• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.1-21
• /
• 2003

A survey of 220 male and 233 female residents of Seoul was carried out to investigate why women appeared to be more fearful of crime than men. As expected, female respondents reported higher levels of fear of crime and perceived physical vulnerability to crime. Incivility factors in the neighborhood and perceived possibility of criminal victimization were significant predictors of fear of crime for both male and female respondents. For women more psychological variables such as trait anxiety and age were other significant predictors of their fear of crime, whereas the distance to police station and frequency of watching crime-related TV programs were significant predictors for men's fear of crime.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.204-220
• /
• 2008

Objectives: This study was performed to determine the levels of depression symptoms among the community elderlies and to reveal its related factors, specifically aimed at revealing psycho-social factors such as social support net-work, sense of self-esteem, state anxiety, interpersonal behavior trait and locus of control. Methods: The interviews were performed during the period from April 1st to June 30th, 2007 to the 790 elderlies in urban and rural areas. Results: The mean scores of depression (CES-D) among all subjects were 16.65±10.97(urban: 18.81±10.31, rural: 14.49±11.20) and they were higher in urban than rural. The level of depression symptoms was influenced by the variables of educational level, with or without spouse, bear for living expenses, sense of satisfaction in daily life. As for health related behaviors, they were influenced by the variables of with or without regular exercise. As for health status, they were influenced by the subjective health status, with or without disability of body, visual acuity, hearing ability, ability of food mastication, urinary incontinence, with or without help in activity of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activity of daily living (IADL). As for social support net-work and social activities, they were influenced by number of offspring, frequency of offspring contents, frequency of going out and activity of hobbies. As for psycho-social factors, they were influenced by sense of self-esteem, state anxiety and social support, especially, the level of depression symptoms was higher influenced by the variables of psycho-social factors than other variables. Conclusions: Lower of the level of depression symptoms among the community elderlies would require development and application of programs to keep under management psycho-social factors as well as looking for ways to promoting the present health status.

• Anxiety and mood
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.92-100
• /
• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)-related symptom severity, level of functional impairment and personality profiles between full-blown PTSD, partial PTSD and non-PTSD groups among 59 adolescent survivals from the Incheon fire disaster. Method : Using Short Screening Scale for DSM-IV PTSD, victims of the disaster were assigned to a full-blown PTSD group (n=18), a partial PTSD (n=22), or a non-PTSD group (n=19). Assessments included the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Impact of Event Scales (IES), the McBride's Degree of General Labor Loss, and the Korean Version of Temperament and Character Inventory (K-TCI). Results : Significantly severe PTSD symptoms (F=4.832, df=2, p<.05) and functional impairment (F=12.144, df=2, p<.01) were demonstrated by PTSD groups as compared to the non-PTSD group. Interestingly, full and partial PTSD did not differ in these comparisons. Similarly, the subtypes of PTSD did not differ with respect to personality profiles using the K-TCI ; however, personality profiles were sharply differentiated between the PTSD and non-PTSD group. Conclusion : Although high subject homogeneity and small sample size may limit the results of this study, the present results highlight the possibility of the underestimation as well as the insufficient, treatment and compensation of partial vs full PTSD.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.88-101
• /
• 2009

Objectives: Since Korean traditional medicine has an integrative perspective by its nature, the patients' psychological and physical problems in a Korean traditional clinic may be resolved through a more integrative approach. The purpose of this study was to describe the latent characteristics of psychological health of child outpatients and their parents visiting Korean traditional clinic with physical complaints and was to propose an alternative curriculum to meet their needs based on their psychological and physical aspects. Methods: Subjects studied consisted of 100 outpatients (59 boys, 41 girls, mean age 55 months, age range 18 to 83 months) and their parents. Behavior characteristics for children were measured by Korean version of Child Behavior Checklist for Ages 1.5-5 (CBCL1.5-5) while parenting stress, depression, and anxiety for parent were measured by Korean-Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (K-PSI-SF), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), respectively. The data of subjects were compared to those of standardized groups and then were compared according to child's gender within sample. Results: Child participants were reported to have significantly higher scores of all CBCL 1.5-5 subscales than the standardized group. When compared, no differences of K-PSI-SF, CES-D, and STAI was found between parents of participants and the standardized groups. However, parents of child participants with at-risk psychological problems showed significantly higher scores of all parenting stress subscales than those of all child participants. In addition, the mothers of boy participants demonstrated significantly higher anxiety, depression and parenting stress than those of girl participants irrespective of psychological severity. Conclusions: We discussed the implication of these results in clinical situation and make recommendations for curriculum of psychiatry and pediatrics with the aim of improving proper diagnosis, consulting and treatment.

