• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.58-70
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• 2018

Purpose : This study examined the factors influencing posttraumatic and conflict management styles for nursing performance in intensive care units (ICUs). Methods : In this study, 250 nurses from eight general hospitals in three cities participated. Structured self-report questionnaires were used to collect data on posttraumatic, conflict management styles, and nursing performance. Finally, the data were analyzed by SAS 9.3 program. Results : The mean of total sum scores was 31.29, and the high risk of posttraumatic symptoms was 61.2%. It was noted that nursing performance is significantly correlated with collaboration, compromise, accommodation styles, and intrusion. Collaboration styles (${\beta}=0.39$, p<.001) and hyperarousal (${\beta}=-0.22$, p=.050), ICU experience below 1 year (${\beta}=-0.21$, p=.027) and that of 5-10 years (${\beta}=-0.19$, p=.049), and compromise style (${\beta}=0.16$, p=.049) were found to be the factors influencing nursing performance with 35.9% explanatory power value of regression model. Conclusions : The results of the study reveal that conflict management styles, hyperarousal, and ICU experience are factors predicting the successful performance of ICUs. These findings emphasize the need of developing interventions to reduce stress symptoms and conflicts in ICUs.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this study is to assess the utility of clinician administered posttraumatic stress disorder scale (CAPS) to diagnose combat related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Korean veterans of the Vietnam War. Methods : Sixty-one Korean male veterans of the Vietnam war participated in this study. We compared the diagnostic values of CAPS, Korean version of mini international neuropsychiatric interview (MINI) against the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) in diagnosing PTSD. Results : The overall internal consistency of CAPS was 0.93. Compared to the SCID, total severity 45 (TSEV45) showed the best results among 5 CAPS scoring rules. In detail, sensitivity was 71.4%, specificity was 85.1, positive predictive value was 58.8%, negative predictive value was 90.9%, and accuracy was 82.0. Conclusion : CAPS was demonstrated as a reliable tool to diagnose combat related PTSD in the elderly. The optimum CAPS scoring was TSEV45.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2017

Occupational hazards of firefighting and rescue works include frequent exposure to emergencies and life-threatening situations. These stressful work conditions of being constantly under pressure and exposed to potentially traumatic events put them at higher risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compared to the general population. PTSD is a potentially debilitating mental disorder, due to persistent intrusive thoughts, negative alterations of mood and cognition, hypervigilance, avoidance of similar situations and reminders, and re-experiences of the traumatic event. Previous studies have shown a relatively high prevalence of PTSD among firefighters, indicating the need for a systematic approach of early detection and prevention. Therefore, a critical review of the current literature on PTSD in firefighters would provide valuable insights into developing effective prevention and intervention programs. Literature indicated that there are risk factors of PTSD in firefighters, such as pre-existing depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, occupational stress, physical symptoms, and binge drinking, whereas social support and adequate rewards are protective factors. Although there are differences in the prevalence of PTSD across studies, partly due to various assessment tools utilized, different sample sizes, and sample characteristics, over one tenth of the firefighters were estimated to have PTSD. The current review warrants further investigations to precisely assess PTSD and co-morbid mental disorders, functional outcomes, and associated factors, and to develop evidence-based preventive and interventional programs to help firefighters with PTSD.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2009

Diagnosing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is challenging for several reasons: a lack of training in trauma assessment for most clinicians, underreporting and avoidance by patients, the overlapping of symptoms, and a high comorbidity with other mental disorders. Thus, a careful evaluation and differential diagnosis are essential for the treatment and management of this population. A concept of posttraumatic reaction in people with narcissistic vulnerability, called Trauma-Associated Narcissistic Symptoms (TANS) had appeared in the literature; this has not been, however, systemically investigated. This study examines three cases of TANS that developed after traumatic events such as traffic accidents and physical assault. TANS may mimic PTSD and can show similar features; however, a careful attention to the context and meaning of symptoms can help the clinicians in differentiating TANS from PTSD. Clinicians working with trauma and compensation evaluators should be on alert for this easily overlooked condition.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.303-312
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to describe the semantic system and process of posttraumatic growth experience of firefighters after colleague's suicide. Grounded theory methodology based on symbolic interactionism was utilized. The subjects of this study were 7 firefighters who experienced the colleague's suicide. Data were collected by using in-depth interviews from October 1 to November 30, 2015. The results showed that "Gradually becoming more resilient" was analyzed to be the core category of firefighters' posttraumatic growth. We derived four categories and nine subcategories. Based on the results, it is necessary to develop a convergence intervention program to promote posttraumatic growth of firefighters exposed to various traumatic events.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2008

