• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.130-140
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• 1999

This study was designated to investigate communication barriers of nurses in clinical settings. This study was done in 2 phases, first content analysis on descriptions of 50 nurses in three general hospitals and 40 nursing students on communication barriers for nurses in clinical settings, and second a survey to investigate the factors related to communication barriers and the relation between the nurse's characteristics and the extent of communication barriers in clinical settings from two nurses educators, 13 nursing students who experienced clinical practice and 71 nurses in 11 general hospitals. The results are as follows : 1. Through content analysis, 11 properties of communication barriers for nurses in clinical settings were identified. These were inappropriate communication style as a nurse, lack of professionalism, in appropriate control of emotions, lack of knowledge about the clincal setting, the lack of preparation about content of communication, the problem in trust relation, differences in priorities in needs, uncontroleable situation for nurses, inappropriate nurses' perception about patients, conflict with medical team and inadequate systematic support were identified and grouped in to four categories, communicator, message, feed-back and communication context. 2. The four factors in communication barriers for nurses in the clinical setting were identified and named as ambiguity in the nurses' position, lack of confidence, difference in perspectives with patients and in-adequate nurse-patient relationship. 3. There was a significant difference(F=5.31, P=0.0022, F=3.62, P=0.0316, F=2.80, P=0.067, F=9.01, P=0.0003) among the groups according to work place in rating the extent of the communication barrier in the clinical setting and in the four factors, the nurses working in the psychiatric patient unit rated the communication barrier in the clinical setting lowest among the groups. There was a significant negative correlation between the length of the nurses's carrier and the extent of communication barrier in three factors, ambiguity in the nurses' position, lack of confidence and inadequate nurse-patient relationship.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 1998

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the etiological factors of the PTSD(post traumatic stress disorder) by examining the relationship between severity of physical trauma and subsequent the severity of PTSD symptom in traffic accident related PTSD patients. Method: Subjects were 21 psychiatric inpatients with history of traffic accident related PTSD(DSM-IV criteria), the purpose of evaluation of mental disability and no evidence of organic brain leisons. The severity of physical trauma was assessed by McBride number of nonpsychiatric department and the presence / absence of loss of conciousness. The severity of PTSD symptom was assessed by Hovens' self rating inventory for PTSD. And then we evaluated the correlation between these two factors. And we also evaluated relationship between severity of PTSD symtom and clinical variables. Results : There were no significant relationship between McBride number of nonpsychiatric department severity and symptomatic severity(r= 0.17, p<0.05), the presence / absence of loss of conciousness and symptomatic severity(p>0.05). And significant relationship between symptomatic severity and clinical varibles such as sex, education level, marital status(p<0.05). Conclusions : These data did not support data of previous studies that traumatic severity was correlated with symptom severity but, suggested that other variables affecting the severity of PTSD symptom is more important indirectly. And that the 'trauma' in PTSD is psychological meaning rather than physical meaning is also suggested.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.3
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• pp.205-220
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• 2022

This study aimed to describe the prevalence of comorbidities associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their relation with relevant outcomes. A systematic review based on the PRISMA methodology was performed from January 2020 until July 2021. The MEDLINE, Lilacs, and Scielo databases were searched to identify studies related to COPD and its comorbidities. Observational studies on the prevalence of comorbidities in COPD patients and costs with health estimates, reduced quality of life, and mortality were included. Studies that were restricted to one or more COPD pain assessments and only specific comorbidities such as osteoporosis, bronchitis, and asthma were excluded. The initial search identified 1,409 studies and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 20 studies were finally selected for analysis (comprising data from 447,459 COPD subjects). The most frequent COPD comorbidities were: hypertension (range, 17%-64.7%), coronary artery disease (19.9%-47.8%), diabetes (10.2%-45%), osteoarthritis (18%-43.8%), psychiatric conditions (12.1%-33%), and asthma (14.7%-32.5%). Several comorbidities had an impact on the frequency and severity of COPD exacerbations, quality of life, and mortality risk, in particular malignancies, coronary artery disease, chronic heart failure, and cardiac arrhythmias. Comorbidities, especially cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, are frequent in COPD patients, and some of them are associated with higher mortality.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.80-91
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• 2022

Objective : Hospital workers' mental health has deteriorated because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of hospital workers and its determinants. Methods : Two surveys were conducted among employees working in a hospital that received COVID-19 patients from the early phase of the pandemic in South Korea. Data on demographics, perceived threat, workplace evaluation, resilience, and mental health status were collected using the Korean General Health Questionnaire-20 in the initial phase (February 2020) and during the third wave of COVID-19 (December 2020) for 467 and 545 workers, respectively. The mental health of hospital workers in the two phases was compared, and the risk and protective factors during the third wave were investigated. Results : The proportion of patients in the psychiatric high-risk group increased from 2.8% in the initial phase to 11.4% during the third wave. The perceived threat, workplace evaluation, and resilience of respondents deteriorated. Risk factors for mental health during the third wave included the perceived threat items of job stress, loss of control, and considering resignation. Protective factors included presence of children, workplace satisfaction, and hardiness in resilience. Conclusion : Hospital workers' mental health deteriorated as the pandemic progressed. General stress and tension such as job stress, loss of control, considering resignation rather than COVID-19-specific stress had negative effects on mental health of hospital workers. Therefore, care for work stress itself can be helpful to maintain the mental health of hospital workers. Also, governance to improve workplace satisfaction or hardiness in resilience can be a potential protective factor for hospital workers' mental health during the prolonged pandemic.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.279-289
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• 2024

