• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to validate the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale(SIDAS) which can measure the severity of suicidal ideation in a sample of 399 Korean adults. For this purpose, an online survey was conducted for two weeks from July 2020 to August 2020. First, there were differences in SIDAS scores among groups divided by gender, residence status, depression and anxiety symptoms, suicidal ideation, suicidal plan, suicidal preparation, and suicidal attempt. Second, correlations between SIDAS, C-SSRS suicidal ideation intensity question(3 items), and the Rosenberg Self-efficacy (RSE) were examined to confirm the validity of SIDAS. As a result, correlations between the SIDAS and suicidal ideation intesity items of C-SSRS were significant in all items, while correlations between the SIDAS and RSE items were negative or insignificant. Third, as a result of the confirmatory factor analysis of SIDAS on all respondents and respondents with suicidal ideation, a single factor structure was appropriate for both groups. Internal consistency of SIDAS was also good. Lastly, as a result of identifying the variables affecting the suicidal plan over the past year, controllability and age were identified as significant predictive variables. SIDAS which was designed to be administered through web, can be appropriately used in Korea. It was confirmed that SIDAS is a reliable and valid suicidal ideation scale which is applicable to adults in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.359-375
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• 2009

This study developed a program that integrated MBSR-K and progressive muscular relaxation for the health and well-being of patients with chronic pain, and proved its effectiveness by studying 40 chronic pain patients. This program used nature of mind, body scanning meditation, breath meditation, mindfulness meditation, Hatha yoga and progressive muscular relaxation to ease chronic pain. Whenever negative feelings and emotions such as fear, anxiety, and pain occurred, the program focused on those emotions and observed the outcome. This program, which was based on the results of the preceding studies, was composed of eight courses. Major findings of the study are as follows: First, the meditation group that was composed of patients with chronic pain had significant decrease of physical symptoms compared to the control group. Second, to confirm the outstanding features of the participating patients with chronic pain that brought change in the effect of the program, characteristics of clients were analysed. Third, the program factor that influenced the effectiveness of the treatment process was evident when the training was performed twice a week rather than having once a week of training and second week for homework.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.269-276
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• 1996

A theroretical study was made on the psychodynamism of somatoform disorder. Somatoform disorder is caused by a defense mechanism of somatization. Somatization is the tendency to react to stimuli(drives, defenses, and conflict between them) physically rather than psychically(Moore, 1990). Ford(1983) said it is a way of life, and Dunbar(1954) said it is the shift of psychic energy toward expression in somatic symptoms. As used by Max Shur(1955), somatization links symptom formation to the regression that may occur in response to acute and chronic conflict. In the neurotic individual psychic conflict often provokes regressive phenomena that may include somatic manifestations characteristic of an earlier developmental phase. Schur calls this resomatization. Pain is the most common example of a somatization reaction to conflict. The pain has an unconscious significance derived from childhood experiences. It is used to win love, to punish misdeeds, as well as a means to amend. Among all pains, chest pain has a special meaning. Generally speaking, 'I have pain in my chest' is about the same as 'I have pain in my mind'. The chest represent the mind, and the mind reminds us about the heart. So we have a high tendency to recognize mental pain as cardiac pain. Kellner(1990) said rage and hostility, especially repressed hostility, are important factors in somatization. In 'Psychoanalytic Observation on Cardiac Pain', psychoanalyst Bacon(1953) presented clinical cases of patients who complained of cardiac pain in a psychoanalytic session that spread from the left side of their chests down their left arms. The pain was from rage and fear which came after their desire to be loved was frustrated by the analyet. She said desires related to cardiac pain were dependency needs and aggressions. Empatic relationship and therapeutic alliances are indispensable to psychotherapy in somatoform disorder. The beginning of therapy is to discover a precipitating event from the time their symptoms have started and to help the patient understand a relation between the symptom and precipitating event. Its remedial process is to find and interpret a intrapsychic conflict shown through the symptoms of the patient. Three cases of somatoform disorder patients treated based on this therapeutic method were introduced. The firt patient, Mr. H, had been suffering from hysterical aphasia with repressed rage as ie psychodynamic cause. An interpretation related to the precipitating event was given by written communication, and he recovered from his aphasia after 3 days of the session. The second patient was a dentist in a cardiac neurosis with agitation and hypochondriasis, whose psychodynamism was caused by a fear that he might lose his father's love. His symptom was also interpreted in relation to the precipitating event. It showed the patient a child-within afraid of losing his father's love. His condition improved after getting a didactic interpretation which told him, to be master of himself, The third patient was a lady transferred from the deparment of internal medicine. She had a frequent and violent fit of chest pains, whose psychodynamic cause was separation anxiety and a rage due to the frustration of dependency needs. Her symptom vanished dramatically when she wore a holler EKG monitor and did not occur during monitoring. By this experience she found her symptom was a psychogenic one, and a therapeutic alliance was formed. later in reguar psychotherapy sessions, she was told the relaton between symptoms and precipitating events. Through this she understood that her separation anxiety was connected to the symptom and she became less terrifide when it occurred. Now she can travel abroad and take well part in social activities.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2012

