This study was carried out to develop a Korean language version of Zung's self-rating depression scale (SDS). The subjects consisted of 173 males and 161 females drawn from various groups of the general population by a cluster of sampling methods. In order to analyze the data on depression scores, Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient method was carried .out, as well as reliability and factor analysis, by the SPSS/PC+ program. The results obtained were as follows: The mean average of the total depression scores were 40.60. 8.66 for the subjects. Thirty-seven subjects (11.1%) showed high depression scores of 50 or over. Test-retest reliability(coefficient r=0.82, p <0.001), internal consistency(coefficient r=0.84, p <0.001) were satisfactory. Factor analysis using oblique technique rotation yielded five factors. The items of confusion, indecisiveness, decreased libido, diurnal variation, and psychomotor retardation were scored higher by the subjects. The items of suicidal rumination, psychomotor agitation, constipation, irritability, and weight loss were scored lower.
Constipation ; Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Libido ; Male ; Psychomotor Agitation ; Weight Loss

The authors studied depression, using Zung's Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) in the subjects of 3,499 male and 1,335 female college freshmen of Yeungnam University. The authors collected the reports of SDS during the periods from January to February, 1986, and applied ANOVA and t-test on depression scores in order to compare them between various psychosocial factors, and sexes. The results are as follows: There was significant difference in the mean averages of total depression scores between male and female students: male students scored 35.68+7.46, female students scored 38.93+7.26 (P<0.01). The depression scores relating to the items of indecisiveness, psychomotor retardation, decreased libido, and diurnal variation were relatively higher in both groups. One hundred and sixty-one male students (4.6%) showed seriously high degree depression scores of 50 or higher, while one-hundred and seventeen female students (8.8%) showed the same scores. Female students attending in liberal arts showed higher level of depression scores (P<0.01). There was a strong tendency toward higher depression scores in the students who were dissatisfies with their home atmosphere, college, department and familiarity of parents and those who had pessimistic views of self in the past, present or future in both groups (P<0.001).
Atmosphere ; Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Libido ; Male ; Parents ; Psychology ; Recognition (Psychology)

Clinical observation which was made on 136 cases of vasectomy carried out during the first year of National Family Plan, from January to December, 1961, and follow-up study on these patients for 6 months to 1 year after the operation are as follows: 1. 94 cases (69%) of them were aged between 31 and 40, and the average age of total patients was 36.1 years. 2. Official, merchant, and farmer were their occupations in the order of frequency. 3. 47 cases (34.5%) of them had five children respectively, and 52 cases (38.2%) had three boys. 4. 55 cases (41.2%) had used some kind of contraceptive methods, and 65 cases (47%) had experienced artificial abortion. 5. 104 cases (74%) did not work on the day of operation. 6. 97 cases (8.9%) had no postoperative local discomfort. 7. 97 cases (88.9%) had no change in their working efficiency. 8. There were no changes in libido 94 (86,4%), frequency of sexual intercourse 87 (79,8%), ejaculation time 94 (86,4%), amount of semen 81 (74.3%), their orgasm 92 (85,4%), and their wives' orgasm 92 (85.4%) following the operation.
Child ; Coitus ; Contraception ; Ejaculation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Libido ; Male ; Occupations ; Orgasm ; Semen ; Vasectomy*

OBJECT: Risperidone, unlike other atypical antipsychotics, is thought to elevate prolactin levels. This paper examines the relationship of risperidone-induced hyperprolactinemia and the sexual dysfunctions of the patients in the real clinical practice. METHODS: Forty nine patients (male 22, female 27) with 6 month-over risperidone medication were assigned and serum prolactin was assayed in serum by radioimmunometric assay. In the distinction of sex, six adverse events possibly associated with increased prolactin levels were determined by interviewing the patients (poor erection, ejaculatory dysfunction, galactorrhea, decreased libido, orgasmic dysfunction and obesity in male;amenorrhea, vaginal dryness, galactorrhea, decreased libido, orgasmic dysfunction and obesity in female). RESULTS: In 49 patients, thirty six patients (male 15;56%, female 21;95%) showed hyperprolactinemia and twenty two patients (male 13;48%, female 8;36%) had sexual side-effects. Both risperidone dosage per day and duration were not correlated with prolactin levels and adverse events. There was no significant direct correlation between serum prolactin levels and sexual adverse events. CONCLUSION: The risperidone-associated increase in serum prolactin levels was not significantly directly correlated with the emergence of possible prolactin-related adverse events in the real clinical practice. However, our results suggest that risperidone-induced hyperprolactinemia may play a role in sexual dysfunction of female patients.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Female ; Galactorrhea ; Humans ; Hyperprolactinemia* ; Libido ; Obesity ; Orgasm ; Pregnancy ; Prolactin ; Risperidone

