• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.212-219
• /
• 1999

Objective：This study is designed to get clinical guidelines for management of children with TBI by examining neuropsychiatric sequelae of TBI, determining whether the severity of TBI, type of treatment, and enviornmental factors are related to those sequelae, and defining the adequacy of public psychological tests as evaluating tools for them. Method：This is chart review of 47 children, aged 5 to 14 years, referred to a psychiatric outpatient clinic for neuropsychiatric evaluation at least 6 months after TBI. Data on the initial GCS score, associated injury, treatment type, and duration of hospital stay are obtained from medical records. EEG, MRI, intelligent test, and several psychological tests are administrated at the point of assessment. Results：1) Cognitive symptoms outnumber externalizing behavioral, emotional, and somatic symptoms, with no significant differences of frequencies of those 4 categorical symptoms between mild injury group and moderate to severe group. 2) Children treated with non-surgical method(p<0.01) complain more cognitive symptoms than the others. 3) Behavioral symptoms are related to younger age(p<0.05), and to anticonvulsant medication(p<0.05). 4) Children with associated injury complain emotional symptoms more frequently(p<0.05). 5) More somatic symptoms are presented by children with no medication(p<0.05), and with higher I.Q(p<0.05). 6) Low I.Q is correlated to low GCS score (p<0.05). Cognitive impairment is confirmed in 25 in 42 children complaining cognitive symptoms though I.Q test and BGT, whose hospital stay is longer than the others(p<0.05). 7) emotional disturbance is confirmed in 22 in 25 children showing emotional problems through psychological tests, who complain cognitive symptoms more frequently(p<0.05). Conclusion：This findings suggest that even mild TBI children need to be followed-up and treated as complaining neuropsychiatric symptoms over 6 months after injury, and shorter hospital stay is recommended for cognitive and emotional status of children, and for better evaluation of neuropsychiatric sequelae of TBI, more specific tests should be included in neuropsychological test tools.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.148-158
• /
• 2011

Objectives The eye movement (EM) has been reported to play a role in enhancing the retrieval of episodic memories and reducing effects of fearful episodes in the past and worries for the futures. However, it is still unclear in the mechanism of EM in normal subjects. We examined the horizontal eye movement (HEM) effect using an aiding apparatus on mental health indices including negative and positive psychological factors, and psychophysiological measures such as heart rate variability and quantitative electroencepaholography (qEEG) in healthy subjects. Methods Twenty eight healthy subjects were recruited and randomly allocated into two groups : active HEM group and control group. The active HEM group conducted the HEM training with usual stress management audio-intervention using the apparatus inducing eye movement once a day for 14 days. The control group also conducted the same training once a day for 14 days, however, the saccadic eye movement was not included in this training. Psychological measurements, neurocognitive function tests, heart rate variability measurement and qEEG were conducted before and after the training in both groups. Results In the active HEM group, sleep status using Sleep Quality Scale (SQS) positive factors significantly increased after the training. By contrast, scores on the negative items of Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS), and negative items of the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) were significantly decreased after the training. The percentage of delta amplitude (1-3 Hz) in qEEG significantly decreased after the HEM training. The percentage of alpha amplitude (8-12 Hz) significantly increased after HEM training. The change of delta amplitude in the active HEM group was positively correlated with the change of sleep satisfaction of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the change of alpha amplitude was negatively correlated with depression of VAS, anxiety of VAS and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Conclusions The HEM training improved sleep quality and well-being, and sense of optimism. The HEM training also increased alpha amplitude and decreased delta amplitude in qEEG. The qEEG changes were well correlated with subjective improvement of mental health indices in healthy subjects. These results suggest some evidences that HEM training using the apparatus that induces EM would be helpful in improving subjective mental health in healthy subjects. Further study with larger samples size would be needed.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.39 no.5
• /
• pp.111-118
• /
• 2011

