of 56 private companies and local government organizations in Korea, aged 19 to 65 years. A self-report questionnaire that included items on working hour, job stress, levels of depression, and socio-demographic factors was administered to 15360 Korean employees, with 14477 valid responses. Hierarchical linear regression analyses, adjusted for sociodemographic factors, job related demographic factors, job stress, were used additionally to estimate the association between working hours and depressive scores. Results We found that working more than 40 hours per week correlated positively with the level of depressive symptoms after adjusting for demographic variables and the level of job stress. Furthermore, working 40 or fewer hours per week correlated negatively with the level of depressive symptoms. Being younger (β = -0.078, β = -0.099), being a female (β = 2.770, β = 1.268), and possessing a lower level of education (β = -0.315, β = -1.125) were significantly associated with higher level of depressive symptoms in all respondents. Conclusions Both of working excessively long or short hours is significantly associated with the prevalence of depressive symptoms. Establishing proper office hours for employees is critical to improving the quality of working conditions and maintaining good mental health in the workplace.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.135-141
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• 2018

Objective : This study evaluated the role of smartphone application in the self-assessment of three psychiatric symptoms: stress, depression, and suicidal ideation. Methods : A total of 5,646 respondents were evaluated with three scales (Perceived Stress Scale, PSS, Center for Epidemiologic Study for Depression, CES-D, Scale for Suicidal Ideation, SSI) via smartphone application 'mindscan'. We analyzed the sociodemographic variables, the levels of three symptoms, and the association between the scores on all three scales. Results : The mean total scores of PSS, CES-D, and SSI were 24.86, 35.15, and 18.03, respectively. Women showed significantly higher scores on PSS, CES-D, and SSI when compared with men. Younger users showed a significantly higher score on all three scales when compared with older users. The scores on all three scales were higher than in other studies with off-line surveys. The PSS was positively correlated with CES-D (r=0.690), and with SSI (r=0.367). The CES-D was positively correlated with SSI (r=0.540). Conclusions : A smartphone application for mental health based on three scales (PSS, CES-D, and SSI) is a relatively useful screening tool compared with off-line general population surveys. The association between the three scales reflects the relationship between the three psychiatric symptoms observed in clinical practice.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.639-648
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• 2008

This study is to examine the meaning of death, the level of death anxiety, and the aspect of death anxiety that the aged have. For this, a quantitative research subjecting 532 of the aged living in local area, Jeollabuk-do was carried out. And among those 532 questionnaires, 10 were subjected for depth interview. The following is a summary of the result from this study. First, the meaning of death for the aged is classified into three classes as positive, neutral and negative meaning. Among these, there were far greater numbers of the aged who put neutral or negative meanings on their death than the positive one. Second, death anxiety of the aged are divided into three factors: 'annihilation anxiety', 'process anxiety', and 'afterdeath anxiety'. The factor that involves death anxiety the most was process anxiety, then afterdeath anxiety, and annihilation anxiety, in the order. Third, as a result of classifying the feature of death anxiety in the aged into the symptoms of death anxiety and the motive of recognizing death anxiety. Death anxiety is classified into the people with symptoms and those without symptoms, and those with certain symptoms are classified into the physical symptoms and the mental symptoms. The motive of recognizing death anxiety appeared when the individual is aged, experiences the death of other people, suffers physical pains, and when there is a mental loneliness.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.636-645
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• 2004

Purpose. A natural disaster negatively affects children's emotional and behavioral adjustment. The purpose of this paper was to examine the prevalence, symptoms, and correlates of PTSD after the occurrence of Typhoon Rusa. Method. 261 elementary school children living in Kimcheon, which was a devastated rural area in South Korea by Typhoon Rusa, were selected. Data were collected 4 months after the disaster using the PTSD Reaction Index categories recommended by Frederick, severity of PTSD. Results. 12.3% of the children had either moderate or severe PTSD symptoms; 22.7% reported mild symptoms; and the remaining 65% had sub-clinical symptoms of PTSD. The most frequent symptom was recurrenct fear(67.0%). 13% to 17.2% of children exhibited difficulty in concentration, sleep disturbance, and guilt feeling. The regression model of severity of PTSD was composed of the level of exposure to traumatic experiences, grade in school, gender, negative coping style, and social support, and explained 34.3% for PTSD symptoms. Exposure to traumatic experiences was the strongest factor of all predictors. Conclusion. Emotional support from friends and coping style were correlated with PTSD severity. School-based interventions that emphasizes coping with disaster related problems and problem-solving may prove to be useful, and may aid in building close and supportive ties with teachers, classmates, and friends.