• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2020

Objectives: There is an increasing number of North Korean adolescents in South Korea. These adolescents need clinical attention as they experience a high risk of suicidal behavior because of the childhood adversity and acculturative challenges that they face before and after arriving in South Korea. This study assessed the risk of suicide attempts among North Korean adolescents compared to South Korean adolescents, and investigated the contributing factors for each group. Methods: We used data from the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (KYRBS) spanning 2011 to 2018, in which 404 adolescents had a father and/or mother who was a North Korean native. Data on 1,212 propensity-matched South Korean adolescents were extracted from the 2011 to 2018 KYRBS. Prevalence was calculated and compared by group. Separate odds ratios were calculated by group. Results: The North Korean group had a significantly higher suicide attempt rate [unadjusted odds ratio (OR)=8.27; adjusted OR=8.45]. Multivariate analysis indicated that having a low or high socioeconomic status and depressive symptoms were significantly associated with suicide attempts in North Korean adolescents, while being female, having a high socioeconomic status, alcohol use, and depressive symptoms were significantly related to suicide attempts in South Korean adolescents. Conclusion: The results found similarities and differences in the factors associated with the likelihood of suicide attempts in the two groups. From these results, different approaches are needed when planning interventions for each group.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2013

Purpose: Glyphosate is widely used and its toxic exposures are not rare. Occasionally, glyphosate intoxication can lead to death. The aim of this study is to analyze clinical findings and fatality in glyphosate intoxication. Methods: Clinical data on acute glyphosate intoxication were prospectively collected at 28 hospitals nationwide between August 2005 and July 2006. The patients' clinical symptoms and characteristics of fatalities were investigated and statistical analysis was performed. Results: Among 105 patients who were finally included, gastrointestinal symptoms(59%) were the most common. A significant difference in the amount ingested was observed between patients with higher systolic blood pressure and those with systolic blood pressure less than or equal to 80 mmHg (p<0.001). The more the patients ingested, the more aggravated their mental status became (p=0.004). Seven patients(6.7%) died, and all of them had ingested greater than or equal to 200 ml. Patients who died had ingested greater amounts than the survivors (p<0.001), and their mental status was worse (p<0.001), and systolic blood pressure was lower (p<0.001). According to the result of logistic regression analysis, relative risk was 24.1-fold higher in the 'poor' mental status group compared with 'good'. Conclusion: Patients who ingested large amounts of glyphosate showed poor mental status and lower blood pressure. Statistical difference in amount ingested, mental status, and systolic blood pressure was observed between survivors and patients who died. Ingested amounts and mental status were the most important factor of the prognosis of glyphosate intoxication.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.37-49
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• 2016

Purpose: This research is performed through the analysis of the dental technology students' life-style factors of their daily lives that have a close relation with health, and the self-reported symptoms which are related to psychosomatic diseases, for the production of basic data for the change of life-styles and the development of educational programmes. Methods: This research has been performed through questionnaires from the beginning of October of 2014 till the end of November through the Dental Technology students of G-do, chosen by random sampling method after informed consent, where out of the 270 papers, 258 results were used for the analysis. Results: Firstly, the results of the research was as follows: Non-smokers accounted for 61.2%, student who did not do regular physical activities accounted for 50.4%, students who had sleeping hours of 6 to 7 hours accounted for 35.7%, students who eat snacks accounted for 63.2%, students who eat breakfast once to twice a week accounted for 30.6%, students who had an average number of drinks of once to twice a week accounted for 39.9%, and students with BMI of '$18.5^{\circ}{{\neq}}22.9$' accounted for 56.2%, being the highest. Secondly, in gender, smoking (p<.001), regular physical activity (p<.001), BMI (p<.001), eat snacks (p<.05), average number of drinks (p<.05), and of the health check-up, eat breakfast (p<.05), of the year level, eat snack (p<.01), BMI (p<.01), hours of sleep (p<.05), of major satisfaction, regular physical activity (p<.01), and BMI (p<.05), and there was a significant statistical difference, but there were no significant statistical difference in religion. Thirdly, of the bodily self-reported symptoms of the correlation analysis within the life-style variables and the self-reported symptoms, multiple subjective symptoms (I), respiratory (A), eye and skin (B), and digestive organs (C) were the highest in the correlation analysis with regular physical activity (p<.01), and of mental health, impulsiveness (H), mental instability (J), and depression (K) showed highest results in correlation analysis with regular physical activity (p<.01, p<.05), lie scale (L) and irregular and life (G) with eat breakfast (p<.01), and aggressiveness (F) with BMI (p<.01), showed highest results in correlation analysis. Fourthly of the Dental technology students' bodily self-reported symptoms, life-style factors which had a statistically significant effect appeared to be regular physical activity (p<.001) and BMI (p<.05), and of the mental self-reported symptoms, causes that did not have statistically significant effect appeared to be regular physical activity (p<.05) and eat breakfast (p<.05). Conclusion: This research concludes that in order to develop correct life-style habits for health promotion and reduce self-reported symptoms related to the Dental Technology students' diseases, education for the recognition of the necessity of self health promotion must be conducted, and a education programme scheme for the Dental technology curriculum for practicing the correct life-style habits in daily life is required.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2010

