• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.67-79
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report the effect of Korean medicine treatment on a patient with somatic symptom disorder hospitalized after a traffic accident. Methods: The subject for this study was a patient diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder that worsened after a traffic accident. During hospitalization, herbal medicine, acupuncture, psychotherapy, and other treatments were performed. Clinical effect was evaluated using Heart Rate Variability (HRV), BDI (Beck Depression Inventory)-II, BAI (Beck Anxiety Inventory), Global assessment (G/A), and Numerical rating scale (NRS). Results: After 36 days of treatment, BDI-II score was reduced from 17 to 5. BAI score was reduced from 23 to 8. Overall somatic symptoms and pain showed decreases. Conclusions: Korean medicine treatment might be effective for somatic symptom disorder that is worsened after a traffic accident.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2009

Objectives : The goal of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics of panic disorder respiratory subtype(PD-R) and non-respiratory subtype(PD-NR). Methods : 84 patients with panic disorder were enrolled and divided into 2 groups, 29 PD-R and 55 PD-NR. Diagnosis of panic disorder was evaluated using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders $4^{th}$ edition and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. They were also measured with Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety(HAM-A), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression(HAM-D), and Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS). Results : PD-R group showed significantly higher scores in PDSS than those of PD-NR group(p=.027). After controlling for the severity of panic disorder and gender, PD-R group showed higher HAM-D and somatic anxiety subscale of HAM-A than those of PD-NR group. Furthermore, results of logistic regression analysis suggested that the somatic anxiety was a possible risk factor of PD-R(OR=1.404,p=0.009). Conclusion : These results suggest that somatic anxiety and depressive symptom would be important clinical characteristics of PD-R.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.55-66
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• 2020

Objectives The goal for this study is to find out the recent trends of the Korean medicine treatment on children and adolescents' somatic symptom and related disorder by reviewing case studies. Methods We found case study reports relevant to 'Korean medicine treatment on somatic symptom and related disorder' through Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS), National Discovery for Science Leader (NDSL) and Research Information Sharing Service (RISS). The age of the patients was limited to under 20. Results All reported articles showed that the treatments were selected based on both emotional problems and physical symptoms. Herbal medicine was the most commonly used method, and the other methods including acupuncture and psychotherapy were also used. Conclusions This study shows that the common Korean medicine treatment can be widely used for children and adolescents' somatic symptom and related disorder. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatments, and to develop guidelines for the treatment.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.216-222
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• 2015

Objectives The principal aim of the present study was to investigate the characteristic depressive symptoms in patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD) and panic disorder in comparison to patients with depressive disorder. Methods This study included 132 patients with SAD, 128 panic disorder and 64 depressive disorder (major depressive disorder, dysthymia etc.) patients without comorbid psychiatric disorders. The Beck Depressive Inventory (BDI) is used to measure depressive symptoms. We divided BDI into three categories originally described by Shafer AB, including negative attitude toward self, performance impairment, and somatic symptoms. We compared the depressive symptoms of SAD, panic disorder and depressive disorder by using ANOVA. Results Negative attitude toward self was noticeable in SAD (SAD $0.54{\pm}0.23$, panic disorder $0.41{\pm}0.17$, depressive disorder $0.46{\pm}0.11$, p < 0.001). Performance impairment and somatic symptoms were remarkable in panic disorder than in SAD and depressive disorder (performance impairment : SAD $0.39{\pm}0.21$, panic disorder $0.44{\pm}0.14$, depressive disorder $0.40{\pm}0.09$, p = 0.009 ; somatic symptoms : SAD $0.07{\pm}0.10$, panic disorder $0.15{\pm}0.12$, depressive disorder $0.14{\pm}0.08$, p < 0.001). Conclusions The results facilitate an approach to optimal treatment for patients with comorbidity of anxiety disorder and depression.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2011

Objectives : We examined the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Depression and Somatic Symptom Scale (DSSS) in Korean patients with depressive symptoms. Methods : Participants were 55 outpatients diagnosed with major depressive disorder, a depressive episode of bipolar I disorder, somatoform disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder according to the DSM-IV criteria. We assessed them using the Korean versions of the DSSS, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), and Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self Report (QIDS-SR). Results : The Korean version DSSS had a Cronbach's alpha of 0.90. Moreover, each item's correlation with the total score was statistically significant (r=0.24-0.71, p<0.01). The test-retest correlation coefficient (r=0.83, p<0.01) was relatively high, and the DSSS correlations with the HDRS and QIDS-SR were 0.77 and 0.74, respectively. Conclusion : These results demonstrate that the Korean version of the DSSS could be a reliable and valid tool for screening and assessing depressive patients. The Korean version of the DSSS will be a useful tool for screening both depressive and somatic symptoms in Korea.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.201-208
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• 2001