OBJECTIVES: Hyposexuality is defined as diminished sexual drive or libido. There has been little research into the sexuality in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We investigated the prevalence and relating factors for hyposexuality in OSA men. METHODS: Consecutive 182 male (mean age 48.3 y) were enrolled who were newly diagnosed with OSA through polysomnography. All completed Symptom checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Subjects were divided into non-hyposexuality (score 0) and hyposexuality (score > or =1) groups according to the question "Loss of sexual interest or pleasure" in SCL-90-R. RESULTS: 110 of 182 subjects (60.4%) answered hyposexuality (score > or =1). Significant correlations were found between hyposexuality and following factors; age (rho=0.248), BDI (rho=0.450), BAI (rho=0.410), ESS (rho=0.221), and percentage of non-REM stage 3 (N3%) (rho=-0.184). Apnea-hypopnea index was significantly correlated with nocturia (rho=0.320), ESS (r=0.230), N1% (r=0.596), N2% (r=-0.540), N3% (r=-0.195), and lowest oxygen saturation (r=-0.641). Comparing two groups, hyposexuality group showed significantly lowered total sleep time (380.2 min vs. 359.1 min), and sleep efficiency (83% vs. 76%). The severity of hyposexuality was correlated with BDI (rho=0.330), BAI (rho=0.253), and N3% (rho=-0.215) in subjects with hyposexuality. After controlling for age, polysomnographic parameters were not correlated with hyposexuality. CONCLUSIONS: About half of untreated OSA male subjects reported diminished libido. Age, daytime sleepiness, mood disorders, and decreased sleep quality were associated with hyposexuality. Of these, aging process was the most important factor for hyposexuality.
Aging ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Humans ; Libido ; Male ; Mood Disorders ; Nocturia ; Oxygen ; Polysomnography ; Prevalence ; Sexuality ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive*

PURPOSE: The limited information regarding preservation of erectile function following castration is based on self-reports by castrated patients. Therefore, we evaluated the erectile status in 38 patients with advanced prostatic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Castrations were achieved by bilateral orchiectomy, estrogen therapy of both. Patients answered the questionnaires regarding the medical status and erectile function before and after castration, and the blood levels of testosterone were assessed. Especially in seven patients, penile circumference and erection quality were monitored during the visual sexual stimulation. RESULTS: 11 patients(58%) out of 19 potent men achieved functional erection after castration. Mean serum testosterone level was 0.31 +/-0.19ng/ml in men who were potent after castration and 0.06+/- 0.04ng/m1 in those not potent(p<0.05). No statistically significant differences were noted in age, interval after castration, method of castration, degree of gynecomastia, stage of prostatic cancer and doing radiation therapy between the men who did and did not achieve erection(p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Following castration, sexual potency and libido decreased markedly in most cases, but 58% retained some degree of normal sexual potency. And, statistically significant difference was noted only in serum testosterone level between the men who did and did not achieve erection.
Castration* ; Estrogens ; Gynecomastia ; Humans ; Libido ; Male ; Orchiectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Testosterone

For the purpose of promotion of mental health in the rural elderly, the author surveyed 558 elderlies aged 60 years or more, and assessed the prevalence rates of depression and cognitive impairment by using self-rating depression scale of Zung(SDS) and the Korean version of mini-mental state examination(MMSEK). Also the association between depression or cognitive function and socio-environmental factors were investigated. The major findings were as follows; 1. The prevalence rates of severe depression and cognitive impairment were 20.9% and 14.9% in all the elderly of both sexes, respectively. 2. The rates of depression and cognitive impairment increased with increasing age in both sex groups. The mean scores of SDS increased and the mean scores of MMSEK decreased significantly among them(P<0.01). 3. Those being female, widows or widowers, and those having low levels of physical activity, showed significantly high the mean scores of depression and had significantly low the mean scores of cognitive impairment(P<0.01). 4. The depression scores relating to decreased libido, confusion, psychomotor retardation, hopelessness and indecisiveness were relatively high in both sexes. 5. All the items of mini-mental state examination were significantly correlated with depression. 6. In stepwise multiple regression analysis on depression, MMSEK, level of physical activity, chronic disease, marital status and family income were selected as highly correlated variables, and the R2-value for these variables was 33.7%. 7. In stepwise multiple regression analysis on cognitive function, level of physical activity, age, depression, sex and marital status were selected as highly correlated variables, and the R2-value for these variables was 62.6%. The depression and cognitive impairment of the elderly were positively correlated with nearly all sociodemographic variables.
Aged* ; Chronic Disease ; Depression* ; Female ; Humans ; Libido ; Marital Status ; Mental Health ; Motor Activity ; Prevalence ; Widowhood

