• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.3-8
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• 2012

Understanding the biopsychosocial model of illness is crucial for any meaningful advance of health. The maintenance and promotion of health is achieved by different combinations of physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being. Health is not an objective of living. It is not only a state, but also a resource for everyday life. Health is a positive concept that emphasizes personal and social resources, as well as physical capacities. Understanding the biopsychosocial model of health and disease is very important in the medical system. George Engel challenged the medical profession to reconsider a strict biomedical approach to medical education and care, and to embrace a "new medical model," the biopsychosocial model. He argued that humans are at once biological, psychological, and social beings who behave in certain ways that can promote or harm their health. Although understanding the biopsychosocial model of illness is important, Korea's medical system have mainly been focusing on the biomedical model of illness. I would like to highlight the importance of biopsychosocial model of illness for Korea's medical system and real clinical field according to the 20th anniversary of Korean Society of Psychosomatic Medicine.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.91-97
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• 1995

Pain is a complex symptom consisting of a sensation underlying potenial disease and associated emotional state. Acute pain is a reflex biological response to injury, in contrast, chronic pain consists of pain of a mininum of 6 months duration and associates with physical, emotional past experience, economic resources of the patient, family and society. Moreover, chronic pain is characterized by physiological affective and behavioral responses that are quite different than those of acute pain. The different type of stimuli exciting pain receptor are mechanical, thermal and chemical stimli and chronic pain are concerned with three of all stimli. The major three components of pain central(Analgesia) system in the brain and spinal cord are 'periaqueductal gray area of the mesencephalon', 'the raphe magnus nucleus' and 'pain inhibitory complex located in the dorsal horns of the spinal cord'. But unfortunately, the central biochemical mechanisms of chronic pain are not clearly defined. To proper management of chronic pain, comprehensive urderstanding as a psychosomatic aspect and multidisciplinary therapeuti-team approach must be emphasized.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.210-220
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• 1998

The relationships between emotion, stress and gastro-intestinal dysfunction were briefly reviewed. Until now, several kinds of theories on about pathophysiology, such as motility dysfunction, changes of pain perception on the lumen, dysregulations on the central nervous system associated with psychosocial factors were reported. However, none of those factors could'nt give any clues for the causes of the functional bowel disorders. For understanding the meaning of the symptoms and for the treatment approach, clinicians should give attention to the comprehensive point of view, i.e., not only biological but also psychological aspects of the patients with non-organic bowel dysfunctions. Giving warm and kind explanations to the patient about symptom formation and progression and understanding the patient's illness behaviors, and good and strong doctor-patient relationship is essentials for the treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.198-209
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• 2021

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report 3 cases of Korean medical treatment on adult atopic dermatitis. Methods : Three patients with adult atopic dermatitits were treated with herbal medicine (Soyo-san hap Samul-tang), acupuncture, and moxibustion. Psychosomatic symptoms were considered the main criteria for treatment. The effects of treatment were evaluated through photographs of the lesions, using EASI and DLQI scores. Results : After treatment, EASI and DLQI scores on three atopic dermatitis patients improved significantly. Conclusions : This clinical case study has demonstrated that Korean medicine may be an effective option for treating adult atopic dermatitis. In addition, considering psychosomatic symptoms when treating atopic dermatitis may also lead to effective treatment.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2008

Psychosomatic medicine is also known as consultation-liaison psychiatry. Pediatric consultation-liaison psychiatry is composed of all consultation, liaison, diagnostic, therapeutic support and research activities carried out by psychiatrists and other mental professionals in pediatric ward to provide mental health services to physically ill pediatric patients. As the differences in the basic concepts of disease models between psychiatry (psychosocial model) and pediatrics(biomedical model) exist, active communication between the child psychiatrist and pediatric medical staffs is required. Although the general guidelines are similar, there are specific considerations for consultation in children and adolescents. Much work is still needed to identify empirically supported treatments which are effective for managing a board range of psychosocial difficulties in children and adolescents.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.186-196
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• 2007

Background : The aim of this study was to confirm the risk factors for low back pain and injury to improve the prevention and treatment of lower back pain. Materials and Methods : An epidemiologic study of low back pain and injury was performed with questionnaires distributed to 471 women working at Yeungnam university hospital. The differences in low back pain and injuries among various hospital departments were analyzed by a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the relevant factors included in the questionnaire were determined by a factor analysis. Results : The frequency of low back pain in women in the department of diet and in the maintenance department was higher than among the other departments. The frequency of low back pain was mainly related to the frequency of psychosomatic symptoms. In addition, the low back pain was partially related to the frequency of psychosomatic symptoms and partially related to the frequency of pushing during the workday. The degree of disability from low back pain was increased by lifting and hard physical work and was related to the frequency of psychosomatic symptoms and the degree of work dissatisfaction. The frequency of low back injury was increased by increased standing time during work and hard physical work. The frequency of low back injury was related to advancing age and in part to psychosomatic symptoms. Conclusion : Lower back pain and its associated complications are related to psychosomatic factors and type of work. Lower back injury is related to physiological factors such as age. For the prevention and treatment of lower back pain, a multidisciplinary approach is required.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.210-216
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• 2000

