• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.66-80
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• 2001

Most people experience stress during his or her life. The types of psychosocial stressors are variable. Also, the stress appraisal, coping, and responses in stress process are variable. These varieties reflect individual differences due to ongoing social situation, personal dispositions such as personal resources and vulnerability factors, etc. The stress process results in psychosocial growth or no substantial change in functioning or health, or adverse change in functioning(illness) or health to person. Therefore, the preventive management and treatment of stress need to be tailored to individual characteristics. All physicians managing the stress-related patients have to understand the multidimensional aspects of stress. To understand stress better in psychosocial aspect, I comprehensively reviewed the literature on stress.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.109-119
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• 1996

Hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women has recently been a hot issue in medical fields. The author reviewed the physiology of menopause and discussed the physiological mechanism and biological management of vascular flushing and menopausal depression. The above symptoms are hard to distinguish from those of psychiatric disorders.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.176-183
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• 2021

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to find out how demographic factors, suicide attempt patterns, psychiatric history and management of suicide attempters affect the completion of emergency department (ED) based case management program. Methods : Among the patients who attempted suicide and visited the emergency department of Chung-Ang University Hospital from June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2021, 661 patients who agreed to case management were studied. After being discharged from the emergency department, subjects were registered for an eight-week follow-up service program. Hierarchical logistic regression analysis was conducted with demographic factors, suicide attempt patterns, psychiatric history and management as independent variables, and completion of case management program as dependent variables. Results : Suicide attempt pattern had the most significant influence on the completion of case management program, followed by demographic factors, psychiatric history and management. Those who completed the case management program were significantly more likely to have suicide plans in the future, more authentic in suicide attempts, and had higher proportion of past suicide attempts than those who did not complete the program. Conclusions : To ensure that the subjects complete the follow-up project program and get connected to community services, an individualized approach with consideration of suicide attempt patterns, demographic factors, and psychiatric history is needed.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.93-102
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• 2001

The relaxation response is a state of profound rest, creates physiological responses directly opposite to the stress response. The relaxation response can be used to counteract the harmful effects of stress. The relaxation response can be elicited by a number of techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic training, biofeedback, etc. These relaxation methods in any mental or physical conditions associated with distress and even in normal people have useful benefits for stress control and health enhancement. These relaxation techniques are but one part of a comprehensive stress management program, through regular and continuous practice appropriate for each person, they will make an effective role in stress management. In this review, author reviewed how to practically use meditation, progressive muscle relaxation and autogenic training, in more detail. In the treatment of various stress-related disease, especially in psychiatric disorders, the relaxation technique may be a useful complement to conventional treatment and serves as an intervention between stress and disease.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.166-175
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• 2002

Recently many researches support the use of traditional psychiatric treatments in the management of chronic pain. Chronic pain is a significant public health problem and frustrating to everyone affected by it. Psychiatrists offer skills with treatments now recognized as effective in the management of chronic pain. In addition to the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric co-morbidity, the application of psychological treatments to chronic pain, and the development of interdisciplinary efforts to provide comprehensive health care to the patient disabled with chronic pain, psychiatrists have particular skill in pharmacological treatment that have proven efficacy for a variety of chronic pain conditions. With their expertise in the use of psychoactive medication plus their interest in the personal and family dynamics of patients, psychiatrists have the capacity to be involved in the treatment of patients with chronic pain. So, the author reported three cases of patient with pain disorder associated with psychological factors, and reviewed to propose that psychiatrists in Korea should take an active role in the care of these patients.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.256-262
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• 1999