Elevated levels of serum prolactin in patients with pituitary tumors have been associated with hypogonadism, frequently manifested in men as impotence and/or loss of libido. Among 2,896 consecutive impotent patients investigated at Severance Hospital 208( 7.2%) patients had serum levels of prolactin greater than 30 ng/ml. Of the 208 patients 16(7.7%) were diagnosed as pituitary tumor. The average age of 16 patients was 37.8 years and mean duration of erectile dysfunction was 4.2 years. The mean serum prolactin level was 238.14 ng/ ml. 13 of these patients were treated with operation, two with bromocriptine, and one was lost. The mean duration of follow up was 2.4 years(1 month-4.2 years). Of the eleven of thirteen who were able to follow up, six were combined with bromocriptine therapy and three were combined with bromocriptine and radiation therapy. Of the two who were managed with only bromocriptine, one was improved after bromocriptine for four months and the other was received penile prosthesis due to no improvement of symptoms. It is emphasized that pituitary tumor should be considered in the investigation of impotence of endocrine causes when markedhyperprolactinemia (specially greater than 100 ng/ml) is noted.
Bromocriptine ; Erectile Dysfunction* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperprolactinemia ; Hypogonadism ; Libido ; Male ; Penile Prosthesis ; Pituitary Neoplasms* ; Prolactin

Testosterone is the principal androgen in the human male. The decline of testosterone with aging was recognized to be associated with a number of symptoms and signs that reduce the quality of life and that may even have severe, debilitating consequences. Clinically, late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) is diagnosed by use of biochemical and clinical measures. Despite published guidelines and recommendations, however, uncertainty surrounds the profile of clinical symptoms as well as the biochemical threshold of diagnosis. Clinicians should be aware of these shortcomings while adhering to the guidelines. Current treatment methods are centered on restoring testosterone to mid to lower levels of young men with natural testosterone replacements. Although recent studies have highlighted possible additional benefits involving improvement of systemic disorders, the goal of treatment is to improve sexual function, while observing for adverse effects in the prostate. Overall, the problem of LOH in debilitating the quality of life and well-being is real, and by following proper guidelines with attentiveness to the results of treatment trials, testosterone replacement therapy presents a safe and effective treatment option.
Aging ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Libido ; Male ; Prostate ; Quality of Life ; Testosterone ; Uncertainty

BACKGROUND: The primary concern of a family physician is the healthcare of patients and their families, with the patient's disease itself being secondary. Family physicians should make efforts to discuss personal issues with their patients. This study examined how many patients were counseled about their private problems, especially family or sexual issues in the private clinics of Cheonan. METHODS: The subjects were the patients who visited a practice-based network from April to June in 2003. The data were collected through simple questionnaire about sociodemographic features of patients and their family and sexual problems. RESULTS: Eighty eight patients were studied for a total of 107 cases that consisted of 67 cases of family problems (62%) and 40 cases of sexual matters (38%). The common issues about family problems were `the partners' (23 cases, 21%) and `the patients` children' (29 cases, 27 %). The most frequent sexual problems were 'sexually transmitted diseases' (13 cases, 32.5%), `impotence' (7 cases, 17.5%), 'loss of libido, and unsatisfaction' (6 cases, 15.0%). Most physicians were involved in family and sexual issues with medications, and simple counseling with reassurance. Simple counseling was given for 14 cases (21.0%) for family issues and 18 cases (44.0%) for sexual issues. The patients were treated with medications in 47 cases (70.0%) for sexual and 15 cases (38.0%) for family problems. CONCLUSION: The most common issue for family problems was their partners and for sexual problems was 'sexually transmitted diseases'. Most family physicians were involved with both simple counseling and medications.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Counseling ; Delivery of Health Care ; Family Relations ; Humans ; Libido ; Physicians, Family* ; Sexual Partners