Objective : Psychiatry in North Korea is believed to seem very different from psychiatry in South Korea. However, there is nearly no information regarding psychiatry in North Korea until now. Our study aimed to get information about North Korean psychiatry. Methods : Three North Korean defectors in South Korea, whose clinical experience as medical doctors in North Korea was over 10 years, were recruited. They underwent the semi-structured interview, content of which included the clinical experience with psychiatric patients, the details of psychiatry, the treatment of psychiatric patients, the stigma of mental illness, and the suicide, in North Korea. Results : In North Korea, psychiatric department was called as 49th(pronounced as Sahsip-gu-ho in Korean). Only patients with vivid psychotic symptoms came to psychiatric department. Non-psychotic depression or anxiety disorders usually were not dealt in psychiatry. The etiology of mental illness seemed to be confined to biological factors including genetic predisposition. Psychosocial or psychodynamic factors as etiology of mental illness appeared to be ignored. Psychiatry was apparently separated from political or ideological issues. The mainstay of psychiatric treatment is the inpatient admission and out-of-date therapy such as insulin coma therapy. Stigma over mental illness was common in North Korea. Suicide is considered as a betrayal to his/her nation, and has been reported to be very rare. Conclusion : The situation of psychiatry in North Korea is largely different from that of South Korea. Although some aspects of North Korean psychiatry are similar to psychiatry in former socialist countries, North Korean psychiatry is considered to have also its unique characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2012

Objectives : With the increase in cancer prevalence, the health behavior of cancer survivors has become an important issue. This study was conducted to examine the psychosocial correlates of behavior changes after cancer diagnosis. Methods : 95 patients completed questionnaires assessing depression, anxiety, insomnia, posttraumatic stress symptoms, social constraints, personal beliefs about cancer cause and health-related behavior changes after cancer diagnosis. Results : In the multiple logistic regression analysis, insomnia was the only significant predictor of positive change in physical behavior : normal sleep group(Odds ratio=9.462, 95% CI 1.738-51.509) and subthreshold insomnia group(Odds ratio=10.529, 95% CI 1.701-65.161) showed a larger increase compared to the insomnia group. In psychosocial behavior, low age, religion and causal belief in hormonal factors were independent factors that predicted increase in positive change. Conclusions : This study showed a difference between predictors of physical and psychosocial health behavior change after breast cancer diagnosis. Multi-faceted approaches are required to promote positive change in health behavior in cancer patients.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.111-117
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• 2013

Objectives We investigated the effectiveness and safety when treated in schizophrenics with paliperidone palmitate, a long acting injectable antipsychotic. Methods This was a 24-week open-label study, performed at one center in Korea. The eligible patients with schizophrenia diagnosed by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria were enrolled. Patients received long-acting paliperidone palmitate injection (234 mg, baseline; 156 mg, week 1 ; then once 4 weeks flexible dosing). Effectiveness assessments were measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), The Clinical Global Impression Severity Scale (CGI-S), The Personal and Social Performance (PSP) at baseline, week 1, every 4 weeks untill 24 weeks or endpoint. Safety assessments were measured by The Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale (ESRS), body weight (BW) and incidence of adverse events. Oral antipsychotics were stopped or tapered off within next 14 days. Results Of 20 patients recruited, 9 patients (45%) completed the study. Paliperidone palmitate produced a significant improvement in PANSS total score from baseline to endpoint. The response rate was 75% [mean change (${\pm}SD$) $-25.9{\pm}14.4$, all p < 0.001]. The CGI-S and PSP total scores significantly improved during 24 weeks (All p < 0.001). Eighty percent of patients reported adverse events and most common adverse events (${\geq}10%$) in paliperidone palmitate were anticholinergic adverse event, extrapyramidal symptoms, weight gain, akathisia, insomnia, headache, agitation, anxiety and GI trouble. ESRS score is not statistically significant, but tends to get better at the end of the study when compared to baseline. Conclusions Our study results demonstrated maintained effectiveness and safety of paliperidone palmitate treatment in schizophrenics. And provides both clinicians and patients with a new choice of treatment that can improve the outcome of long term therapy. Their potential effectiveness and safety should be better addressed by future randomized-controlled trials.