Objectives: To report effects of M&L psychotherapy combined with Korean medical treatments on a patient with chronic low back pain. Methods: We treated a patient with chronic low back pain using M&L psychotherapy alongside a combination of Korean medical treatments, which included acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, cupping, and herbal medicine. The patient was diagnosed based on the ICD-11 diagnostic criteria for chronic primary pain. To evaluate the patient's progress, we used the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Results: After three weeks of inpatient treatment and two months of outpatient treatment, the patient showed significant improvement in both pain and psychological symptoms. The NRS score decreased from 7 to 2. The BDI score decreased from 54 to 11 and the BAI score decreased from 33 to 9. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that M&L psychotherapy combined with Korean medical treatments can significantly reduce chronic low back pain and improve psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety. The patient's notable improvements in NRS, BDI, and BAI scores suggest that an integrated treatment approach addressing both physical and mental health aspects is effective for managing chronic pain. These findings support potential benefits of holistic and multidisciplinary strategies for treating patients with chronic pain.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.105-116
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• 1974

This study was made on patients who were Hospitalized due to sickness caused by the abuse of marihuana at the Psychiatric Section of a hospital during the period from Feb. to Oct., 1974. The following conclusion was obtained by reviewing the literature with respect to the nursing, and problem solving of those patients. 1. It appears that marihuana is a comparatively mild intoxicant in ordinary preparation without causing physical dependence or tolerance. 2. According to the status of men who are marihuana smokers, approximately 20% of them were college students, those preparing to retake college entrance examinations, non-employed and pharmacists. The men belong mostly to the middle foreigner′s mistress of higher, income bracket, and in the case of women, most of the smokers were US. servicemen entertainers. 3. Dynamic developmental factors: Case 1. : The patient had a characteristic, hysterical and emotionally unitable character, and was of low intelligence, In addition, to this already existing problem, the added uses of marihuana caused a mental illness to develope. Case 2 : The character, was reserved and introspective, her creative power and sentiment was fading and his ability of self-control was weakened. She used the smoking of marihuana to get rid of her own feeling of inferiority complex and tensions coming from interpersonal relationships. Case 3 : The patient was unconditionally resistive to the authoritativeness of superiors and irresponsible in his relationship with women, in his attitude concerning sex in general. He smoked marihuana because he felt become peace-loving and get enchanted experience through smoking it. 4. The points of issue appearing from the above case; (1) Movement of anti-social feelings against the "established system" by the youngsters. (2) Family problem. (3) Shamelessness, loss of motivation, disorderly attitude toward the sex, (4) Worries concerning the future. (5) Lack of knowledge concerning smoking of cigarette and marihuana. Chronic use of marihuana made, those youngman who had originally been ambitions to achieve something in life, lazy, inefficient, unable to make long-term plans, are such weak mined persons that they did not try to overcome problems when encountered. This will pose a great and important question in the mental health of the society, 5. Treatment and Problem sieving According to the literature, we will have to place importance upon hospitalized treatment The phases of treatment were divided into five parts. (1) Prehospital phase (2) Withdrawal Phase (3) Rehabilitation phase (4) Transitional phase (5) After-care phase The experiments have proved that there was much progress in the recovery of patients through environment therapy, supportive therapy and group psychotherapy. This was the above mentioned 5 phases of treating process in accordance with the weekly schedule of the hospital. It was thought that the patients would require prolonged after care management even after they were released from the hospital and that they will also require periodic visit, to the hospital and doctor′s interview with their family. In conclusion, the question of the young generation and marihuana smoking is becoming a great social problem in which their resistances to the "established system" and society is growing in the from of antiestablishment movements. In our country, the smoking of marihuana is gradually developing, therefore, I think, that it would be a very fortunate thing for us, if this report could be helpful for the motivation of further study on the questions of the young generation and its problems.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2014

Objectives : Delirium of hospitalized patients is common and it is significantly associated with increased mortality rate. Misdiagnosis rates of delirium are reported in a range of 36.7 to 63% in clinical setting. We aimed to identify the clinical features and symptomatic characteristics associated with misdiagnosis of delirium. Methods : Subjects were 256 inpatients who were referred for psychiatric consultation and diagnosed with delirium by a psychiatrist at a university hospital between January 1 and June 30, 2012. Clinical data were obtained with retrospective chart review. Patients were divided into misdiagnosed group and correct diagnosed group, after reviewing the reason which were described in the consultation request form. Results : Sixty nine(27%) subjects of the 256 patients were referred for other reasons(mood, substance, anxiety, dementia etc.) than "delirium/confusion" by clinician(misdiagnosed group). In misdiagnosed group, use of antipsychotics was more common. There were no differences between the two groups in age, gender, and department of referring clinician. Fluctuation score of DRS-R-98 was higher in the correct diagnosed group. Conclusions : In this study, the risk of misdiagnosis was higher when the patients have taken antipsychotics or less symptom fluctuation. Careful clinical attention is needed for diagnosis for delirium in these patients.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 1999

