• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.524-536
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aims to examine the relationships among experiences of traumatic events, post-traumatic stress (PTS), and the needs for health promotion programs of 119 paramedics. Methods: Experiences of traumatic events, PTS, and needs for health promotion programs were measured using a structured questionnaire. The subjects were 193 paramedics in Jeju Island. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test and $x^2$ test. Results: The most experienced event out of the 16 different traumatic events was 'retrieve a suicide's body.' A high-risk classification of PTS was observed in 36.2% of the subjects. The rates of experiences were higher than those of the actual needs for all 26 health promotion programs. The programs reported as highly needed by respondents were stress management (75.5%) followed by exercise (74.6%) and PTS management (72.5%). Subjects with longer career periods, a fire sergeant, perceived obesity, numerous experiences of traumatic events, and in the PTS risk group had a higher need for a stress management program. Conclusion: These findings indicate that a significant number of 119 paramedics experienced PTS. They also show that onsite strategic management is strongly required. In addition, implementation of health promotion programs based on the needs of 119 paramedics is highly needed.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to find stress mediation strategies for pandemic task forces in the future by identifying role stress experienced by local officials in public health centers working as COVID-19 response task force. Whether they suffered from trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to COVID-19 was also determined. Methods: Subjects for this research were 185 public health center workers in 7 northern Gyeonggi cities with at least three months of COVID-19 response task force experience. The investigation lasted for two months, from February to March of 2021. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: The average role stress of research subjects was 2.79±0.60. There were 64 subjects (34.6%) who answered 'yes' for trauma experience due to COVID-19. Subjects' role stress by sociodemographic and role characteristics displayed statistically significant differences in gender (t = -2.74, p= .007), age (F = 6.41, p= .002), profession (F = 0.01, p= .014), and COVID-19 response task (F= 3.01, p= .019). Specifically, role stress was higher for females than for males, those who were in their 20's (than 40's), a nursing profession (rather than others). Role stress was also higher in COVID-19 confirmed response work or in a self-quarantine work. There was a significant difference in trauma according to COVID-19 response roles (χ² = 26.59, p= < .001) and other tasks given or not (χ²= 9.48, p= .002). Conclusion: It is necessary to take measures to reduce COVID-19 response task force's role stress and trauma.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.190-194
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• 2014

Objective : Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a group of diseases that are observed in patients who had experienced a serious trauma or accident. However, some experienced it even after only a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), and they are easily ignored due to the relatively favorable course of mild TBI. Herein, the authors investigated the incidence of PTSD in mild TBI using brief neuropsychological screening test (PTSD checklist, PCL). Methods : This study was conducted on patients with mild TBI (Glasgow coma scale ${\geq}13$) who were admitted from January 2012 to December 2012. As for PCL, it was done on patients who showed no difficulties in communication upon admission and agreed to participate in this study. By using sum of PCL, the patients were divided into high-risk group and low-risk group. PTSD was diagnosed as the three major symptoms of PTSD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth-edifion. Results : A total of 314 TBI patients were admitted and 71 of them met the criteria and were included in this study. The mean age was 52.9 years-old (range : 15--94). The mean PCL score was 28.8 (range : 17--68), and 10 patients were classified as high-risk group. During follow-up, 2 patients (2.7%) of high risk group, were confirmed as PTSD and there was no patient who was suspected of PTSD in the low-risk group (p=0.017). Conclusion : PTSD is observed 2.8% in mild TBI. Although PTSD after mild TBI is rare, PCL could be considered as a useful tool for screening of PTSD after mild TBI.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.63-70
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• 2021

Objectives: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) of mothers may negatively affect the mental health of their offspring. Little is known about the intergenerational effect of maternal ACE on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the offspring. This study investigated the impact of maternal ACEs on PTSD in the offspring. Methods: A total of 156 mothers with children aged 13-18 years completed the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC) Predictive Scales to determine the presence of psychiatric disorders in their offspring. The subjects completed the ACE questionnaire and the Early Trauma Inventory Self-Report-Short Form. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between maternal ACEs and PTSD in the offspring. Results: Of the mothers, 23.7% had at least one ACE, and PTSD was reported in 21.8% of the offspring. The offspring of the mothers in the ACE group had a significantly higher rates of traumatic experiences and PTSD than the offspring of the mothers in the no ACE group. Maternal household dysfunction independently predicted offspring PTSD [odds ratio (OR)=3.008, p=0.05), and three or more maternal ACEs were significantly related to PTSD in the offspring (OR=10.613, p=0.025). Conclusion: Maternal ACEs have a significant impact on the risk of traumatic experiences and PTSD in the offspring. These findings suggest the presence of intergenerational transmissions by which maternal ACEs affect the mental health of the offspring.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.86-97
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to assess exposure to traumatic events, knowledge and attitudes concerning post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the level of resilience among nurses and paramedics working in emergency departments. Methods: Data were collected from May 22 to June 12, 2022, using a self-administered survey questionnaire. The participants comprised 135 nurses and 80 paramedics working in emergency departments. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, a t-test, and an analysis of variance with Scheffé's test. Results: Compared with emergency room nurses, paramedics were more positive about the government's spending on job opportunities for people with PTSD. There were no significant differences in attitude regarding government strategies and people with PTSD between nurses and paramedics. Paramedics had higher scores on the effective treatment for PTSD, while emergency room nurses showed higher scores on effective psychotherapy. General knowledge of PTSD differed according to sex (t=-2.33, p=.021) and education level (F=3.21, p=.042). Resilience scores differed significantly according to sex (t=2.02, p=.045), education level (F=4.10, p=.018), self-reported economic state (F=10.34, p<.001), and self-reported health (F=11.57, p<.001). Conclusion: The findings support that emergency department nurses and paramedics are in need of self-care programs to support their mental health and indicate that intervention programs should be developed to enhance resilience in emergency department professionals.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the Path modeling effect among depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD), resilience, and social support on the quality of life (QoL) of natural disaster victims. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 1,979 disaster victims' cases by using the 4th Disaster victims panel survey in Korea. Data were collected from october 2018 to december 2018 and analyzed using regression analysis and path way analysis. Results: Perceived health, depression, social support, PTSD, resilience, and QoL showed significant correlations. PTSD was directly affected by depression and QoL was affected by PTSD. Social support was directly affected by depression and resilience was also directly affected by depression. QoL was affected by social support and resilience. Conclusion: This analysis highlighted that the relation between lower depression and QoL was mediated by greater social support and resilience and lower degree of PTSD. These results suggest that community health interventions and education that incorporate social support and resilience may improve the quality of life of natural disaster victims.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 2018

