• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.135-151
• /
• 2021

Purpose - This paper analyzes the effect of factors affecting the depression of immigrant labor by the exploratory multivariate model empirically. Design/Methodology/Approach - We review results of precedent studies theoretically and implement empirical study by using the questionnaire data of Myanmar male immigrant labor. Findings - As the result of empirical study, the factor affecting the depression of immigrant labor significantly at p<0.5 level are 'interpersonal trouble in company', 'unjust wage' and 'bottleneck to life'. Also 'unjust treatment' and 'anxiety(of health)' are affecting factors significantly at p<0.1. Research Implications - Managerial implications are as follow. Firstly, employers have to reduce 'interpersonal trouble in company', 'unjust wage' and 'unjust treatment'. Secondly, gonernment have to support to reduce 'bottleneck to life' and 'anxiety(of health)'. Academic implications are as follow. Firstly, factors that are studied exploratively have to be tested by systematic empirical study. Secondly, which of short-term, lagged or cumulative is the nature of the affecting effect and the reciprocal relationship between depression and factors affecting the depression has to be studied empirically.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.136-146
• /
• 1998

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the effects of PTSD on memory function, to investigate the difference of memory function between PTSD and non-PTSD patients, and to identify major variables correlated to PTSD scale and Memory Assessment Scale. Methods: The authors used PTSD-scale(Mississippi scale and Combat Exposure Scale) for measuring PTSD severity. And, Beck Depression Inventory was also used. Memory assessment scale was assessed by well trained psychologist. Thirty one Vietnam veterans who had been hospitalized were collected consecutively. These patients were evaluated by psychiatrists with interview and measurement for fifteen months since March, 1997. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS and the stastistic methods used for analysis Chi-square, t-test, and Pearson's correlation. Results : 1) There were significant differences in short-term memory and verbal memory between PTSD and non-PTSD in Vietnam veterans. 2) Mississippi scale and Combat Exposure Scale were negatively correlated to short-term memory and verbal memory(Pearson's correlation). 3) Religion status was a significant variable between PTSD and non-PTSD in Vietnam veterans. 4) There is no significant difference in visual memory and total memory scale between PTSD and Non-PTSD in Vietnam veterans Conclusions : Neuropsychological changes were found in the posttraumatic stress disorder. There were significant differences in short-term memory and verbal memory between PTSD and non-PTSD in Vietnam veterans. Mississippi scale and Combat Exposure Scale were negatively correlated to short-term memory and verbal memory. We suggest that neuropsychological test might be used for an objective assessment of patients with the combat related PTSD and be considered helpful in the assessment of patients with the diagnosis. And we also suggest rehabilitation strategies would be used to compensate for memory deficits in PTSD patients.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.173-181
• /
• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of a quit smoking program using the Web and short message service on exhaled carbon monoxide, self-efficacy, and depression according to nicotine dependency level in undergraduate students. Methods: In this study a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was applied. The participants included 90 students (52 in the low nicotine dependency group and 38 in the high nicotine dependency group) who succeeded in quitting smoking. Data were collected on 3 occasions, that is, before the program, immediately after the program, and 3 weeks after the program. Collected data were analyzed using independent t-test, repeated measure ANOVA, and paired t-test with SPSS 20.0. Results: Exhaled carbon monoxide was higher in the high nicotine dependency group than in the low nicotine dependency group. Self-efficacy significantly increased 3 weeks after the program in the low nicotine dependency group and significantly increased immediately after the program in the high nicotine dependency group. Depression significantly decreased 3 weeks after the program in the low nicotine dependency group. Conclusion: Self-efficacy may be enhanced when it is dealt with during an early phase of the quit smoking program for the high nicotine dependency group. Long-term intervention and persistent intervention are needed with regard to depression during a quit smoking program.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.75-81
• /
• 2012