• Industry Promotion Research
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.25-35
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• 2021

Middle-aged women experience diverse psychological and physical stresses and tensions through the menopause, aging, and taking up too many social roles, which often leads to sleep disorder. But there are not many scientific researches on the issue. Therefore, the research of efficacy of singing bowl that helps relax middle-aged women who have sleep disorder is needed to improve their health. This study was conducted with Giorgi's phenomenological method with 4 middle-aged women with sleep disorder, whose Pittsburgh sleeping quality scale marked over 5 points, who took part in singing bowl experience for 40 minutes and did the interview. The study resulted in following conclusions that through participants' singing bowl experience, 518 constructive meanings, 15 meaning units, 7 sub components, and 2 group subjects were drawn up. Firstly, when participants took part in the singing bowl experience, they underwent physical, mental, imagery experiences which are physical pain and muscle relaxation, mental relaxation, and positive mindset and imaginary images and colors. Secondly, physical changes that the participants felt after singing bowl experience was increased physical relaxation, improved physical symptoms and more physical activities, and psychologically participants also felt reduced anxiety, increased happiness and positive mentality. And behavioral changes are relaxed movements, increased activities, and improved sleep is huge benefit through changes of sleep pattern. In this study, singing bowl is confirmed to be effective both physically and psychologically on relaxing the middle-aged women's tensions that are caused by sleep disorders and singing bowl experience is meaningful in that the middle-aged women as well as modern people with the sleep disorders can be helped to have better lives.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.536-546
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• 2009

This study was done to investigate the effect of stress on appetite and eating habits, and other health-related behaviors. The subjects of this study consisted of 188 males and 224 females in Ulsan area. The results were as follows: When stressed, 56% (n = 231) of the subjects experienced a change in appetite and of these, 32% (n = 132) experienced an increased appetite. Stress-induced eating may be one factor contributing to the development of obesity. There was a gender-specific response to stress in which women are more likely to use food to deal with stress, whereas men are more likely to use alcohol consumption or smoking. It was found that types of stressors were individual (52.9%), social (50.7%), family relations (34.5%), work demands (34.2%) and physical environment (32.3%). Stress-induced symptoms of the subjects were anxiety (38.3%), headache (36.7%) and neck or shoulder aches (36.2%), and females experienced those symptoms more than males. Those older than 50 years had a higher eating habit score and lower stress score compared with younger subjects. There were significant differences between sex, age, occupation, family type, BMI, exercise, sleeping hours and eating habits or stress level. This study may be helpful in advancing findings in this area to better provide health professionals with appropriate counseling tools to improve the health of all individuals.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.747-753
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• 2019

Cognitive decline is characterized by reduced long-/short-term memory and attention span, and increased depression and anxiety. Such decline is associated with various degenerative brain disorders, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The increases in elderly populations suffering from cognitive decline create social problems and impose economic burdens, and also pose safety threats; all of these problems have been extensively researched over the past several decades. Possible causes of cognitive decline include metabolic and hormone imbalance, infection, medication abuse, and neuronal changes associated with aging. However, no treatment for cognitive decline is available. In neurodegenerative diseases, changes in the gut microbiota and gut metabolites can alter molecular expression and neurobehavioral symptoms. Changes in the gut microbiota affect memory loss in AD via the downregulation of NMDA receptor expression and increased glutamate levels. Furthermore, the use of probiotics resulted in neurological improvement in an AD model. PD and gut microbiota dysbiosis are linked directly. This interrelationship affected the development of constipation, a secondary symptom in PD. In a PD model, the administration of probiotics prevented neuron death by increasing butyrate levels. Dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been identified in AD and PD. Increased BBB permeability is also associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis, which led to the destruction of microtubules via systemic inflammation. Notably, metabolites of the gut microbiota may trigger either the development or attenuation of neurodegenerative disease. Here, we discuss the correlation between cognitive decline and the gut microbiota.