• Anxiety and mood
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.53-60
• /
• 2019

Objective : GRIT is a non-cognitive trait which is defined as perseverance and passion for long-term goals. It predicts success, performance and thedifference from other traits. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the GRIT scale. Methods : A total of 92 patients were enrolled in the study. All patients received psychiatric assessment including Clinical Useful Depression Outcome Scale (CUDOS), Clinical Useful Anxiety Outcome Scale (CUXOS), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-15), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CDRS), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and GRIT as well as demographic assessment. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of total GRIT score and the split-half reliability of each item was calculated to assess test reliability. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to select the best fitting model and assess construct validity. Finally, a correlation analysis was performed to check convergent and discriminant validity. Results : Cronbach's alpha coefficient for GRIT was found to be 0.85 and all Cronbach's alpha were more than 0.8 even in cases where all items were deleted. We found 3 appropriate factor models in exploratory factor analysis, compared them with 3 models and chose the 2-factor model as the most suitable based on the best fit test. Finally, correlation of the GRIT with CUDOS, CUXOS, PHQ-15, CDRS and BRS were statistically significant (all p<0.01), with relatively low correlation coefficient. Conclusion : This study indicates that the Korean version of GRIT is a reliable and valid instrument for investigating individual power of passion and perseverance.

• Psychiatry investigation
• /
• v.15 no.11
• /
• pp.1046-1052
• /
• 2018

Objective The aims of the present study were to explore the occurrence of childhood trauma and importantly to determine the impacts of childhood trauma on psychosocial features in a Chinese sample of young adults. Methods A survey was carried out in a group of 555 university students by using Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Dysfunctional Attitudes Questionnaire (DAS), Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS). The moderate-severe cut-off scores for CTQ were used to calculate the prevalence of childhood trauma, and then psychosocial features were compared between individuals with and without childhood trauma. Results A proportion of 18.6% of university students had self-reported childhood trauma exposures. Subjects with childhood trauma reported higher scores of SDS, SAS, DAS, and psychoticism and neuroticism dimensions of EPQ (t=4.311-5.551, p<0.001); while lower scores of SSRS and extraversion dimension of EPQ (t=-4.061- -3.039, p<0.01). Regression analyses further revealed that scores of SAS and DAS were positively (Adjusted B=0.211-0.230, p<0.05), while scores of SSRS were negatively (Adjusted B=-0.273- -0.240, p<0.05) associated with specific CTQ scores. Conclusion Childhood trauma is still a common social and psychological problem. Individuals with childhood trauma show much more depression, anxiety, distorted cognition, personality deficits, and lower levels of social support, which may represent the social and psychological vulnerability for developing psychiatric disorders after childhood trauma experiences.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.165-173
• /
• 2004

Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous, chronic, progressive disease characterized by hyperglycemia and abnormality in protein, carbohydrate, fat metabolism. Recent studies have reorted two times prevalence of depression in individuals with diabetes compared to individuals without diabetics. This study was designed to investigate glycemic controls, anxiety, alexithymia, stress responses between depressed diabetic patients and non-depressed diabetic patients. Methods The subjects were 60 diabetic patients(mean age : $50.3{\pm}9.7$ years, 31 men and 29 women) who were confirmed to have diabetes depending on the laboratory findings as welt as clinical symptoms at the St. Vincent Hospital Diabetes Clinic, from Mar. 2004 to Sep. 2004. Laboratory test including, blood chemistry. glycated hemoglobin, urinalysis for proteinuria and Korean version of Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), State and Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI), Toronto Alexithymia Scale(TAS) and Stress Response Inventory(SRI) were used for assessment. Based on BDI scores, all diabetics were divided into 13 depressed-diabetics group(above 20 point) and 47 non-depressed group(below 20 point). We compared demographic data. glycemic controls, STAI, TAS and SRI scores between two groups by independent t-test. Results : 1) Depressed diabetic groups were 13(mean age : $55.4{\pm}7.2$ years, 7 men and 6 women) and non depressed groups were 47(mean age $48.9{\pm}9.8$ years, 24 men and 23 women). In depressed diabetics, compared with non-depressed group, manifested aged(p=0.031), but other demographic data showed no difference between two groups. 2) No significant differences were noted in FBS, PP2h, Hb A1C, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, SGOT/SGPT, BUN levels between depressed and non-depressed groups. But, blood creatine levels of depressed group were significantly increased than non-depressed group(p=0.026). 3) No significant differences were found in the score of STAI, STAI-S, STAI-T, TAS between depressed and non-depressed groups. 4) The SRI scores of depressed groups were significantly higher than non-depressed groups$(59.7{\pm}24.9\;vs.\;31.5{\pm}22.0)(p=0.000)$. Conclusion : The above results suggest that depressed diabetic patients are have more stress responses and higher blood creatine levels. However, there were no differences in laboratory data related to glycemic controls, and anxiety. alexithymia levels between two groups. We suggest that physicians should consider integrated approaches for psychiatric problems in the management of diabetes.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.15-20
• /
• 2018

