• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.264-268
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• 2017

South Korea has the highest reported suicide rate among all countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless and nontoxic gas. Nitrogen gas has, however, been recently used as a method of attempted suicide, its nontoxity notwithstanding. We herein report on an unusual case involving a 30-year-old male who presented with symptoms after a suicide attempt by nitrogen inhalation. Diffusion-weighted imaging of his brain was showed curvilinear high signal intensity in the bilateral frontal and right occipital cortices, with subtle low apparent diffusion coefficient value. In addition, T2-weighted images and fluid attenuated inversion recovery images revealed subtle high signal intensity in the bilateral frontal cortices, basal ganglia and occipital cortices with contrast enhancement.

• 한국치위생학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.335-346
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• 2020

Objectives: This study investigated the association between oral health and suicide attempts in adults aged 65 years or older using the 7^th Korea National Health and Examination Survey (KHANES, 2016-2018). Methods: Of the total 24,269 participants of the 7^th KHANES (2016-2018), 1,488 adults aged 65 years or older who had an oral health examination were selected. Variations in suicide attempts with demographic characteristics and perceived oral health status were analyzed using the χ² test, and the association between oral health and suicide attempts was analyzed using the logistic regression model. Results: The suicide attempt rate was higher among older adults with chewing (p<0.01) and speaking (p<0.05) difficulties. The odds ratio for a suicide attempt was 1.05 times higher among those with tooth loss (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our results showed that older adults with tooth loss had an increased risk of suicide. Thus, it is important to prevent tooth loss, in the first place, through proper oral health management. If tooth loss occurs, appropriate treatment should be prioritized to facilitate functional recovery. Finally, national support is required for older adults with limited access to dental care.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.77-81
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• 2019

Suicide is a major public health issue that causes over 800,000 deaths each year globally. Korea ranks high in suicide rates, in which around 24.3 per 100,000 individuals are reported to have died by intentional self-harm in 2017 according to Statistics Korea. The aim of this study was to examine the current status and trend of suicide ideation and attempt using data from the following five sources: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination (KNHANES, '07-13, '15-17), Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS, '08-09, '13, '17), Korean Wealth Panel Study (KOWEPS, '12-17), Korea Health Panel Survey (KHP, '10-13), and Statistics Korea (1983-2017). Suicide ideation and attempts were also further examined based on equalized household income levels. Data published by Statistics Korea were used to show the updated suicide rate and number of deaths by intentional self-harm. The rate of suicide ideation at the recent year was 4.73% (KNHANES, '17), 6.96% (KCHS, '17), 1.63% (KOWEPS, '17), and 5.39% (KHP, '13). That of suicide attempts as recent year was 0.71% (KNHANES, '17), 0.32% (KCHS, '17), and 0.09% (KOWEPS, '17). Annual percentage change of suicidal ideation was -15.4% (KNHANES, '07-17), -2.5% (KCHS, '08-17), -8.6% (KOWEPS, '12-17), and -10.9% (KHP, '10-13). Annual percentage change of suicide attempts was -4.0% (KNHANES, '07-17), -4.4% (KCHS, '08-17), and -14.9% (KOWEPS, '12-17). Individuals with lower income levels were more likely to experience suicide ideation and attempts. Considering that Korea still shows a high suicide rate despite the continuously decreasing trend of suicide ideation and attempt, continuous observation and appropriate policy implementation regarding suicide related problems are necessary.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.228-236
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• 2022

The aim of this study was updating suicide-related indicators, including the number of suicidal deaths, suicide rate, and the prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. We observed trends in suicide-related indicators based on up-to-date information. This study used five data sources to evaluate the trends of suicide-related indicators: Statistics Korea (1983-2020), Korean Wealth Panel Study (KOWEPS, 2012-2020), and Korea Health Panel Survey (KHP, 2010-2013, 2016-2018), Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination (KNHANES, 2007-2013, 2015-2020), and Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS, 2008-2009, 2013, 2017). The suicide rate per 100,000 population decrease from 26.9 in 2019 to 25.7 in 2020. Based on recently available data, the rates of suicidal ideation were 1.48% (KOWEPS, 2020), 2.61% (KHP, 2018), 4.62% (KNHANES, 2019), and 6.96% (KCHS, 2017). Those of suicide attempt as were 0.07% (KOWEPS, 2020), 0.44% (KNHANES, 2020), and 0.32% (KCHS, 2017). Annual percentage change (APC) of suicide rate was -1.87% (Statistics Korea, 2011-2020). APC of suicidal ideation was -10.7% (KOWEPS, 2012-2020), -11.5% (KHP, 2010-2013, 2016-2018), -14.7% (KNHANES, 2007-2013, 2015, 2017, 2019), and -2.5% (KCHS, 2008-2009, 2013, 2017). APC of suicide attempt was -11.3% (KOWEPS, 2012-2019), -5.2% (KNHANES, 2007-2013, 2015-2020), and -4.4% (KCHS, 2008-2009, 2013, 2017). Although the suicide rate in Korea has decreased compared to 10 years ago, it is still at a high level. Thus, continuous observation and appropriate suicide prevention policies are needed.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.227-234
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• 1999