Objective : Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has been established as an effective treatment for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the literature is unclear as to whether EMDR is effective in the treatment of other psychiatric disorders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential use of EMDR in the treatment of psychiatric disorders other than PTSD by using a clinician's impression of patient response and a subjective symptom evaluation. Methods : Seventeen diagnostically heterogenous patients without PTSD underwent an average of 4.3 sessions of EMDR. Symptom severity was assessed by the Clinical Global Impression-Change Scale (CGIC), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Symptom Checklist-90- Revised (SCL-90-R) before and after EMDR. Those whose CGI-C scores were 'very much improved' and 'much improved' after EMDR were classified as 'responders.' The patients' before and after treatment scores of symptom severity and group differences were compared. Results : Twelve of the 17 participants (12/17, 71%) were classified as 'responders.' The patients' scores on all of the scales, with the exception of the trait anxiety scale and obsession-compulsion scale of the SCL- 90-R, significantly decreased after treatment. There was no difference in sociodemographic and clinical variables between the responders and non-responders. Conclusion : The results of our study suggest that EMDR can be a promising candidate for the treatment of patients with psychiatric disorders other than PTSD, and thus further controlled studies are needed to determine whether EMDR can be applied to various psychiatric populations.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.119-125
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• 2011

Objectives : The three symptom clusters of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are reexperience, avoidance, and hyperarousal. Alcohol use disorders frequently co-occur with PTSD, and possible functional correlations are suspected. Scholarly evaluation of the differences between the symptoms of PTSD and those of alcohol problems may be useful in understanding the pathophysiology of the comorbidity. Methods : We recruited Vietnam veterans with PTSD (n=97) and without PTSD (n=132). The alcohol use disorder identification test (AUDIT), and clinician-administered PTSD scale (CAPS) were administered to participants. The PTSD group was divided into two categories: those with PTSD only (n=57) and those with concurrent alcohol-related problems (n=40). Results : The PTSD group showed higher AUDIT scores compared to the control group. In the PTSD group, participants with alcohol problems had a severer symptoms of recurrent dream and sleep disturbance symptoms compared to the PTSD only group. No significant differences were found in the three major symptom clusters of PTSD. Conclusion : These findings support the proposed existence of a functional correlation between PTSD and alcohol use disorder. Clinicians should carefully evaluate and treat comorbid alcohol use disorder in patients with PTSD.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2008

Objective : This study was conducted to evaluate the changes in the levels of neurotransmitters and cortisol in patients with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to evaluate their correlation with symptoms after long-term pharmacological treatment. Methods : Twenty-eight Vietnam veterans with chronic PTSD and 34 non-PTSD patients were consecutively recruited. The Combat Exposure Scale (CES), Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (M-PTSD), Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS) were used to evaluate symptom severity. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to measure the plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine, and a radioimmunoassay (RIA) was performed to evaluate the plasma level of cortisol. Results : Plasma cortisol was significantly lower in PTSD patients than in control subjects, while there was no significant difference in plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine between the two groups. The scores of M-PTSD, CAPS, HAMD and HAMA were signigicantly higher in PTSD patients than control group. Conclusion : After long-term treatment, the levels of neurotransmitters in PTSD patients returned to within the normal range, and the patients' symptoms showed some improvement. However, the core symptoms of PTSD continued to appear intermittently, and they are thought to be associated with hormonal systems, such as the HPA axis. It is also suggested that PTSD should be considered to be a complex disorder associated with multiple systems and that combinations of the effective medications for each system should be used to treat patients with PTSD.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.59-66
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• 2021

Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship among the degree of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social support, stress coping strategies, and self-esteem in patients with PTSD. Methods : A total of 48 patients meeting DSM-5 criteria for PTSD and 48 normal controls were recruited for participation in this study. We evaluated subjects using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and The Ways of Stress Coping Questionnaire (SCQ). We analyzed data using an independent t-test and Pearson's correlation analysis. Results : In PTSD patients, total CAPS scores showed a significant positive correlation with HAM-A and HAM-D scores and a significant negative correlation with MSPSS scores. RSES scores showed a significant positive correlation with MSPSS and SCQ scores. MSPSS scores showed a significant negative correlation with PTSD avoidance and numbing and HAM-D scores. SCQ scores showed a significant negative correlation with PTSD avoidance and numbing. Conclusion : These results revealed that the better the stress coping strategies and social support, the lower the degree of symptoms in patients with PTSD. In addition, it was found that the higher the social support and self-esteem, the lower the degree of depression and anxiety. Therefore, in the treatment process, it seems important to identify and correct the self-esteem, social support system, and stress coping strategies of patients with PTSD.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.91-105
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• 2015

Objectives : After disaster, some people develop posttraumatic stress sequelae such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression, substance use disorders, and suicide. To date, numerous screening and assessment tools for behavioral health issues including mental health problems, psychosocial maladjustment and status of recovery after disaster have been developed. In this condition, one of important topics is to choose instruments that can quickly and accurately measure the issues. Methods : This article reviewed several self-reported scales in adults for disaster behavioral health, which were searched using academic search engines like PubMed, Scopus, KoreaMed and KISS from the earliest available date of indexing through January 31, 2015. Results : More than 40 eligible instruments evaluating the disaster behavioral health issues containing posttraumatic stress sequelae, psychological and social resources, non-disaster stress, and general functions were presented in terms of availability, effectiveness, and expeditiousness. Also, we introduced basic frame aiming on practical usage, which includes standard version and brief version of the instruments for disaster behavioral health. Conclusion : We suggest the accessibility and the applicability of assessment instruments for disaster behavioral health. The systemic review of this article will provide further directions for them.