• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.15 no.12
• /
• pp.7266-7276
• /
• 2014

This study examined the associations of physical activity by intensity with depression and suicidal thoughts among middle school students in South Korea. This study used data from the Survey of Korean Youth Health Risk Behavior. The samples were middle school students (Total 37,420). Logistic regression analysis were used. For depression, 33% of males and 43% of females felt depressed, whereas 17.8% of males and 27.7% of females experienced suicidal thoughts. In regression, both moderate physical activity and vigorous physical activity were associated significantly with a lower incidence of depression. In suicidal thoughts, moderate physical activity was associated with a lower incidence of suicidal thoughts among female students. In path analysis, vigorous physical activity had a direct and indirect effect on depression and suicidal thoughts. Physical activity is a potential mediator in decreasing depression and suicidal thoughts among middle school students.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.95-102
• /
• 2006

Object : Nerve growth factor(NGF) is a protein involved in neuronal survival and plasticity in the central nervous system, which might play an important role in stress, depression and suicide. This study was performed to determine whether there is an alteration in plasma NGF concentrations in depressed patients with suicidal attempt. Methods : The subjects were 32 depressed patients who attempted suicide and admitted in emergency room. Forty-four hospitalized non-suicidal depressive patients and the 30 normal controls were closely matched with the suicidal group in terms of age and sex. Individuals in all 3 groups were evaluated independently by a semi-structured interview for the purpose of establishing a DSM-IV criteria diagnosis. The severity of depressive symptoms was evaluated using Hamilton depression rating scale(HDRS). The severity of the suicidal behavior was evaluated by Weisman and Worden's risk-rescue rating(RRR) system and the Lethality Suicide Attempt Rating Scale(LSARS). Plasma NGF level was measured by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) method. Results : There were no statistically significant differences of the plasma NGF levels among groups. LSARS and RRR did not reveal any significant correlation with ${\beta}$-NGF level in suicidal depressive patients. Conclusion : This study do not support an association between ${\beta}$-NGF and suicidal depression. However it is necessary to investigate this association through other route such as postmortem brain.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.99-105
• /
• 2022

Objectives: Suicide is the leading cause of death among adolescents in South Korea, and depression and personality profiles have been identified as significant risk factors for self-injurious behavior. This study examined the influence of depressive mood and temperament/character on self-injury in adolescents. Methods: A total of 116 adolescents (aged 12-18 years) with a primary diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) and their parents were enrolled in this study. The participants were divided into three groups based on adolescent's self-injury frequency, and their Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), Youth Self-Report (YSR), and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) scores were compared. Finally, mediation analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between suicidal ideation and self-injury. Results: Of study participants, 75.9% answered that they had suicidal ideation, and 55.2% answered that they had engaged in self-injurious behavior in the last six months. There were significant differences in CDI and suicidal ideation among the groups. After adjusting for age and sex, mediation analysis indicated that depressive mood mediated the relationship between suicidal ideation and self-injury. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the importance of evaluating and managing depressive mood severity in adolescents with MDD as these factors partially mediate the transition from suicidal ideation to self-injury.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.31-60
• /
• 2023

Purpose: This study explored the influencing factors on suicide-related behaviors (ideation, plans, and attempts) focusing on mental health problems (anxiety, depression, and loneliness) among Korean adolescents. Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted with data from the 16th Korean Youth Health Behavior Survey collected from in 2020 by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: After the adjustment of demographic characteristics and health risk behaviors, the influences of mental health problems on suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts showed the anxiety odds ratio (OR) for severe anxiety vs. minimal (OR 4.65, 4.67, and 3.75), depression (OR 4.27, 3.69, and 4.49), loneliness (OR 2.18, 1.96, and 1.96). Health risk behaviors (violence experience, drug use, stress, smoking, and drinking alcohol) and demographic variables (gender, school record, and socioeconomic status) were also significantly associated with suicide-related behaviors. Conclusion: Anxiety, depression, and loneliness were strong predictors of suicide-related behaviors. Early detection of suicide risks through screening for comprehensive mental health problems was recommended. Suicide prevention that considers the risk factors, including mental health problems and other risk factors, needs to be developed and implemented to reduce suicide risks among adolescents.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.16 no.7
• /
• pp.4777-4785
• /
• 2015

This study attempted to provide basic data for screening high-risk subjects by confirming suicidal thinking intensity and by identifying its influential factors in mid-aged men. Data No.3 from third National Health and Nutrition Survey in 2012 by the CDCP were used with 40-64 years middle-aged men targets. The collected data were analyzed via applying weight by using the complex sample analysis method of SPSS 19.0 program, frequency analysis, cross-analysis, and logistic regression analysis. The result revealed that 10% of middle-aged men showed suicidal thinking, and low-income earners had suicidal thinking 1.972 times higher than usual, the unmarried 2.587 times higher than men with spouses, men without spouses 1.482 times higher than men with spouses, the underweighted 18.183 times higher the obese. The blue-collared and the unemployed had suicidal thinking 1.349 and 13.342 times higher than the white-collared respectively. Furthermore, inactive subjects showed suicidal thinking 2.998 times higher than active subjects. Therefore, to prevent suicide in mid-aged men, separating these high-risk subjects in primary screening is needed for management, and suicide prevention programs should be developed at social and political level that include the information considering stress, depression, and obesity.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.29-35
• /
• 2020

