• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.113-124
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• 2009

Purpose : This study was to examine the emotional behavioral problem of children in low-income family who were participating in local children care center. Method : From June 2 to September 9, 2008, 322 elementary school children were surveyed using structured questionnaire. Emotional behavioral problem were measured using K-YSR. Result : In the distribution of three groups by emotional behavioral problems scores of subjects, normal group was 83.23%, borderline group was 9.32%, clinical group was 7.45% among 322 children. The emotional behavioral problem score of subjects showed attention problem .62(5.61), aggressive behavior .52(9.87), anxiety and depression .50(7.89), withdrawn .49(3.46), social problem .43(3.50), somatic complaints .35(3.17), thought problem .32(2.27), delinquent behavior .31(3.11) and total behavioral problem scores were .44(44.55). Also, total behavioral problem scores was not significantly difference by sex and grade, but the scores of girls students was higher compared with boys. Conclusion : This finding will be significant in that it can provide basic data for school mental health services, which can provide early intervention program for the students who belong to borderline and clinical groups.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.494-505
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• 1999

In spite of the progress in techniques and materials of the prosthodontic rehabilitation of patients with complete edentulous arches, prosthodontists still face patients' complaints about dissatisfaction and discomfort from their dentures. In the past several decades, prosthodontists tried to find the factors that influence the patient's satisfaction with dentures. However the results are contraversial especially with the psychological factor. In this study using 'patient denture satisfaction questionnaire' and Hopkins Symptom Checklist, we tried to find the correlation between the patient's denture satisfaction and the patient's psychological aspects. 23 complete edentulous patients who have visited the Department of Prosthodontics, Yonsei University Dental Hospital from September 1998 to June 1999 for complete denture treatment were asked to complete the questionnaires 4 to 6 weeks after the upper and lower complete delivery. After the measurement of validity of the questionnaires, correlations between the patient's general satisfaction with their new upper and lower complete dentures and the other satisfaction questions including the satisfactions with esthetics, retention, mastication, speech, comfort and other people's opinion and between the patient's general satisfaction with their new upper and lower complete dentures and the 5 symptoms of Hopkins Symptoms Checklist including somatic, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression and anxiety were analyzed. Among the several satisfaction questionnaire items, comfort with the lower denture showed highest relation to the patient's general satisfaction with dentures. However, only the anxiety scale of Hopkins Symptoms Checklist among the other symptom scales was related to the patient's general satisfaction with dentures. The two questionaires used in this study turned out to be valid means of analyzing patient's denture satisfaction and psychological status before and after the complete denture treatment.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.176-184
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• 1997

Abnormal illness behavior in patients with somatoform disorders were known formed by their traditional disease concepts and somatization-prone socio-cultural factors. The authors evaluated the characteristics of abnormal illness behavior in patients with somatoform disorders(who had somatization) by using abnormal illness behavior questionnaire. Methods : 29 somatoform disorders(SD) and 57 disease controls were compared by clinical characteristics, severity of pain, state anxiety(by Spielberger's State & Trait Anxiety Inventory), depression(by Beck's Depression Inventory) and level of psychosocial stess(by DSM-III-R). The illness behavior was measured by illness Behavior Questionnaire(IBQ). Results SD group had longer period of somatic symptoms with less severity in pain. The degree of anxiety and depression were higher in SB compared with controls. However, the degree of psychosocial stress was almost same between both groups. In IBQ, SD showed higher scores in general hypochondriasis, disease conviction, and affective disturbance subscales compared to control group. Conclusion: High disease conviction and hypochondriacal nature revealed by IBQ seemed to be a role in making somatization by way of somatic focusing and hypervigilance. And those tended to lead patients visit hospital frequently and report various somatic complaints. Evaluating abnormal illness behavior in somatoform disorders would be not only helpful in understanding the natures of somatoform disorders but also useful differentiating SD with other psychiatric conditions.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.176-184
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• 2017