This review aimed to assist clinicians in the identification and assessment of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with an emphasis on diagnostic and rating instruments. Pubmed and RISS were utilized to identify relevant studies and critical reviews on the diagnosis and assessment of adult ADHD, published between 1988 and 2010. The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale-v1.1, the ADHD Rating Scale-IV, the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale, and the Current Symptoms Scale have been utilized for self-reporting of current ADHD symptoms. The Brown ADD Rating Scale, the ADHD Rating Scale-IV, the Current Symptoms Scale, and the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale have also been evaluated by an observer. The Childhood Symptom Scale and the Wender-Utah Rating Scale have been used for retrospective assessment of childhood ADHD symptoms and the Adult ADHD Investigator Symptom Rating Scale, the Adult Interview, the Brown ADD Diagnostic Form, the Conners adult ADHD diagnostic interview for DSM-IV, and the Wender-Reimherr Interview have been available as comprehensive diagnostic interviews. There is a wide variety of instruments available with respect to adult ADHD. The choice of appropriate instruments is essential for achieving accurate diagnosis and assessment of this disorder.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.127-135
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this research is to analyze demographic characteristics and symptoms distribution in CTTH. Methods : This research was carried out on 100 patient with CTTH. CTTH patients answered demographic characteristics and checked symptoms score by six point Likert scale in headache symptoms and associated symptoms questionnaire. Results & Conclusions : Over 50% of tension headache patients from this research answered 'yes' to 23 questions of headache symptoms and associated symptoms questionnaire. Among the 23 syptoms, two were appealed by more than 80% of the patients. The two symptoms are related to physical and mental fatigue.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 1997

This study was aimed to investigate dysfunctional attitudes, stress coping strategies and depressive symptoms in psychiatric patients. The subjects of this study consisted of 210 patients(138 schizophrenic patients, 29 depression patients, 43 alcohol dependence patients) according to DSM-IV criteria. Futhermore, the instruments were K-BDI(Beck Depression Inventory-Korean version), DAS(Dysfunctional Attitude Scale) and multidimensional coping strategy scale. The results were the following. 1) There were statistically significant correlations between depressive symptoms and dysfunctional attitudes in psychiatric patients. 2) In terms of coping strategies, there were positive correlations between depressive symptoms and focus on and venting emotions, accommodation, active forgetting, self-criticism, positive comparison, fatalism, passive withdrawal. Whereas, there was significant negative correlation between depressive symptom and active coping. 3) In terms of coping strategies, there were significant correlations between dysfunctional attitudes and focus on and venting emotions, active forgetting, self-criticism, positive comparison, fatalism, passive withdrawal. 4) Depression groups reported significantly higher BDI scores than schizophrenia groups. 5) In depression groups, DAS scores were significantly higher than those in schizophrenia groups. 6) In terms of coping strategies according to diagnosis, there were significant differences in venting emotions, active forgetting and self-criticism. As for venting emotions, alcoholic groups were scored significantly higher than schizophrenic groups. As for active forgetting, depression groups were scored significantly higher than schizophrenic groups. In self-criticism, depression groups and alcohol dependence groups reported significantly higher scores than schizophrenic groups.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.42-44
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• 2019

Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE) is a rare and underdiagnosed neuropsychiatric illness. We present the case of a 17-year-old girl who was admitted to a tertiary-care psychiatric center with acute onset psychosis and fever. Her psychotic symptoms were characterized by persecutory and referential delusions, as well as tactile and visual hallucinations. Her acute behavioral disturbance warranted admission and treatment in a psychiatric setting (risperidone tablets, 3 mg/day). She had experienced an episode of fever with a unilateral visual acuity defect approximately 3 years before admission, which was resolved with treatment. Focused clinical examination revealed an enlarged thyroid, and baseline blood investigations, including thyroid function test results were normal. Abnormal laboratory investigations revealed elevated anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) and anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) levels (anti-TPO of 480 IU/mL; anti-TG of 287 IU/mL). Results of other investigations for infection, including cerebrospinal fluid examination, electroencephalography, and brain magnetic resonance imaging were normal. She was diagnosed with HE and was treated with intravenous corticosteroids (methylprednisolone up to 1 g/day; tapered and discontinued after a month). The patient achieved complete remission of psychotic symptoms and normalization of the anti-thyroid antibody titers. Currently, at the seventh month of follow-up, the patient is doing well. This case highlights the fact that in the absence of well-defined clinical diagnostic criteria, a high index of suspicion is required for early diagnosis of HE. Psychiatrists need to explore for organic etiologies when dealing with acute psychiatric symptoms in a younger age group.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 2022

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to develop a cognitive-behavioral intervention for college students at high risk for mental health and to investigate its effect on mental health outcomes. Methods : The program was developed to reduce depressive symptoms and adverse outcomes while promoting resilience and positive effects. It consisted of eight sessions in a small group format for eight weeks. Thirty subjects at high risk for mental health participated in the program. Outcomes on the depressive symptoms, resilience, satisfaction with life, negative affect, and positive affect were evaluated at pre-and post-intervention. Results : Depressive symptom scores reduced significantly post-intervention compared to pre-intervention (t=3.51, p=0.002). Resilience scores (t=-3.65, p=0.001) and satisfaction with life scores (t=-3.00, p=0.006) increased after intervention than pre-intervention. Positive affect scores decreased post-intervention (t=2.28, p=0.031). There was no significant difference between pre-and post-intervention negative affect scores (t=-0.94, p=0.356). Conclusions : Present study demonstrated that group-based cognitive-behavioral intervention could be helpful for college students at high risk for mental health to reduce mental health symptoms and improve healthy protective factors.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1631-1643
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• 2016

Depressive symptoms are one of the biggest mental health issues among Korean American adolescents. Previous studies have found that parental warmth and intergenerational family conflict have a major impact on depressive symptoms among Korean American adolescents. This cross-sectional study examines the mediation effects of intergenerational family conflict between perceived parental warmth and depressive symptoms among 97 Korean American adolescents aged 14 to 18 years old in the Pacific Northwest region. The results revealed that 60% of participants experienced depressive symptoms. In addition, mother-adolescent conflict significantly mediated between perceived parental warmth and depressive symptoms while father-adolescent conflict did not significantly mediate. The finding suggests the need to develop intervention programs for Korean American adolescents and their parents that focus on creating an understanding of the difference between Korean culture and American culture, identifying early signs of depressive symptoms, and decreasing intergenerational family conflict by teaching parents to express parental warmth effectively.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.69-78
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to investigate changes in the physical, psychosocial and spiritual health of people with mental disorder in community participating in the Integrated Health Care Program (IHCP). Methods: This study applied the non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design. The participants were 37 chronic psychiatric patients who had been clinically diagnosed with mental disorder and visiting a mental rehabilitation center located in S City (17 in the experimental group, and 20 in the control group). The experimental group participated in the IHCP consisting of 24 sessions for eight weeks. Results: After the intervention, only the participants in the experimental group reported significant improvement in physical (body mass, triglyceride), psychosocial (mental symptoms, depression, self-esteem, ability of problem solving), and spiritual wellbeing when compared with those in the control group. Conclusion: These results indicate that IHCP is effective in improving the physical, psychosocial, and spiritual wellbeing of people with mental disorder. Therefore, IHCP developed in this study is considered a useful nursing intervention for raising the comprehensive health level of people with mental disorder in community.