Objectives: Patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder(or PMDD) have impairments of the social, occupational or academic function due to psychological or somatic symptoms, which have the characteristic pattern of symptom exacerbation in the week before menses begin and remission shortly after the onset of menses. In the chronobiological view, many researchers have assumed that the etiology of PMDD is the advanced circadian rhythm. It has been suggested that light has a therapeutic effect on PMDD, because evening light results in phase delay of circadian rhythm through the biochemical changes including melatonin. Methods: The authors investigated the therapeutic effect of light therapy on four patients with prospectively diagnosed PMDD by DSM-IV criteria using clinical psychiatric interview, Premenstrual Assessment Form(PAF) and Daily Rating Form(or DRF). In the evening(6:30pm-8:00pm), the 2,500 lux light administered for seven consecutive days during the symptomatic late luteal phase of menstrual cycle. Beck Depression Inventory(or BDI), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression(or HAM-D), Spielberg State Anxiety Inventory(or SA), and DRF were evaluated before and after seven days of light therapy. Results: Premenstrual symptoms of PMDD could be effectively treated with the evening bright light therapy, especially in PMDD patients with atypical symptoms. In addition, the light therapy seemed to more effective on the psychologic symptoms than the somatic symptoms of PMDD. There was no significant side-effect of light therapy, except the transient and mild eye-strain in one case. Conclusions: In spite of the results of limited data from our clinical trial, the authors suggest that the potential use of light therapy as an alternative to the pharmacological management of patients with PMDD.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 1996

The Evaluation of patients complaining of psychiatric symptoms following head injury is much affected by the results of various tests. The objecive of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of each lest by comparing the structual and fuctional brain studies. The subjects were 93 organic menial disorder in and out patients at the Dept. of Neuropsychiatry of the Kyung Hee University Hospital. After carrying out MRI, CT, SPECT, EEG, the results of each were analysed for the sesitivity and ability to detect focal lesion. The degree of inter-test correlations of lest results were also investigated. Furthermore, the characteristic features of psychological tests were studied and the relationship between each of above mentioned tests and psychological test was examined. As for the test sensitivity to diagnosis, the SPECT was the most superior followed by MRI, CT, EEG in thai order. In the case of abnormality, SPECT ranked 1st in detection of focal lesion, followed by MRI, CT in that order. In the inter-test result correlation, the correlation of SPECT-MRI was statistically significant. When mare than moderate abnormality EEG finding was reported, it correlated significantly with that of MRI findings. In the MMPI, the average scores on F, Hs, D, Hy, Pa, Pt, Sc subscales were above 60. Abnormal SPECT group scored significantly high on the F, Pd, Pa, Sc, Ma scales and therefore in comparison ot the SPECT normal group, displayed more psychotic features. In K-WAIS, the mean full scale IQ was down to 77. 23(Verbal IQ : 78.76, Performance IQ : 77.44) but there was no characterogic significant relationship between the lowered to and abnormal SPECT, MRI, CT and EEG results. In conclusion, 1) The SPECT was mast superior in sensitivity and detection of focal lesions. In comparision with other tests, the results of SPECT correlated well with MRI had thus is thought to be very usefull testing method in the evaluation of organic mental disorder patients. 2) The MRI had relatively high sensitivity, ability to detect focal lesion and superior correlation with other test. 3) Although EEG fared less an sensitivity in comparison to other tests, the results of above moderate abnormal grade group and that of MRI correlated significantly. 4) In the MMPI highly scored in F, Hs, D, Hy, Pa, Pt, Sc subscales and abnormal SPECT patients were shown to display more sever psychotic features. There was no significant character relationship between the lowered IQ(in K-WAIS) and abnormal findings on MRI, CT, SPECT, EEG.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.114-120
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• 2015

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the risk factors of depression for patients with tuberculosis(TB). Methods : A total of 57 patients with TB were recruited. All participants completed the Becks Depression Inventory-II for evaluating depressive symptoms. The risk factor for depression was analyzed by binary logistic regression analysis. Nomogram was performed for probability of depression. Results : Low body mass index(BMI, OR 0.801, 95% CI 0.65, 0.98), interruption of treatment for TB(OR 5.908, 95% CI 1.19, 29.41), past history of depression(OR 24.653, 95% CI 1.99, 308.44) were associated with increased risk for depression. The calibration curve for predicting probability of survival showed a good agreement between the nomogram and actual observation(Original C-index=0.789, bias corrected C-index=0.754). Conclusions : The result of the present study indicate that low BMI, interruption of treatment for TB, and past history of depression were risk factors for depression in patients with TB. The psychiatric intervention may be needed to prevent depression if the patients with TB have risk factor during treatment for TB.