자살 시도군 231명, 환자 대조군 231명, 정상대조군 231명을 대상으로 혈청 콜레스테롤 농도를 측정하여 다음의 결과를 얻었다. 1) 자살 시도군이 환자대조군 혹은 정상대조군보다 혈청 콜레스테롤 농도의 유의한 저하를 보였다. 2) 진단별로는 우울증과 인격장애에서 자살 시도군이 환자대조군보다 콜레스테롤 농도의 유의한 저하를 보였으나, 정신분열병과 양극성 정동장애 조증형에선 차이가 없었다. 3) 자살 시도군의 남녀별로 비교시, 남자가 여자보다 콜레스테롤 농도의 유의한 저하를 보였으며, 진단별로는 우울증에서만 유의한 차이를 보였다. 4) 자살 시도군에서 낮은 콜레스테롤 농도는 심각한 자살 수행과 연관성이 있었다. 5) 자살 시도군에서 치료전에 비해 치료후 혈청 콜레스테롤 농도의 유의한 증가를 보였다. 본 연구의 결과는 자살 시도의 예측인자로서 혈청 콜레스테롤이 이용될 수 있음을 시사한다. 향후 콜레스테롤 농도에 미치는 변인들을 통제한 전향적 방법을 통해 원인적 측면에서 혈청 콜레스테롤 농도와 세로토닌, 인터루킨-2, 멜라토닌 간의 연관성에 관한 연구가 이루어져야 하겠다.

• 대한조현병학회지
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.55-60
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• 2017

Objectives : Severe mental illness is a major risk factor for suicide. This study aimed to identify characteristics of patients who died by suicide among subjects who had been received service from a community mental health center. Methods : We searched individuals who had committed suicide in Gwangju Bukgu Community Mental Health Center since 2006. Sociodemographic and clinical data were gathered from medical records and their case managers and they were compared with those of general members in the center. Characteristics of schizophrenia patients who died by suicide were particularly summarized. Results : Twelve person committed suicide between 2006 and 2016. The characteristics of those who died by suicide were male (67%), diagnosis of schizophrenia (75%), aged below 50 (83%), unemployed (92%), past history of psychiatric hospitalization (100%), recent admission within 3 months (67%), past history of suicidal attempt (78%), family history of schizophrenia (58%), poor adherence to medication (58%), and use of daily rehabilitation program (42%). Ten out of twelve (83%) showed warning sign for suicide. All identified method of suicide in patients with schizophrenia was jumping from high building. Many patients with schizophrenia, who committed suicide, suffered from comorbid depressive symptoms (67%) and auditory hallucination (78%). Conclusion : Case managers should pay attention to and carefully manage individuals who showed suicidal warning, particularly with risk factors for suicide, such as unemployment, admission state or recent discharge from psychiatric hospital, poor adherence to medication, family history of schizophrenia, and a history of suicidal attempt.

