• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the Path modeling effect among depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD), resilience, and social support on the quality of life (QoL) of natural disaster victims. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 1,979 disaster victims' cases by using the 4th Disaster victims panel survey in Korea. Data were collected from october 2018 to december 2018 and analyzed using regression analysis and path way analysis. Results: Perceived health, depression, social support, PTSD, resilience, and QoL showed significant correlations. PTSD was directly affected by depression and QoL was affected by PTSD. Social support was directly affected by depression and resilience was also directly affected by depression. QoL was affected by social support and resilience. Conclusion: This analysis highlighted that the relation between lower depression and QoL was mediated by greater social support and resilience and lower degree of PTSD. These results suggest that community health interventions and education that incorporate social support and resilience may improve the quality of life of natural disaster victims.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.174-183
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• 1999

Objective : This study was designed to evaluate the incidence and characteristics of posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD) after motor vehicle accidents(MVA) in 44 consecutive MVA victims referred to psychiatry for the diagnosis, treatment and psychiatric assessment. Method : The diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder was made on the basis of DSM-IV criteria, and posttraumatic stress symptoms were assessed by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale(CAPS). Correlation between the extent of physical injury and the severity of PTSD symptoms using the Abbreviated Injury Scale(AIS) was analyzed and the frequency of psychiatric comorbidity of PTSD was invested. Result : Twenty-two(45.5%) MVA victims met DSM-IV criteria for PTSD, while thirteen(29.5%) showed a subsyndromal form of it. AIS scores significantly related with the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms(r=0.565, p=0.0001). PTSD group showed high percentages of each of the 17 symptoms(criterion B, C, D), while subsyndromal PTSD group showed relatively high percentages of criterion Band D. The most frequent symptom was 'distressing dreams' of criterion B in both group. A high percentages(56%) of the MVA-PTSD group also met the criteria for current major depression. Conclusions : These findings suggest that there is apparently a high likelihood of developing all or part of the PTSD syndrome after motor vehicle accidents. So it does appear that for those MVA victims who seek medical attention and eventually need psychiatric referral, diagnostic possibility of PTSD should be taken into account in treatment planning and early intervention.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.673-683
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• 2018

The accident of Sewol Ferry is a disaster that provoked serious mental shock to the Korean people way beyond the level of generally-perceived catastrophic aftermaths. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between vicarious disaster experiences through media and post-traumatic stress(PTSD) symptoms of media users related to the accident. The responses of 417 people consisted of college, middle and high school students, and adults in a metropolitan area were collected for 12 days from the April 28, 2014 right after the accident. The results showed that the level of PTSD of social media users were higher than that of traditional media (newspapers or TV news) users on the accident. Also, the amount of use of disaster news information and social media revealed positive correlations with PTSD. Implications of this study are to demonstrate possible mechanisms of psychological trauma mediated by media on a disaster and its empirical data and to facilitate further research.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2007

Objective : The present study was carried out in order to assess the effects of Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy (CBGT) on victims of school violence, as assessed by the CAPS-CA. Methods : The subjects were 14 children who had experienced school violence and were subsequently diagnosed with PTSD and partial PTSD using the Clinician-Administered PTSD scale for Children and Adolescents (CAPS-CA). Seven children agreed to participate in CBGT, and they received 10 sessions of therapy. After CBGT, both the CBGT and non-CBGT groups were assessed using the CAPS-CA and School Adaptation Test. Results : The study results showed significant decreases in avoidance (p=0.010) and hyperarousal in the CBGT group (p=0.009) following the completion of CBGT. The analysis of school adaptation showed that there was a significant improvement in peer relationships after CBGT in the CBGT group (p=0.045). Conclusion : CBGT is effective in improving PTSD symptoms in children who experience school violence and subsequently suffer from PTSD.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2013

Objectives : Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is classified as an anxiety disorder. PTSD occurrence is known to be increased in middle-aged and older people, female, and individuals with a previous history of psychiatric disorders, lower education levels, low socioeconomic status, and severely injured patients. Anxiety symptoms are also related to later development of PTSD. In this study, we investigate the influences of injury severity and sociodemographic factors on severe anxiety in PTSD patients with no previous history of psychiatric disorders. Methods : Forty-one PTSD patients without previous history of psychiatric disorders were recruited from the psychiatric clinic at Chosun University Hospital. Subjects underwent psychiatric and physical examinations including the Injury Severity Score (ISS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (K-WAIS). We defined severe anxiety as a BAI scores of 30 or more. Logistic regression analyses and multi-step model selection were applied to identify predictive factors for severe anxiety. Results : In univariate analysis, age, ISS, and socioeconomic status were found to be significant factors. Through multivariate logistic regression analyses and a stepwise model selection, we found the combination of age and ISS to be the best-fitted model for affecting severe anxiety in PTSD patients without a previous history of psychiatric disorders. Conclusion : Our findings suggest that the combination of age and ISS could develop severe anxiety in PTSD patients with no previous history of psychiatric disorders.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 2008