Objectives : Middle aged women with depression often experience hot flush symptoms. It is still unclear about the association between depression and hot flush symptoms. Therefore, we investigated hormonal profile, functional somatic symptoms, coping styles and attitude for menopause between depressed women with hot flush and those without hot flush. Methods : This study included 33 depressed patients with hot flush symptoms and 33 depressed patients without hot flush symptoms. Hot flush was confirmed through prospective daily symptom ratings for a week. Subjects' coping styles were assessed by the stress coping checklist. Somatic symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-15(PHQ-15). Sex hormonal levels were assayed by a radioimmunoassay. The Brief World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument(WHOQOL-BREF) was used to evaluate quality of life. Results : In coping style, depressed women with hot flush symptoms used less 'problem-centered coping'($13.15{\pm}3.17$) and 'search for social support'($11.83{\pm}2.84$) than those without hot flush symptoms($15.17{\pm}3.1$, p=0.028 ; $14.25{\pm}3.22$, p=0.009 ; respectively). Depressed women with hot flush symptoms showed more negative attitude toward post-menopause, but its statistical significance was marginally insufficient(p=0.059). We did not find any group differences in sex hormonal levels and somatic complaints assessed by the PHQ-15. The score of social relationship domain of WHOQOL-BREF was significantly lower in subjects with hot flush symptoms($8.62{\pm}2.04$) than subjects without hot flush symptoms($9.71{\pm}1.65$ ; p=0.044). Conclusions : Among middle aged women with depression, the manifestation of hot flush symptoms was associated with coping styles and attitude for menopausal transition. Hot flush symptoms in depressed women negatively influence quality of life, so clinicians actively perform therapeutic approach in case of depressed patients with hot flush symptoms. In case of depressed patients who present hot flushes, cognitive behavior therapy or stress management might be an effective treatment option in company with antidepressants or hormonal treatment. Later, longitudinal study will be needed to evaluate risk factor, cause and effect associated with hot flush and depression.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.40-49
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• 2012

Objectives : To examine emotional and psychological characteristics associated with suicide attempts in depressed patients. Methods : A sample of 37 inpatients diagnosed with major depressive disorder or depressive disorder NOS was divided into two groups : lifetime suicide attempters(N=15 ; 40.54%), non-attempters(N=22 ; 59.46%). Beck Depression Scale(BDI), Beck Anxiety Scale(BAI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HDRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale(HARS), and MMPI-2 were used to evaluate symptoms severity and psychological characteristics. Results : Suicide attempters scored higher on the BDI though there were no group differences on the HDRS and on the both anxiety scales. Also they showed higher scores on the F, Fb, Pa, RC1, DEP, HEA, PK, AAS among MMPI-2 subscales. Our findings suggest that suicide attempters among depressed patients undergo more severe subjective distress and difficulties in adjustment than non-attempters. Also they were more hostile to others and showed lower trust. Lastly, they showed more somatic complaints and substance related problems. Conclusion : The present study showed that suicide attempters among depressed patients have distinct emotional and psychological characteristics. MMPI-2 would be helpful to assess suicidal risk of depressed patients.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.114-121
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• 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study was to know differences of characteristics between presenile and senile patients who were consulted to the department of psychiatry during medical-surgical admission. Methods: The demographic and clinical data obtained from the medical records of psychiatric consultation in the presenile inpatients with age 50 to 64 years(N=162) and those of the senile inpatients with age over 65 years(N=171) were reviewed and compared. Results: 1) The most common chief complaints for psychiatric consultation in presenile patients were somatic symptoms, anxiety and sleep disturbance in order, while cognitive decline, clouded consciousness and depressed mood were most common in senile patients with statistical significance. 2) The most frequent psychiatric diagnoses after consultation in presenile patients were delirium, mood disorder and substance use disorder in order, while delirium, mood disorder and major neurocognitive disorder were most frequent in senile patients with statistical significance. 3) There were no significant difference in numbers of physical illnesses, while numbers of therapeutic drugs for them were more in senile patients. Conclusions : Our study found significant differences between presenile and senile patients on psychiatric symptoms and diagnoses in geropsychiatric consultation. Therefore, more subdivided age-specific approach seems to be needed for the geropsychiatric consultation activities.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 1999