• 대한간호학회지
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.652-662
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• 2011

Purpose: The suicide rate of adolescents in Korea is increasing annually. Therefore, this research was done to identify the suicide attempt rate of middle and high school students and to identify factors that influence suicidal attempts. Methods: The Korea Youth Health Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (2007) was used as data. Discriminant analysis and logistic regression were performed to analyze the data depending on gender to consider the gender difference in assessing the influence of each independent variable on suicidal attempts. Results: Discriminant analysis according on gender showed that 13 factors correlated with suicidal attempts for boys, and 20 factors for girls. The most highly correlated factors were smoking, depression and inhalation experience. For inhalation experience, boys had 2.7 times higher possibility of suicide attempts (95% CI 1.8-3.0) and girls, a 2.4 times higher possibility (95% CI 1.7-3.5). Conclusion: The results of the study indicate a need to classify adolescents for expectation of suicide risk and high danger for suicidal attempts through, and introduce suicide prevention programs for these adolescents. In particular, it is necessary to start intervention with students who smoke, have sexual and inhalation experiences and high levels of depression.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.60-63
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• 2019

The rate of suicide is the 5th leading cause of death in Korea. Moreover, suicide is the 1st cause of death in from 2nd to 4th decade. In order to treat suicide attempters who have visited the emergency room and to prevent retries, it is necessary to understand the nature of the suicide and to take the right approach. Suicide is more than doubled in women, and retry rates are high among patients with a history of suicide. Suicidal means are throat, fall, gas poisoning, poisoning and drowning. All suicide attempters should suspect and treat cervical spine injury and airway management, and rapid hyperbaric oxygen therapy is recommended for carbon monoxide addicts. Interviewing a suicide attempter requires a sympathetic attitude and examines the underlying depression or adaptation disorders. Interdisciplinary care with mental health departments is necessary, and interventions in emergency roombased suicide attempt management work can be helpful to connect with the community.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제30권1호
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• pp.7-16
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• 2023

Objectives This study aimed to review the Korean Constitution articles 14 and 20 of the "Law on suicide prevention" and investigate public perceptions of specific improvements to suicide prevention policies using results from the Korean 2018 National Survey on Suicide. Methods The questionnaire was designed to analyzing the act restricts sharing of patient information between hospitals, making it difficult to track suicide attempts. The questionnaire was also designed to suggest further medical and normative criteria for objective judgment of continuous follow-up utilizing suicide risk evaluations and proportional principle review that consider patients' and medical staff's basic rights. Results This study identified the result of the 1500 respondents, 79.1% believed that Korea should allow suicide prevention management to be implemented without requiring individual consent to protect suicide attempters. Conclusions According the results, I propose the following criteria for policy improvement: use of anonymized information and non-profit research for technical and ethical considerations, access to medical information only for therapeutic purposes, and use of surgical severity assessment criteria appropriate for Korea.

• 정신신체의학
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.24-33
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• 2024

연구목적 본 연구는 우리나라 19세 이상 성인을 대상으로 자살 생각과 자살 시도에 미치는 개인 수준 요인과 지역사회 수준의 요인을 분석하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 방 법 2021년 시행한 지역사회건강조사의 자료와 2021년 국가통계포털시스템(KOSIS) 자료를 통해 수집된 성인 225,965명을 연구 대상자로 하였다. 대상자의 일반적 특성, 자살 행위(자살 생각, 자살 시도) 및 지역사회 수준의 특성은 빈도(%)와 평균(표준편차)를 이용하여 분석하였으며, 개인 수준과 지역사회 수준에 대한 자살 생각 및 자살 시도에 대한 연관성은 다수준 로지스틱 회귀분석으로 분석하였다. 결 과 자살 생각과 관련된 지역사회 수준의 요인은 미충족의료였으며(Odds Ratio [OR]=1.053, 95% CI=1.035-1.071), 자살 시도와 관련된 지역사회 수준의 요인은 고령화비율(OR=1.015, 95% CI=1.001-1.030)이었다. 자살 생각과 관련된 주된 개인 수준의 요인은 스트레스 상태(OR=9.388, 95% CI=8.629-10.213), 최근 1년간 우울경험(OR=6.737, 95% CI=6.454-7.032)이었으며, 자살 시도와 관련된 주된 개인 수준의 요인은 스트레스 상태(OR=5.213, 95% CI=3.699-7.347), 최근 1년간 우울경험(OR=13.433, 95% CI:11.247-16.044)이었다. 결 론 본 연구를 통해 자살 생각과 자살 시도에 영향을 미치는 개인 수준의 요인과 지역사회 수준의 요인을 확인하였다. 연구 결과를 통하여 기존에 강조되어진 스트레스, 우울과 같은 개인 수준의 요인에 대한 관리 뿐만 아니라, 미충족의료와 같은 지역사회 수준의 요인을 고려하는 자살예방정책이 요구된다.