• Anxiety and mood
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.67-72
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• 2021

Objective : This study examined the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among North Korean defectors during preparation for early settlement. In addition, the correlation between PTSD and other mental disorders with suicidal ideation was assessed. Methods : A total of 639 North Korean defectors aged 19-65 years were included from resettlement and training centers. PTSD was assessed using the PTSD Diagnostic Scale (PDS). The prevalence of other mental disorders and suicidal ideation were assessed using the Korean version of the Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire (K-PDSQ). Results : A total of 6.8% of North Korean defectors had a PDS score >23, which was suggestive of a diagnosis of PTSD. Prior repatriation to North Korea was significantly associated with PTSD. The defectors with PTSD had a higher prevalence of other mental disorders (major depressive disorder prevalence: adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 14.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.7-31.2, panic disorder prevalence: AOR, 9.5; 95% CI, 4.6-20.0, generalized anxiety disorder prevalence: AOR, 5.6; 95% CI, 2.4-13.2). No significant association was found between suicidal ideation and PTSD. Conclusion : North Korean defectors had a relatively high prevalence of PTSD and suicidal ideation during preparation for early settlement. Cohort studies are needed to assess the lasting effects of PTSD on North Korean defectors' settlement in Korea for a longer period.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.56-65
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was done to evaluate the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy in a victimized community district and to determine if the program is an effective nursing intervention to reduce posttraumatic stress disorder symptom, depression and state anxiety. Methods: A nonequivalent control group design was used for the study. The participants, 32 elementary school students, were selected from grades 4, 5, 6 and each student was assigned to either the experimental (16) or control (16) group. Cognitive behavioral therapy was used as the experimental treatment from April 9 to May 28, 2009. The experimental group received cognitive behavior therapy intervention 8 times. Data analysis was done using ANCOVA with SPSS 17.0. Results: After the intervention, the experimental group showed significantly lower levels of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms than the control group. Conclusion: The findings from this study suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective nursing intervention to decrease the level of mental health problems of children in victimized district. Further research is required in order to identify the continuous effects of cognitive behavioral therapy.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.15-29
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was investigated to find out psychological characteristics of headache patients after traffic accident(TA). also It was identified headache after TA as predictor of posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD). Methods : Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory(MMPI) was administered to 26 TA patients, We divided them into four groups according to headache and sex and headache duration. Results : 3-1 profile was found by total mean of T score of each MMPI scale in all patients. 3-4 profile was found in headache group, 1-3 profile was found in female Group, female to have headache group. 3-1 profile was found in headache to continue more than 7 days. Conclusions : Female group, female to have a headache group, headache to continue more 7 days group showed 1-3/3-1 profile. it was similar to PTSD profile. The results indicate that in the above three groups, headache was predictor of PTSD and they must be treated more carefully.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.21-31
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in irrational faith and the school adaptation of elementary school students by experimental group and control group. To achieve these goals, the followings are setting the programs. The subjects are selected from grade 4, 5, 6 students from the elementary schools. The tools used for this study were Irrational faith Test and School adaptation Test. The followings are the results of the analysis of the collected data. First, in the analysis of irrational faith, there is no significant difference between experimental group and control group. Second, in the analysis of school adaptation, there is significant difference between experimental group and control group(t=.05, p<.05).

• 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.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2012

Objective : This study aims to investigate the relationship between addictive mobile phone use and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in bullies who experienced school violence. Methods : The study subjects consisted of 97 adolescents in The Foundation for Preventing Youth Violence after school violence. The participants conducted self-report questionnaire for addictive mobile phone use and Impacted Event Scale-revised-Korean version (IES-R-K). Partial correlation and multiple logistic regressions were performed. Results : The scores related to addictive mobile phone use were correlated with total score (r=0.21, p=0.04), avoidance score (r=0.21, p=0.04) and intrusive score (r=0.26, p=0.01) related to PTSD symptoms on the IES-R-K. Intrusive score related to PTSD symptoms on the IES-R-K were significant risk factor for addictive mobile phone use (O.R=1.25, 95% CI=1.12-1.39). Conclusion : This data supports that PTSD intrusive symptoms could be predictable factor of addictive mobile phone use. An appropriate intervention about PTSD symptoms might play a useful role in preventing addictive mobile phone use in bullies of school violence.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.277-289
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• 2018