Objectives : Thyroid cancer patients may experience emotional distress during cancer treatment including surgical operation and radioactive iodine treatment. The aims of this prospective study were to investigate changes of anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer(DTC) under preoperative, postoperative and short-term hypothyroidism state. Methods : Using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale(HAD) and the Distress Thermometer, we sequentially assessed the levels of anxiety, depression and distress in 41 DTC patients at 3 time points such as preoperative state, postoperative state and short-term hypothyroidism state. Results : The HAD-anxiety score was significantly higher in preoperative state($6.93{\pm}3.97$) than postoperative state($4.22{\pm}2.92$) and short-term hypothyroidism state($4.93{\pm}3.64$). Any other significant change in depression or distress thermometer score was not observed. Especially, difference of HADS score between the distress and none-distress groups was significant in preoperative state and post-operative state, but the difference become not significant in the short-term hypothyroidism state. Conclusions : Induced thyroid hormone deficiency during cancer treatment does not significantly affect emotional distress in patient with DTC. Anxiety and depression in these patients may be associated with distress of the patient before active cancer treatment.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.194-203
• /
• 2008

Objectives : This study was aimed at evaluating the relationship between somatic symptoms, depression, anxiety and cognitive function in the patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury(MTBI). Methods : Thirty seven patients with MTBI were selected from those patients who had visited the Department of Neuropsychiatry of Wonkwang University Hospital from 2003 to 2007. To assess and quantify the somatic symptoms, depression and anxiety, Personality Assessment Inventory(PAI) was used. Assessment of cognitive function was carried out by using Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale(K-WAIS), Rey-Kim Memory Test, and Kims Executive Function Test. The effects of somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety on the cognitive function were evaluated by Pearson correlation test. Results : Somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety, all showed inverse correlation to cognitive function. Specifically, 1) an increase in somatic symptoms was associated with a decrease in attention, verbal short term memory, verbal recall and recognition, and visual memory. 2) An increase in anxiety was associated with a decrease in verbal recall and recognition. 3) An increase in depression was associated with a decrease in cognitive function that requires high attention and verbal memory. Conclusion : The patients with MTBI displayed diverse symptoms ranging from cognitive impairment to somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety. Somatic and emotional symptoms were correlated with cognitive function(especially executive function). Importantly, this study raises the possibility of treating the cognitive impairment associated with MTBI by treating somatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety.

• Psychiatry investigation
• /
• v.15 no.11
• /
• pp.1037-1045
• /
• 2018

Objective The present study aimed to identify risk factors for future SI and to predict individual-level risk for future or persistent SI among college students. Methods Mental health check-up data collected over 3 years were retrospectively analyzed. Students were categorized as suicidal ideators and non-ideators at baseline. Logistic regression analyses were performed separately for each group, and the predicted probability for each student was calculated. Results Students likely to exhibit future SI had higher levels of mental health problems, including depression and anxiety, and significant risk factors for future SI included depression, current SI, social phobia, alcohol problems, being female, low self-esteem, and number of close relationships and concerns. Logistic regression models that included current suicide ideators revealed acceptable area under the curve (AUC) values (0.7-0.8) in both the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and precision recall (PR) curves for predicting future SI. Predictive models with current suicide non-ideators revealed an acceptable level of AUCs only for ROC curves. Conclusion Several factors such as low self-esteem and a focus on short-term rather than long-term outcomes may enhance the prediction of future SI. Because a certain range of SI clearly necessitates clinical attention, further studies differentiating significant from other types of SI are necessary.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.34-38
• /
• 2020

The term dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) is used to describe a group of neurometabolic disorders, which are characterized by dystonia, and are typically associated with diurnal fluctuations and respond to levodopa treatment. Autosomal dominant DRD (DYT5a, MIM# 128230) is caused by a heterozygous mutation in the GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1) gene (MIM# 600225). GCH1 encodes an enzyme, which is involved in the biosynthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin, an essential co-factor for tyrosine hydroxylase. Herein, we report the case of a 16-year-old girl who was diagnosed with DYT5a. She exhibited additional unusual clinical features, including intellectual disability, depression, multiple skeletal anomalies, and short stature, which are not commonly observed in patients with DYT5a. The patient harbored a heterozygous missense variant, c.539A>C, p.Gln180Pro, in the GCH1 gene, which was identified by targeted gene panel analysis using next-generation sequencing.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.226-232
• /
• 2001