Objectives : Evidence regarding the association between untreated depression in adolescence and suicidal risk in male young adults is scarce. We aimed to assess the effect of untreated illness during adolescence on the suicidal risk and attempt after that first episode. Methods : As part of a cross-sectional study, between May 2017 and April 2018, a total of 260 patients with currently unipolar or bipolar depression were included in the final analysis. Multiple linear and logistic regression analysis were performed to evaluate the association between untreated mood disorder in adolescence and its effect on the suicidal risk and attempt. Results : In total 260 patients, 189 were classified as untreated group. The proportion of suicide attempts, total depression score, suicidal risk and number of suicide attempts were significantly higher in the untreated group. The most predictive factors of suicide attempts were history of untreated depression [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)=4.19, 95% Confidence Interval (CI)=2.25-7.81, p<0.001] and diagnosis of bipolar depression (AOR=2.60, 95% CI=1.52-4.46, p<0.001). Conclusions : Although the untreated depression suggests higher rates of suicidality, a significant proportion (86.7%) of adolescent depression in this study did not receive psychiatric treatment. Future research should be needed to find better ways to decrease barriers in using mental health treatment and its contribution to reduction and prevention of adverse outcome.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.236-243
• /
• 2016

Objectives : The aim of this study was to clarify the role of alcohol use disorders and acute alcohol consumption in suicide attempts by gender. Methods : Data of 1,152 suicide attempters(487 males and 742 females) who had visited an emergency center was gathered. Suicide attempts were categorized into three groups according to alcohol use: an alcohol use disorder group(AUD), an acute alcohol use group(AAU), and a no-alcohol use group(NAU). The intent and lethality of suicide attempts were evaluated by Suicidal Intents Scale and Risk-Rescue Rating Scale. Results : For Suicidal Intents Scale score, the male AUD group revealed a significantly lower mean score than the male AAU one. However, there were no statistically significant differences for female subjects across subgroups. With regard to the Risk-Rescue Rating Scale score, there were no significant differences for males, while the AUD group showed both the lowest highest rescue scores and lowest risk-rescue scores within female groups. Conclusions : AUD in females was more likely regarding impulsive suicide attempts with high rescue chances. Consuming alcohol might have different effect on suicide attempts by gender and our study shows that alcohol use is an important risk factor according to gender, particularly with regard to female suicide attempts.

• Anxiety and mood
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.60-65
• /
• 2017

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) has been noted as a significant risk factor for possible suicide attempts. According to the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide, individuals can attempt suicide after they have acquired the capability to commit it. The acquired capability for suicide can be defined as one's habituated level to the pain and fear associated with suicidal behaviors. This is obtained through constant exposure to painful and provocative events, NSSIs being a prime example. This article reviews prior related studies to determine the extent to which the acquired capability for suicide can be utilized as a predictive factor for fatal suicide attempts following NSSIs. Our review finds a total of 11 studies that directly or indirectly support the claim that the acquired capability for suicide should be considered as a relevant factor linking NSSIs and suicide attempts. Given that NSSIs are most frequently observed in clinical settings, our findings suggest that the acquired capability for suicide will be a useful indicator for clinicians to predict the risk of future suicide attempts by patients.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.113-128
• /
• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the degree of suicidal risk, meaning in life, and life respect in various ages of patients and identify factors influencing their life respect. Method: The participants were 229 patients in a public hospital who completed questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, Fisher's exact test, ANOVA with Duncan post hoc test, and multiple regression. Results: There was a negative correlation between the meaning of life and life respect in the old age group (r=-.23, p=.02) and all subjects (r=-.14, p=.01) after controlling for age. Factors significantly influencing life respect were gender (${\beta}$=0.11, p=.050) and educational status (${\beta}$=-0.17, p=.022), and the multiple regression model explained 16.7% of the variance in all subjects (p<.001). In the early adulthood group, factors significantly influencing the life respect were gender (${\beta}$=0.18, p<.001) and suicidal thoughts (${\beta}$=0.21, p=.028), and the multiple regression model explained 6.8% of variance in all subjects (p=.001). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that suicidal prevention and educational programs for increasing an appreciation of life should consider subject's characteristics, such as gender and educational status.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.72-78
• /
• 2018

Objectives The high suicide rate has risen as a main concern in South Korea. Given the complexity of the mechanism resulting in complete suicide, studies targeting various populations are needed for broader understanding of its risk factors. This study aims to analyze the factors affecting the suicidal tendency in the population of the elderly living alone in Seoul depending on basic elderly-care services. Methods A total number of 415 people participated in the study. Home-visit interviews were administered by trained interviewers. Suicidal tendency was measured by the Korean version of mini international neuropsychiatric interview (K-MINI). Health-related quality of life was measured by a brief version of the World Health Organization Quality-of-life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF). Alcohol problem was assessed by the Korean version of the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT-K). Among total subjects of 415 interviewees, the actual responses of 408 people were used for the final analysis. Results The result showed that the suicide risk was high in persons isolated from social support [odds ratio (OR) = 4.49], having depression (OR = 14.85), and having low quality of life (OR = 4.39). Conclusions We found that social support, depression and health-related quality of life are associated with suicidal tendency in the elderly living alone on basic services. Our evidence will contribute to suicide prevention policy for the elderly living alone on care services.