With increasing interest in health promotion and quality of life, growing attention has been focused on the beneficial effects of urban green area. However, very few evidence-based approaches have been conducted on the health-related benefits of urban greenery. Therefore, this study examined the health-related benefits of green areas using physiological and psychological indices to obtain evidence-based data on these benefits. Twenty male university students were selected as subjects. Data were collected when participants viewed landscapes in a green area or an urban area for fifteen minutes. This research was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of School of Medicine, Chungnam National University. Physiological data in the green area revealed significantly decreased heart rates, significantly increased high-frequency value of heart rate variability, an index of parasympathetic activity, and reduced salivary cortisol concentration, a stress hormone, compared to the urban area. Psychological tests showed the green area significantly reduced the negative mood state and psychological symptoms, and significantly increased the positive mood state. Our data provided evidence for the health-related benefits of green areas, and the findings of this study support that green areas can play a critical role in health promotion for urban residents, by positively affecting autonomic nervous and endocrinal activities.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.33-45
• /
• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine psychological characteristics of patients who visited psychiatric clinic for medical certificate for military service using MMPI-2-RF. We compared target group with general psychiatric patients with same age range. Methods : A total of 165 male patients for medical certificate and 154 general psychiatric patients were collected from the Department of Psychiatry of three university hospitals. There were significant differences of age and educational level between two groups. We used independent t-test, ANCOVA, ${\chi}^2$ test to examine differences between two groups. Results : Medical certificate group scored higher on the validity scales, the Higher-Order(H-O) scales, the Restructured Clinical(RC) Scales, the Specific Problems(SP) Scales, and the Personality Psychopathology Five (PSY-5) Scales. Especially, EID, RC7, HLP, SFD, SAV, SHY, DSF, and INTR-r showed significant differences between two groups on all three statistical tests. Conclusions : The present study showed that psychiatric patients who received psychological evaluation for military service have significantly higher emotional distress, helplessness, lower self-confidence, and lower quality of interpersonal relationships. And the difference of validity scales between two groups could be related with psychological burden of compulsory military service in the study sample which causes elevation on scales of infrequent responses. MMPI-2-RF would be helpful instrument to assess these emotional and psychological characteristics.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.100 no.3
• /
• pp.344-351
• /
• 2011

The aim of this study is to clarify the psychological effects of walking in the urban forest and to examine how the effects differ in accordance with individual personality. The study subjects comprised 18 male Japanese university students ($21.0{\pm}0.8$ years old). These subjects were instructed to walk predetermined 20-min courses in the urban forest and the city (control). Three questionnaires (POMS, STAI-S, and SCL-90) were administered to assess the subjects' psychological responses. The KG's Daily Life Questionnaire was used to examine the subject's personalities for presence of the Type A behavior pattern. The study found that walking in the urban forest improved the participants' positive mood and decreased their negative mood, anxiety, and other negative mental symptoms. Moreover, Type B subjects showed a bigger change than Type A subjects on the SCL-90's obsessive and compulsive scale. Our results supported the premise that walking in the urban forest has relaxing effects, and that these effects can differ in accordance with the subject's personality characteristics.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.163-178
• /
• 2024

Purpose : This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrative medical service model applied to breast cancer patients and their caregivers, exploring its feasibility and challenges within the context of South Korean healthcare system. Methods : A case study approach was chosen to assess the integrative medical service model's efficacy, involving one breast cancer patient and her primary caregiver from W University Hospital. The patient had completed reconstructive surgery and chemotherapy and was undergoing radiotherapy. The model included standard treatments alongside psychological counseling, aromatherapy, axillary rehabilitation exercise, make-up program, art therapy, laughter therapy, horticultural therapy, and yoga programs, and meditation programs delivered over eight weeks. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through surveys, psychological tests, and feedback assessments. Results : The integrative medical service model demonstrated notable improvements in the quality of life for both breast cancer patients and their caregivers. Participants reported enhanced emotional well-being, reduced stress levels, and improved coping mechanisms throughout the treatment journey. Qualitative feedback highlighted the positive impact of holistic interventions in alleviating psychological distress and fostering resilience. Quantitative data corroborated these findings, showing statistically significant improvements in various psychosocial parameters assessed. Conclusions : Our findings underscore the benefits of integrative medical service model with standard medical treatments in the care of breast cancer patients and their caregivers. The holistic approach not only addresses physical symptoms but also enhances overall well-being and quality of life. However, the implementation of such models faces challenges within the South Korean healthcare system, including fragmented service networks and financial constraints. Addressing these structural barriers is crucial for the widespread adoption and sustainability of integrative care models in oncology practice. Future research should focus on larger-scale studies to further validate these findings and inform policy decisions aimed at optimizing cancer care delivery.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.364-372
• /
• 2000