The pharmacotherapy of depression has reduced morbidity and improved outcome for many depressive patients. A wide range of classical and new antidepressants are available for their treatment. However, 30-40% of all patients do not respond sufficiently to the initial treatment and present adverse effects. Pharmacogenetics studies the genetic basis of an individual's ability to respond to pharmacotherapy. Recently, some reports on serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms and their influence on the response to antidepressive therapy provide an interesting diagnostic tool in assessing the chances of response to antidepressants. We also investigated the relationship between serotonin transprter polymorphisms(5-HTTLPR) and the long-term effect of the antidepressant treatment. 128 depressive patients were enrolled into 2nd year study. The therapeutic response of each subset was not different at 8th, 16th week, but the subset with homozygote(l/l) of long variant showed a better therapeutic response to antidepressant than the heterozygote(l/s) of long and short variant, which showed a better therapeutic response than the subset with homozygote (s/s) of short variant at 1st year and 2nd year after the antidepressant treatment. This result shows that the serotonin transporter polymorphisms may be related to the long-term effect of antidepressant treatment. The potential for pharmacogenomics, the use of genetic information to guide pharmacotherapy and improve outcome by providing individualized treatment decisions, has gained increasing attention. pharmacogenomics will contribute to individualize drug choice by using genotype to predict positive clinical outcomes, adverse reactions, and levels of drug metabolism. Personalized medicine, the use of marker-assisted diagnosis and targeted therapies derived from an individual molecular profile, will impact the antidepressant therapy and this approach will replace the traditional trial-and-error practice of medicine.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.34-41
• /
• 2002

Background:Since serotonin neurotrasnmission plays an important role in the pathophysiology of depression, the drug that acts on serotonin transporter can be an effective antidepressant. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serotonin transporter polymorphisms(5-HTTLPR) and the long-term effect of the antidepressant treatment. Method:The 175 depressive patients, who met DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder or dysthymic disorder were enrolled into three year study. The genotypes of the patients were investigated by polymerase chain reaction of genomic DNA with promoter regions of the serotonin transporter gene. The patients were assessed by the Clinical Global Impression Scale, at the 1st visit, 8th week, 16th week, 1st year, 2nd and 3rd year after the antidepressant treatment. Result:The genotypes of 138 patients were investigated and 128 of them finished this 1st year study and 107 remained in the study after 2-year treatment, and, 97 completed this 3-year study. The therapeutic response of each subset was not different at 8th, 16th week, but the subset with homozygote(l/l) of long variant showed a better antidepressant therapeutic response than heterozygote(l/s). The heterozygote(l/s) showed a better response than the subset with homozygote(s/s) of short variant at 1st, 2nd and 3rd year after the antidepressant treatment in CGI-global improvement score. Conclusion:This result shows that the serotonin transporter polymorphism may be related to the long-term effect of antidepressant treatment and there may be also ethnic difference.

• Anxiety and mood
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.110-115
• /
• 2007

Objective : The authors examined the treatment response and remission rates in patients with panic disorder after short-term pharmacotherapy in an effort to determine the factors that can be used to predict remission in Korean patients with panic disorder. Methods : Sixty-one patients with panic disorder were recruited for participation in this study. The psychological symptoms of the patients were measured using the HAMA, HAMD, STAIS, STAIT, ASI and API at baseline and after 3 months of pharmacotherapy. Results : Patients with panic disorder showed significantly lower scores on all psychological measures after 3 months of pharmacotherapy with paroxetine. The remission rate was 44.3%, and the response rate was 54.1%. The remitters showed significantly lower HAMD, HAMA, STAIS, STAIT, and ASI scores than the non-remitters. Linear regression analysis revealed that the baseline HAMA, HAMD, and ASI scores could be used to predict the remission rate after controlling for age, sex and agoraphobia. Conclusion : Compared with previous reports, our study showed a similar remission rate in Korean patients with panic disorder. Lower baseline levels of anxiety, depression, and anxiety sensitivity were found to be predictors of treatment remission in panic disorder.