Objective : The present study investigated gender differences in the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Korean PTSD patients from a multicenter sample. Methods : Data were collected from 18 psychiatric units of training hospitals nationwide. All the patients were interviewed by attending psychiatrists using a structured format for PTSD by DSM-IV diagnoses. Additionally the Davidson Trauma Scale was used to evaluate all self-reported symptomatology. Results : Forty-three patients with PTSD, 23 female and 20 male patients, were enrolled in this study. There were significant differences in the frequency and severity of avoidance symptoms, and severity of re-experience symptoms. The female patients reported a higher level of re-experience and avoidance symptoms than the male patients. Conclusion : The results of the present study were found to be consistent with previous studies on gender differences. Women were more susceptible to PTSD symptoms than men, especially exaggerated re-experience and chronic avoidance. Since all patients groups were enrolled from the hospital, this findings needs to be reexamined using community samples.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.475-484
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• 2016

The purpose of this article is to investigate how returning veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develop psycho-social issues and describe how helping professionals can assist them with re-adapting to the community. Based on a literature review, the author explores the causes of psycho-social issues of returning veterans with PTSD, reviews various ways of helping, and proposes critical factors that helping professionals should be aware of when intervening in psycho-social issues of returning veterans with PTSD. It is found that psycho-social issues of returning veterans with PTSD are closely related to their distrust and aversion to authorities. Group therapy can be used as a viable intervention for alleviating PTSD symptoms and derived psycho-social issues in terms that veterans with PTSD tend to more open with other group members who can share and understand unique experiences.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify relationships of resilience, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD), and quality of life of breast cancer patients. The findings from this study would provide baseline data needed for nursing intervention. Methods: A sample of 129 breast cancer patients was recruited from three hospitals in J and C cities in Korea. The survey was conducted with participants by utilizing self-reported questionnaires. Results: Quality of life showed statistically significant differences on religion (t=2.11, p=.033) and hobby (t=2.79, p=.006). Resilience and PTSD had a negative correlation (r=-.22, p=.010). Resilience and quality of life of the participants had a positive correlation (r=.58, p<.001), whereas PTSD and quality of life had a negative correlation (r=-.45, p<.001). Significant predictors of quality of life were resilience and PTSD. These variables explained 44.9% of the variance in quality of life. Conclusion: Findings indicate that as resilience of breast cancer patients rose higher and PTSD got lower, their quality of life increased. Based on these results, nursing interventions directed towards improving resilience and relieving PTSD is proposed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.86-95
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• 2021

Objectives: This study investigated associations between perceptions of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in workers at hospitals designated to treat COVID-19, as well as the difference in the magnitude of these associations by occupational type and previous Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) experience. Methods: The participants were workers at hospitals designated to treat COVID-19 who completed a questionnaire about their perceptions related to COVID-19, work experience during the previous MERS-CoV outbreak, and symptoms of PTSD ascertained by the PTSD Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Participants' characteristics were compared using the chi-square test. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to evaluate the associations between perceptions and the prevalence of PTSD, stratified by occupational type and previous MERS-CoV experience. Results: Non-medical personnel showed stronger associations with PTSD than medical personnel according to general fear (odds ratio [OR], 6.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.92 to 23.20), shortages of supplies (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.56), and issue-specific fear (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.59). Those with prior MERS-CoV quarantine experience were more prone to PTSD than those without such experience in terms of general fear (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.22 to 2.37), shortages of supplies (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.40), and issue-specific fear (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.38). Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, non-medical personnel tended to have higher odds of being categorized as having PTSD. Workers with prior MERS-CoV experience were more susceptible than those without such experience. These findings suggest the need for timely interventions to manage human resources for a sustainable quarantine system.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2006

Objective : Chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is defined by the coexistence of symptoms (reexperiencing, avoidance and hyperarousal), persisting for more than months or years that causes significant impairment in social occupational functioning. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of terazosin on posttraumatic nightmares which is one of chronic PTSD symptoms. Methods : Twenty patients with chronic PTSD and severe trauma-related nightmares were treated with terazosin (3-7 mg/day) for 8 weeks. Recurrent distressing dreams item of the Clinician administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), Total CAPS score, Clinical Global Impressions-Severity Scale (CGI-S) and Clinical Global Impressions-Change Scale (CGI-C) were performed at baseline, 4-week and 8-week. Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related PTSD and Combat Exposure Scale (CES) were used to evaluate PTSD symptom pattern and degree of exposure. Results : Significant decrease in recurrent distressing dreams item, reexperiencing, avoidance and hyperarousal symptom score and total CAPS score were at 4-week and 8-week treatment compared to baseline (recurrent distressing dreams item : $2.70{\pm}1.88$ and $1.25{\pm}1.49$ ; reexperiencing, avoidance and hyperarousal symptom score : $2.30{\pm}2.49$, $1.20{\pm}1.05$, $3.10{\pm}1.68$ and $4.00{\pm}3.59$, $1.55{\pm}1.50$, $5.60{\pm}3.23$ ; total CAPS score : $8.20{\pm}6.26$ and $5.40{\pm}5.89$). There were significant correlation between dosage of terazosin and improvement of PTSD symptoms. Adverse effects such as fatigue and orthostatic hypotension were showed, which were mild and self-limited. Conclusion : These results suggest that terazosin may improve severe trauma-related nightmares and overall PTSD symptoms. Randomized controlled study with more subjects would be necessary in the future.