Objective : Several earlier studies have reported similar symptoms in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who have been repeatedly exposed to relevant media after disasters and trauma. This study aimed to examine the effects of indirect trauma experience through media rather than direct traumatic events on an individual's social life. Methods : Five hundred and fifty-four individuals participated in our online, self-reported questionnaire survey. All subjects were asked to complete a demographic questionnaire, Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Korean version of Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, Patient Health Questionnaire-15, Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised. Participants were assessed in regards to their experience of violent media exposure within the past three months. Results : Data from our study indicates that the group exposed to violent media had significantly higher perceived stress, physical symptoms, insomnia, and suicide ideation in comparison to the control group. Among the major symptoms of PTSD, the proportion of intrusion symptoms was relatively high in the media exposed group. Conclusion : This suggests that indirect trauma caused by media exposure could cause post-traumatic stress symptoms. The PTSD caused by indirect trauma may have slight differences from the PTSD caused by direct trauma. Therefore, it is necessary to understand, prevent, and control the adverse effects of media.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.500-513
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• 2023

Purpose: Women are more vulnerable to post-traumatic stress (PTS) than men, causing several health problems. Nurses should understand and work with women who have experienced trauma and provide interventions to promote their physical, social, and mental health. Methods: This quasi-experimental pilot study used a one-group pre-test/post-test design. Data were collected from 14 women recruited between December 2019 and May 2020 from a self-sufficiency support center in South Korea for sexually-exploited women who had experienced trauma. The program consisted of six one-on-one intervention sessions per week for six weeks. Each session averaged 60~120 minutes. Participants were assessed at pre-test, post-test, and one-month follow-up. Changes in outcome variables over time were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank and Friedman tests. Results: The caring program for health promotion was divided into six sessions: understanding the self, sharing traumatic events and negative emotions, reframing the meaning of traumatic events, identifying thoughts and physical and emotional responses, developing health promotion activities, and maintaining a positive attitude during the process of change. As a result of the caring program, PTS (F = 36.33, p < .001), depression (F = 24.45, p < .001), health-promoting behaviors (F = 7.06, p = .004), and self-esteem (F = 19.74, p < .001) among the participants differed significantly at pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. Conclusion: This study provides foundational information for the implementation of a theory-driven program by nurses in clinical and community settings to provide comprehensive care for women who have experienced trauma.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.62-74
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• 2020

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of mental health problems in patients discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods : This was a secondary analysis study using data from a multicenter prospective cohort of post-ICU patients. We analyzed data of 311 patients enrolled in the primary cohort study who responded to the mental health questionnaire three months after the discharge. Anxiety and depression were measured on the Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was measured on the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale. Results : The prevalence of anxiety, depression, and PTSD in patients at three months after ICU discharge were 25.7%, 17.4%, and 18.0%, respectively, and 7.7% of them experienced all three problems. Unemployment (OR=1.99, p=.033) and unplanned ICU admission (OR=2.28, p=.017) were risk factors for depression, while women gender (OR=2.34, p=.009), comorbid diseases (OR=2.88, p=.004), non-surgical ICUs (trauma ICU: OR=7.31, p=.002, medical ICU: OR=3.72, p=.007, neurological ICU: OR=2.95, p=.019) and delirium (OR=2.89, p=.009) were risk factors for PTSD. Conclusion : ICU nurses should proactively monitor risk factors for post-ICU mental health problems. In particular, guidelines on the detection and management of delirium in critically ill patients should be observed.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.183-192
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• 2018

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a trauma-induced psychiatric disorder characterized by impaired fear extermination, hyperarousal, anxiety, depression, and amnesic symptoms that may involve the release of monoamines in the fear circuit. The present study measured several anxiety-related behavioral responses to examine the effects of berberine (BER) on symptoms of anxiety in rats after single prolonged stress (SPS) exposure, and to determine if BER reversed the dopamine (DA) dysfunction. Rats received BER (10, 20, or 30 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, once daily) for 14 days after SPS exposure. BER administration significantly increased the time spent in the open arms and reduced grooming behavior during the elevated plus maze test, and increased the time spent in the central zone and the number of central zone crossings in the open field test. BER restored neurochemical abnormalities and the SPS-induced decrease in DA tissue levels in the hippocampus and striatum. The increased DA concentration during BER treatment may partly be attributed to mRNA expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and the DA transporter in the hippocampus, while BER exerted no significant effects on vesicular monoamine transporter mRNA expression in the hippocampus of rats with PTSD. These results suggest that BER had anxiolytic-like effects on behavioral and biochemical measures associated with anxiety. These findings support a role for reduced anxiety altered DAergic transmission and reduced anxiety in rats with PTSD. Thus, BER may be a useful agent to treat or alleviate psychiatric disorders like those observed in patients with PTSD.