Objectives : Cancer is the second most frequent cause of death in Korea. Cancer screening tests can save lives through early detection. Enhancing the cancer screening rate is an important strategy for reducing cancer mortality. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the screening rate and related factors in a rural area. The study investigated relationships between sociodemographic characteristics, several preventive behaviors, and the experience of several cancer screening behaviors. Materials and Methods : The study population was recruited voluntarily from the three rural areas(Myen) in Chungju city. The participants completed structured questionnaire from July 21, 1990 to July 26, 1998. Results : The proportions of the study population who had previously received stomach, liver, breast, or cervix cancer screening tests were 24.5%, 18.5%, 27.0%, 59.2% respectively. The 1-year screening rates of stomach, liver, breast, and cervix cancer were 7.4%, 6.8%, 8.6%, 15.6% respectively. In multivariate logistic analysis, some sociodemographic variables, preventive behaviors, or psychological variables were significantly associated with several cancer screening tests. Those who had previously received a stomach cancer screening test were significantly associated with the presence of chronic disease, physician's recommendation, use of alcohol family history of cancer, or previous liver cancer screening test. Those who had previously received a liver cancer screening test were associated with education level, physician's recommendation and previous stomach cancer screening test. Those who had received a cervix cancer screening test were significantly associated with education level, presence of a transportation vehicle, physician's recommendation use of alcohol and previous breast cancer screening test. And those who had received a previous breast cancer screening test were significantly associated with age, marital status, and earlier cervix cancer screening test. Conclusion : Based on the results of this study a strategy to promote cancer screening and health objectives at the district level can be made.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.10 no.9
• /
• pp.2492-2500
• /
• 2009

This study was carried to examine overall psychopathological patterns of the Vietnam Civil War Veterans(Agent Orange patients)and Korean Civil War veterans(wounded soldier) using Rorschach tests. Test protocols of were compared with those of twenty Vietnam Civil War Veterans group and twenty-one Korean Civil War veterans. Rorschach protocols were administrated, scored, analysed according to the Exner's comprehensive system. Specifically, each Rorschach variable was divided into 3 clusters(e.g., core section, response determinants, and several special indices. The results of t-tests between the Vietnam Civil War Veterans group and the Korean Civil War veterans showed that Vietnam Civil War Veterans group were characterized as 1)cognitive rigidity, 2) ineffective problem solving, 3)emotional represion, 4)hypervigilance, 5)anxiety and 6) depressive tendency. These patterns suggest that still Vietnam Civil War Veterans experience the past trauma and lasting psychological seguela. Other implications and limitations of this study were discussed.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.193-203
• /
• 2022

Purpose: This study explored the mediating role of resilience between post-traumatic stress and emotional exhaustion in nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The data were collected from 193 nurses working at a hospital in Daegu from October 16 to 30, 2020, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants conducted self-reported surveys of post-traumatic stress (Impact of Event Scale-Revised Korean version), emotional exhaustion (Maslach Burnout Inventory), and resilience (Korean Resilience Quotient Test). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency, t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. Mediation analysis was performed using the Baron and Kenny method and Sobel test. Results: The mean scores for post-traumatic stress, resilience, and emotional exhaustion were 16.18±16.18, 183.41±18.29, and 32.64±9.66, respectively. A higher level of post-traumatic stress was associated with lower resilience (r=-.20, p=.004) and with higher emotional exhaustion (r=.33, p<.001). A higher level of resilience was associated with lower emotional exhaustion (r=-.35, p<.001). The resilience was confirmed to have a partial mediating effect in the relationship between post-traumatic stress and emotional exhaustion, verified by the Sobel test (Z=2.31, p=.02). Conclusion: Resilience had a partial mediating effect in the relationship between post-traumatic stress and emotional exhaustion. Thus, nurses should develop individual strengths to reduce emotional exhaustion, and managers should also make efforts to increase the nurses' resilience. It is also necessary to develop and apply a program to strengthen nurses' resilience.

• Physical Therapy Korea
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.77-88
• /
• 1997

Conversion disorder is a psychologically produced alteration or loss of physical functioning suggestive of a physical disorder. Conversion symptoms are often superimposed on organic disease and can be overlooked. Psychological techniques are central to the management include the following: avoiding confrontation with the patients; avoiding reinforcement or trivializing the symptoms; reviewing results of tests and exams and creating an expectation of recovery; educating the patient before a treatment is begun; evaluating the patient's emotional adjustment and considering it at a treatment; using caution in labeling the condition; considering referral for psychotherapy; establishing particularly a treatment plan and making a definite treatment program; adjusting patient' s environment; letting participate a family at appropriate time; developing a reinforcement program for a treatment of chronic symptoms; developing a home program for outpatients. Use behavior therapy reinforcement may be helpful with more chronic or resistant symptoms, especially when there is a history of vague or excessive somatic complaints or significant secondary gain.