The somatoform disorder are distinguished by physical symptoms suggesting a medical condition, yet the symptoms are not fully explained by the medical condition, by substance use, or by another mental disorder. This is that an unconscious intrapsychic conflict, wish, or need is converted to a somatic symptom and clinically express various symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting dyspepsia, diarrhea and constipation, etc. We report a case of somatoform disorder patient, who was 9 years old female and complained of nausea, vomiting and dysdipsia. She had her case diagnosed as somatoform disorder in Yong-dong severance hospital and took anti-depressant (chlomipramine) with counseling for 2 months. After treatment, her emotional instability and depression were improved, yet the somatic symptoms remain same. We diagnosed her case as vomiting induced by deficiency of the stomach(胃虛嘔吐) and administered Bihe-yin(比和飮) to her. After administration of Bihe-yin(比和飮) for one month, her somatic symptoms of nausea, vomiting and dysdipsia were almost disappeared and she got acquired her confidence in school life.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.256-261
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• 2007

Objectives : The aim of the present study was to examine whether anxiety and depression of children and mothers were associated with the children's medically unexplained somatic symptoms in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder(ADHD). Methods : 83 clinic-referred boys with ADHD and 52 boys without ADHD were included in this study. The frequency of the medically unexplained somatic symptoms, such as general-ache, headache, nausea, eye problems, skin problems, abdominal pain, vomiting was evaluated using the somatic symptom domain of the Child Behavior Checklist(CBCL). Children's anxiety and depression were evaluated using Kovacs Children's Depression Inventory(CDI) and Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) for children. Maternal anxiety and depression were measured by Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) and Beck's Depression Inventory(BDI). Stepwise linear regression analysis was used to examine the hypothesis. Results : Score of maternal state anxiety affects the T score of the somatic symptom domain in CBCL significantly(adjusted $R^2$=0.057 ; p=0.026). Conclusion : The frequency of medically unexplained somatic symptom of children perceived by mothers was associated with the high level of maternal state anxiety in ADHD. Frequent maternal report of the children's somatic symptom may be a warrant for the evaluation and management of the maternal state anxiety in ADHD.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.174-183
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• 2016

Objectives : The aim of this study is to evaluate difference of somatic symptoms of anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder and domainal association with suicidal idealization, plan, and attempts. Methods : A total of 359 adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder of last one year participated. Participants interviewed with certain sections of Korean version of Composite International Diagnostic interview of CIDI. Sections of interests includes questionnaires regarding somatic symptoms and suicidal idea, plan and attempts of last one year. Results : Chest pain shows more prevalence in major depressive disorder. Symptoms of Headache and loose stool are more prevalent in anxiety disorder. Difficulty in equilibrium and fainting spells are more common somatic complaints of co-diagnosis states of anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. Comparing 3 domains of pain symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms and pseudo-neurological symptoms, pain symptom domains, gastrointestinal symptoms domain shows significant statistic difference between diagnosis. Average somatic symptom numbers of each symptom domains increase through suicidal idealization, plan and attempt, accordingly. Conclusions : Our finding shows some of somatic symptoms are more prevalent at certain diagnosis. Since increasing numbers of somatic complaints of each symptom domains goes with the suicidal idealization to suicidal attempts, proper psychiatric evaluation and consultations are crucial for patients with numerous somatic complaints in non-psychiatric clinical settings.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2021

Patients complaining with somatic symptoms are very common in clinical practice, and are often consulted to medical department. But it is difficult to treat well. The treatment of somatic symptom disorder is multi-modal as none of the methods on their own provide a satisfactory outcome. The treatment of somatic symptoms disorders is complicated by lack of boundary, conceptual clarity, and overemphasis on psychosocial causation and effectiveness of psychological treatments. In clinical practice all classes of psychotropics are used to treat somatic symptoms disorder. Drugs such as tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin reuptake inibitors(SSRI), serotonin and noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), atypical antipsychotics are studied. The evidence indicates that these drugs are effective in somatic symptom disorders. All classes of antidepressants seem to be effective against somatic symptom disorders. SSRIs are more effective against hypochondriasis and body dysmorphic disorder, and SNRIs appear to be more effective than other antidepressants when pain is predominant. The author suggest that psychiatrists should know how to treat patients complaining with somatic symptoms by using not only psychotherapeutic approach but also pharmacological treatment. It will be helpful to reduce suffering and increase quality of life of these patients.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.89-97
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• 2020

Objectives : We investigated heart rate variability (HRV) patterns in patients with somatic symptom disorder (SSD) and the relationships of these patterns with alexithymia. Methods : In total, 42 patients with SSD and 33 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Demographic, psychological, and HRV data were assessed at baseline, and 24 patients with SSD were reassessed after 6 months of treatment. The psychological data included somatic symptoms and levels of depression, anxiety, and alexithymia as indicated by the somatic symptom subscale of the Symptom Checklist 90-Revision (SCL-12), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale 20 (TAS-20), respectively. Results : Patients with SSD had a lower standard deviation of normal-to-normal R-R intervals (SDNN) and lower proportions of adjacent R-R intervals greater than 50 milliseconds (pNN50) compared with controls. These HRV parameters were negatively correlated with alexithymia severity. After treatment, patients exhibited significantly decreased levels of somatic symptoms and reduced anxiety and depression, but there were no significant differences in the HRV parameters. In patients with alexithymia, a high baseline SDNN and pNN50 were associated with a decrease in somatic symptoms. Conclusions : Patients with SSD have different HRV patterns, and several HRV parameters are associated with alexithymia severity. These findings suggest that ANS regulation is involved in the pathophysiology of SSD, mediated by alexithymia. Furthermore, these results suggest that certain HRV parameters may be associated with clinical outcomes of SSD.