Because chronic pain disorder may has multiple causes or contributing factors, including physical, psychological, and socio-environmental variables, the treatment of patients with the disorder requires biopsychosocial approaches in a multidisciplinary setting. In treating chronic pain, it is important to address functioning as well as pain, and treatment should be to increase functional capacity and manage the pain as opposed to curing it. Therefore treatment goal should be adaptation to pain or minimizing pain with corresponding greater functioning. Treatment begins with the initial assessment, which includes evaluation of psychophysiologic mechanisms, operant mechanisms, and overt psychiatric comorbidity. Psychiatric treatment of the patients requires adherence to sound pharmacologic and behavioral principles. There are four categories of drugs useful to psychiatrist in the management of chronic pain patients : 1) narcotic analgesics, 2) nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, 3) psychotropic medications, and 4) anticonvulsants, but antidepressants are the most valuable drugs in pharmnacotherpy for them. Psychological treatments tend to emphasize behavioral and cognitive-behavioral modalities, which are divided into self-management techniques and operant techniques. Psychodynamic and insight-oriented therapies are indicated to some patients with long-standing interpersonal dysfunction or a history of childhood abuse.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2004

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a qigong-based stress management program in pregnant women. Method: A 8 week controlled clinical trial compared 52 pregnant women assigned qigong-based stress management program to 40 pregnant women assigned pregnancy health education program. Edinburgh postnatal depression scale(EPDS), Beck depression inventory(BDI), Spielberger trait state inventory-1(STAI-1), Hamilton depression rating scale(HAM-D), Hamilton anxiety scale(HAM-A) were used to measure anxiety and depression level. Result : Qigong-based stress management group showed significant improvement compared to the education control group on four measures above. Qigong-based stress management group also showed significant improvement at 8 weeks termination on all measures of anxiety and depression compared to pretreatment level. Conclusion : This study showed that qigong-based stress management program can be an effective method for pregnant women.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.191-201
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of meaning centered and mindfulness-based stress management program with using marine resources on positive changes in mood, sleep, quality of life and cognitive function. Methods : Nine family caregivers of patients with severe disability experienced meaning centered and mindfulness-based stress management program for four-days in marine areas near Uljin-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do in South Korea. Subjective questionnaires and objective assessments were conducted and statistically analyzed to examine changes in mood, sleep, quality of life, and cognitive function before, after, and after 6 weeks of participation. Results : After participating in the program, moods including depression improved significantly. This effect lasted until 6 weeks. Participants' sleep quality, quality of life and cognitive function improved significantly after 6 weeks of program participation. Conclusions : This new specialized stress management program using marine resources for family caregivers of patients with severe disability is expected to be used effectively in terms of improving their overall quality of life, mental health status and cognitive efficiency.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.86-94
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• 2021

Objectives : The risk of weight gain is high when using antipsychotic drugs, and the prevalence of obesity in people with mental illness is high. Obesity management in psychiatric patients is important because obesity causes various complications and lowers treatment adherence and quality of life. Methods : In this review, we summarized the management strategies for obesity that can occur when using antipsychotic drugs through a web search. Results : Evaluate obesity-related risk factors and related indicators from the beginning of treatment, and conduct regular monitoring. If an antipsychotic drug is used and obesity is induced, a change to a drug with a low metabolic risk may be attempted. Sufficient interventions are also needed on the need to manage obesity, a healthy diet, and exercises in patients and their families. If weight loss is not achieved and obesity-related complications are associated, the use of anti-obesity drugs may be considered. Pharmacological treatment approaches should be carefully considered. Conclusions : Non-pharmacological and pharmacological therapies can be applied to manage weight gain and obesity caused by the use of antipsychotic drugs. When using anti-obesity drugs, the characteristics of mental disorders, drug safety, and drug interactions should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2004

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate alexithymia, depressive symptoms, and stress response of patients with alcohol dependence. The results were taken as a basic data of ameliorating the quality of life. Methods: 94 patients with alcohol dependence completed stress response inventory, Korea depression scale, and toronto alexithymia scale successfully. Results: 55% of variance of alexithymia of patients with alcohol dependence were explained by the stress response and depressive symptoms and score of ADS, and the stress response had the most explanatory power. Conclusions: The alexithymia of patients with alcohol dependence may be influenced by depressive symptoms, education, frequency of drinking, and stress response. The specialists were identifying symptoms of depression and optimizing the management, therefore increasing the compliance and quality of life of patients with alcohol dependence.