Objectives: This study was designed to assess the change of heart rate variability (HRV) at resting, upright, and psychological stress states in depressive disorder patients. Methods: HRV was measured at resting, upright, and psychological stress states in 62 depressive disorder patients. We used visual analogue scale (VAS) score to assess tension and stress severity. Beck depression inventory (BDI) and state trait anxiety inventories I and II (STAI-I and II) were used to assess depression and anxiety severity, respectively. Differences between HRV indices and VAS score were evaluated using paired t-tests. Gender difference analysis was conducted with ANCOVA. Results: SDNN (standard deviation of normal to normal intervals), LF/HF (low frequency/high frequency), and VLF (very low frequency) were significantly increased, while NN50 and pNN50 were significantly decreased in the upright position compared to resting state. SDNN, RMSSD (root mean square of the differences of successive normal to normal intervals), and VLF were significantly increased, while pNN50 was significantly decreased in the psychological stress state compared to resting state. SDNN, NN50, and pNN50 were significantly lower in an upright position compared to a state of psychological stress, and LF, HF, and LF/HF showed no significant differences Conclusion: The LF/HF ratio was significantly increased after physical stress in depressive disorder. However, the LF/HF ratio was not significantly increased after psychological stress, and the change in LF/HF ratio after physical stress and psychological stress did not significantly differ from each other. Significant increase in SDNN, NN50, and pNN50 in an upright posture compared to psychological stress suggests that depressive patients react more sensitively to physical stress than psychological stress.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.88-97
• /
• 2000

Objectives : This study was aimed to investigate the emotional state and personality factors of patients with vitiligo, and the impacts of clinical characteristics. Methods : Twenty one patients with vitiligo and 20 normal controls were studied. Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Spielberg's State and Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) and Cattell's 16 Personality Factors Questionnaire(16-PF) were used for assessment. Statistically, t-test, Oneway ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson's correlation test were used. Results : The Results were as follows. 1) The comparison of total score of BDI, state anxiety and trait anxiety between the patients with vitiligo and normal controls were not significantly different. 2) In first-stratum source traits of 16-PF, normal control group was significantly higher than the patients with vitiligo in H-factor(Boldness) and I-factor(Tender-mindedness). In second-stratum source traits of 16-PF, there was no significant difference between the patients with vitiligo and normal control in all factors. 3) According to sex, the comparison of total scores of BDI, STAI between male and female patients with vitiligo were not significantly different. In the comparison of 16-PF, female patients were higher than male patients in I-factor only. 4) As according to age(under and over 30 years of age), the comparison of total scores of BDI, STAI between patients over 30 years of age and under 30 years of age were not significantly different. In the comparison of 16-PF, patients over 30 years of age were higher than patients under 30 years of age in E-, G-, L-, M-, Q2-, Q3-, IND-, SUP-, and CRE-factor. 5) As according to the presence of progression of vitiligo and the presence of visible lesion, the comparison of total scores of BDI, STAI and 16-PF were not significantly different. 6) There were no significant correlation between the duration of the vitiligo and BDI, STAI-S, STAI-T, and 16-PF. Conclusions : There were no significant difference between patients with vitiligo and normal controls on the emotional state and personality characteristics. But patients with vitiligo were more bolder and tender-minded than normal controls on 16-PF. The author propose that methods of treatment to resolve problems of the interpersonal relations will be helpful.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.26-35
• /
• 2015

Objectives:The purpose of this study was to evaluate reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Postconcussional Syndrome Questionnaire(KPCSQ) which was originally developed in 1992 by Lees-Haley. Methods:Patients with traumatic brain injury were recruited from April 2009 to December 2011 from the Korean University Ansan Hospital. We selected patients that met the ICD-10 diagnostic criteria of postconcussional syndrome and organic mental disorder including organic mood disorder, organic emotionally labile disorder, organic anxiety disorder and organic personality disorder. The KPCSQ, Trait and State Anxiety Inventory(STAI-I, II), and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale(CESD) were administered to all subjects. Factor analysis of the items were performed and test-retest correlation were evaluated. Internal consistency of the KPCSQ and its subscales was assessed with Cronbach's alpha. External validity of the KPCSQ were examined by correlation coefficient with the STAI-I, II, and CESD. Results:The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the total PCSQ was 0.956. The test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.845. The PCSQ showed significant correlation with STAI-I, II and CESD. The factor analysis of the PCSQ yielded 4 factors model. Factor 1 represented 'affective and cognitive symptoms', factor 2 represented 'somatic symptoms', factor 3 represented 'infrequent symptoms' and factor 4 represented 'exaggeration or inattentive response'. There was no significant difference between the PCS group and the organic mental disorder group in the score on each measure. The scores on KPCSQ and its subscales in the subjects that had scored 5 or more in 'exaggeration or inattentive response' are significantly higher than those in the subjects had scored 4 in 'exaggeration or inattentive response'. Conclusions:This study suggests that the Korean version of PCSQ is a valid and reliable tool for assessing psychiatric symptomatology of patients with traumatic brain injury. Further investigations with greater numbers of subjects are necessary to assess the clinical usefulness of the KPCSQ.