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to investigate 1) the incidence of insomnia, 2) the clinical characteristics of the insomniacs, 3) the correlation of severity of insomnia with somatic complaints and psychological distresses, and 4) the beliefs and attitudes about sleep in patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis. Methods: The author evaluated 153 patients, receiving hemodialysis therapy at the four outpatients hemodialysis units in Pusan, Korea. The patients had completed a self-administered questionnaire package, which consisted of basic demographic findings, questions characterizing insomnia, Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Spielburger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI), and visual analogue scales measuring quantitatively the severity of the self-perceived psychological and somatic symptoms. And several laboratory data were collected. Diagnosis of insomnia was made in the base of insomnia criteria of DSM-IV and international classification of sleep disorders. Subjects were dichotomized into those who reported any characteristics of insomnia or those who had no insomnia during the preceding two weeks. Results: Insomnia was found in 100(65.4%) of 153 patients. No statistical differences were found between the patients with and without insomnia in terms of age, gender, education, marital status, mean duration of hemodialysis and all considered laboratory findings except serum albumin. The patients with insomnia had significantly higher BDI score and predialysis systolic blood pressure, and lower serum albumin as compared to non-insomnia group. Significant differences were found between two groups in terms of self-perceived distress such as sadness, anxiety, worry, pruritus, and dysfunction of daily life. The data showed statistically significant correlation between insomnia severity and some variables such as physical dysfunction, pruritus, bone pain, sadness, anxiety, worry, dysfunction of daily life and excessive daytime sleepiness. The patients with insomnia had significantly several dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep than those without insomnia. Conclusion: These results indicate that insomnia is very common in hemodialysis patients and likely contribute to the impaired quality of life experienced by many these patients. The author suggests that physical and psychological distresses would be reduced and the quality of life could be improved if their sleep disturbances are properly ameliorated in patients on hemodialysis.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2006

Objectives : The object of this study was to examine computer game playing patterns and psychopathologies related to computer game addiction in school-age children. Methods : The subjects were 533 elementary school students (4th to 6th grade) in Kangdonggu, Seoul. We evaluated computer playing patterns of all subjects using computer game playing pattern questionnaire, and determined the risk group of computer game addiction by internet game addiction scale score. We evaluated subscale score of K-CBCL from parents of all subjects, and conducted correlation analysis and logistic regression analysis between computer game addiction and subscale score of K-CBCL. Results : In 488 responders, 10.2% of started playing computer game in preschool age, and 67.2% started at low grade of elementary school. The mean frequency of computer game play per week was 3.66 days. Mean time spent playing computer games per day was 1.89 hours. 'Simply for fun' was the most common reason far playing computer games (40.8%). Male subjects showed statistically significant differences in age of starting computer game, frequency of computer game play per week, reasons for playing computer game and computer game addiction scale scores. There were significant correlations between computer game addiction scale scores and academic performance, somatic complaints, attention problems, and internalizing problems in K-CBCL. But In logistic regression analysis, only attention problems among K-CBCL subscales showed significant predictability to computer game addiction. Conclusion : Upper grade elementary school students experienced computer game playing at the very early age, and spend much time in playing computer games. There were significant correlation and predictability between computer game addiction and attention problems.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2015

Objectives:Within the normal reproductive cycles of women, dramatic fluctuations of sexual hormones occur in the premenstrual and menopausal periods. In both periods, women are vulnerable to mood disturbances and show several somatic complaints. Based on these common clinical profiles and physiological changes, a relationship between vasomotor symptoms and the premenstrual syndrome has been suggested. However, attempts to establish such a link have yielded inconclusive results. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between histories of premenstrual syndrome and menopausal vasomotor symptoms within different menopausal stages. Methods:This cross-sectional study recruited Korean women aged 45-64 years who were perimenopausal and postmenopausal from 16 branch offices of the Korean Association of Health Promotion. All subjects completed self-report questionnaires that asked about a history of premenstrual syndromes, vasomotor symptoms, and several other variables. Results:A total of 1054 participants(361 perimenopausal women and 693 postmenopausal women) completed the study. Severity of premenstrual symptoms significantly correlated with postmenopausal vasomotor symptoms, only in late perimenopausal(r=0.213, p=0.010) and early postmenopausal women(r=0.246, p<0.001). After adjusting for several factors related to vasomotor symptoms, a history of premenstrual syndrome was a significant predictor of moderate to very severe vasomotor symptoms in late perimenopausal(OR=5.197, p=0.005) and early postmenopausal women(OR=3.017, p=0.010). Conclusions:This study suggests that a history of premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual dysphoric disorder is differentially associated with vasomotor symptoms in the menopausal stage. Prospective studies with larger population are needed to confirm these findings