The Yangdokbalban(陽毒發斑) of Taeumin(太陰人) is classed as Gansuyoilliyoilbyung(肝受熱裏熱病). This is a kind of dermatitis caused by Ganyoilpaejo(肝熱肺燥) what was risen from disorder of Simyok(心慾). In the treatment, we should temper the Simyok and recover Hosanjigy(呼散之氣) of Lung by Cheongganjoyoil(淸肝燥熱). In this study, it is experienced that Yangdokbalban of Taeumin patient mistreated with Soyangin, got sick by Korean medical treatment, and also it came to improve the psychosomatic disorder(心身症) generally. The patient was 52 years old, female. She entered our hospital for Yangdokbalban, including serious itching, insomnia, chest discomfort, dyspepsia, pantalgia, and she had neutropenia in the blood test. We classified this as Taeumin-liyoiljung(太陰人 裏熱證) and prescribed Galgunhaegitang(葛根解肌湯) and Chungsimyoinjahabopaewontang(淸心蓮子合補肺元湯) in according to the principle of Cheongganjoyoil. In the result, we had the general improvement of Yangdokbalban and psychosomatic disorder.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 1994

A comparison was made regarding the degree of alexithymia among patients with psychosomatic disorders, anxiety disorders and depressive disorders. The author examined the degree of alexithymia in three groups : 100 psychosomatic patients(including 47 patients with tension headache), 52 outpatients with anxiety disorden, and 50 outpatients with depressive disorders. Alexithymia was assessed by Alexithymia provoked Response Questionnaires(APRQ) developed as a semi-structured interview form. No significant difference was found in the degree of alexithymia among Patients with Psychosomatic disorders, anxiety disorders, and depressive disorders. On the other hand, patients with tension headache were significantly more alexithymic than patients with anxiety disorders and depressive disorders, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in degree of alexithymia between patients with anxiety disorders and those with depressive disorders. Multiple regression analysis revealed that demographic variables such as set age, education level, and marital status did not make a significant influence on alexithymia scores. These results suggest a greater degree of alexithymia in patients with a specific group of psychosomiatic disorders such as tension headache than in patients with emotional disorders, unlike the previous report that in general, psychosomatic patients are alexithymic. Thus, it is necessary to develop special forms of interview which can induce and encourage expression of emotion as a therapeutic strategy for patients with tension headache.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.226-232
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• 1999

Background : Various type of psychological and stressful events in life have been reported to have much effect in the onset, progress and exacerbation of psychosomatic disorders such as hypertension, bronchial asthma, peptic ulcer, tension headache, alopecia areata, and atopic dermatitis. However, the nature of the association between stress and psychosomatic disorders remains unclear. Objective : The purpose of this study is to determine the relation of stress and the progress of dermatologic disorder. Method : We examined 30 patients with atopic dermatitis and 30 control subjects with tinea pedis and onychomycosis who visited to Dept. of Dermatology, Chung-Ang University Hospital. To evaluate the stress, we used 'Scale of Life Events' and 'Multidemensional Coping Scale'. Result : 1) The score of life events stress in atopic dermatitis group was significantly higher than that of control group. 2) In the result of coping strategies, the atopic dermatitis group was significantly higher than control group at the active forgetting, positive comparison, and emotional pacification, while in control group religious seeking and accomodation tended to be higher with no statistical significance. Conclusion : These findings suggest that psychosocial stress may play a role in life pattern of atopic dermatitis. But further studies are needed to clarity the exact relationship between stress and psychosomatic disorder.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.245-253
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• 1996

In spite of its prominent effects on reduction of panic attacks and preveniton of relapse, cognitive-behavioral therapy(CBT) for panic disorder is seldomly utilized and studied in this country. for the past year, authors have modified CBT program for panic disorder that was based on PCT(panic control program) designed by Dr. Barlow and Dr. Craske. Our program is composed of informational component, somatic management skills, cognitive restructuring, interoceptive exposure and in vivo exposure. One patient has significantly improved by this program and satisfied with the treatment result. The aim of this article is to present our experience of treating a panic patient with CBT.