Background: Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS), the subject of this evaluative research document employs 1400 people. 80% of employees are operational firefighters and officers whom operate across a range of duty systems and support functions, providing prevention, protection and emergency response to the communities of Lancashire. Methods: The overarching purpose of this epidemiological study is to assess the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) amongst operational LFRS personnel and to analyse the effects upon those who may be suffering from it, whether brought about by a single traumatic event or by repeated exposure to traumatic occurrences over a period of time. A combination of primary and secondary research was carried out. Primary data was collated using two recognised clinical questionnaires and statistical analysis was conducted with the aid of the software package SPSS. Results: The findings and statistical analysis showed that out of the 100 people surveyed, 30% of respondents had signs of probable distress. Of this quota, 4% showed symptoms of PTSD. The study considers how an organisation can recognise and manage PTSD and provides recommendations to assist in better recognising and managing the associated risks. Conclusion: Based upon the findings, the authors conclude that the level of PTSD within LFRS is slightly lower than those found in other studies undertaken within the Fire and Rescue Service sector. The paper provides recommendations for future studies and a series of actions for consideration by LFRS senior management to improve PTSD support services for employees.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 2010

Objectives : Indirect contact with trauma may occur when a person empathically listens to detailed descriptions, exposing the person to intense emotional pain from trauma victims. Although less severe than direct trauma, indirectly traumatized persons may experience the same fear, rage, and despair as direct trauma victims. This phenomenon has been variously termed vicarious trauma, traumatic countertransference, burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress. Using a psychiatric symptoms questionnaires, this study investigated the effects of indirect exposure to co-worker's trauma on the mental health of firefighters who had not directly experienced traumatic events in the previous year. Methods : We administered self-report questionnaires, such as the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IESR) and Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), to firefighters working at two fire stations in a metropolitan city. We analyzed 188 of 232 collected surveys, after excluding falsely entered data (28 cases) and questionnaires by directly-traumatized victims (16 cases). Results : Alcohol consumption and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, as determined by the AUDIT and IES-R, were significantly higher in the indirectly-traumatized group. The ratio of high-risk members scoring higher than 23 in IES-R was larger in the indirectly traumatized group, although this was not statistically significant. Conclusion : Alcohol consumption was significantly higher in the indirectly traumatized group. This group also included more members at high risk for PTSD. Further research, with a larger group of indirectly traumatized firefighters and ongoing investigation of PTSD development and other psychiatric symptoms, is needed.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aims to examine the levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and social stigma among nurses caring for Corona Virus Disease-19 (COVID-19) patients. Methods: 169 nurses caring for COVID-19 patients participated in this study. Data collection was conducted at university hospitals from March 1 to August 31, 2020. Data analysis was performed for descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients using SPSS/WIN 24.0 program. Results: The mean scores of PTSD, depression and social stigma were 25.16±16.80, 17.26±8.63 and 5.83±2.84, respectively. The PTSD scores were significantly different between the department (F=2.89, p=.037). Depressive scores were significantly different between the marital status (t=2.27, p=.024) and the department (F=4.91, p=.003). Social stigma scores were significantly different between age (F=6.49, p=.002), marital status (t=-3.30, p=.008), having or not having children (t=3.82, p=.001), department (F=5.82, p=.001) and clinical experience (F=7.43, p=.001). Positive correlations were found between PTSD and depression (r=.70, p<.001) and social stigma (r=.22, p<.004). Conclusion: Integrated assessment and management are required to address the psychological and emotional problems faced by nurses caring for COVID-19 patients, and active follow-up measures should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.80-98
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• 2022

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is well known to have a limited response to drug treatment. Many recently published clinical care guidelines recommend trauma-focused psychotherapies such as cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure therapy (PE) as first-line treatment and medication such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors and venlafaxine as second-line treatment. Current review introduces the session composition and contents of CPT and presents various CPT studies that show therapeutic effect for civilian and veterans/military with PTSD. In order for clinicians to help effectively patients with PTSD, it is necessary to learn and actively use evidence-based trauma-focused psychotherapies including CPT and PE.