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)

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

Male sexual function gradually decreases in parallel with aging. As the majority of diabetes mellitus develops later in life, mostly beyond the fifth decade, impotence in the diabetic patients can be ignored by physician as well as patients. Considerable evidence, however, indicates that diabetes mellitus does affect the male sexual function more significantly in diabetics than in non-diabetic is suspected. We studied 213 male diabetic patients and 233 non-diabetic male patients who were neither on medication nor have systemic diseases affecting sexual dysfunction. We analyzed the questionnaire regarding libido, erectile potency, intercourse frequency and partner's satisfaction, and we got several results as followings. In the diabetics, the prevalence of impotence was 20.4%, which was significantly higher than that(13.7%) of the control(p<0.01). Although the prevalence of impotence increases with aging in both groups, it was significantly higher in diabetic under the 7th decade and positively related to the disease duration. The erectile potency was also significantly lower in the diabetics. The scores of libido, intercourse frequency and partner's satisfaction were significantly lower in the diabetic compared with those in the control. The erectile potency was revealed to be higher in the patients whose blood glucose levels were controlled, compared with that of the patients with the uncontrolled levels. These results suggest that the prevalence of impotence is similar in Korean diabetic patients to those of the western countries, and the early treatment of diabetes mellitus is important for theprevention of impotence.
Aging ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Libido ; Male* ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Chronic prostatitis is characterized by various symptoms. To elucidate the prevalence of such symptoms, we developed a questionnaire composed of six pain-related, seven sex-related, and 11 voiding-related questions and evaluated chronic prostatitis patients under 50 years of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 1995 to July 1996, a total of 500 patients (prostatitis 303, prostatodynia with history of prostatitis 153, prostatodynia only 44) underwent study. The mean age was 35 years and the average duration of infliction was 3.5 months. RESULTS: Perineal, testicular, and penile pains were the most often complained types of perceived pains. The most frequently complained voiding symptoms were frequency, weak stream, residual urine sensation and dribbling which were seen in over 40% of the patients. More than 50% of the patients responded as having some type of voiding difficulty. For sexual symptoms, premature ejaculation , decreased libido and orgasm, decreased potency, and pain associated with ejaculation were seen in 64%, 55%, 54%, and 47% of the patients. When the prostatitis and prostatodynia patients were compared to one another to find out any characteristic symptoms of prostatitis, there was no difference in pain but statistically significantly higher response was observed in ejaculation associated pain and a decrease in orgasm in the prostatitis group. CONCLUSIONS: Our data have helped to elucidate the characteristics of symptoms in prostatitis patients, and the questionaire can be used as a tool to standardize prostatitis symptoms, and to evaluate treatment responses.
Ejaculation ; Humans ; Libido ; Male ; Orgasm ; Premature Ejaculation ; Prevalence* ; Prostate* ; Prostatitis ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rivers ; Sensation

PURPOSE: We investigated libido and sexual life satisfaction of middle-aged couples in Seoul. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 2,034 couples ranging from 40 to 79 years old living in the Seoul metropolitan area were selected by stepwise random sampling. The questionnaires asking about erectile function, sexual performance, sexual life satisfaction, and libido were administered by trained interviewers. RESULTS: Interviews were completed for 1,356 couples(66.7%). The prevalence of severe and moderate loss of libido in the men was 29%. Decrease of libido correlated with increasing age. Higher scores on the erection scale of the O'Leary sexual function questionnaire were closely correlated with greater libido. In sexual function self-assessment, most male subjects did not complain of libido(53.8%), erection(61.7%), or ejaculation(63.8%) difficulties. Most couples(50.3% of the male and 53% of the female subjects) expressed satisfied with their sexual lives. Higher scores on the erection scale correlated with an increase in sexual satisfaction of both men and women. Fewer than half of the female subjects(40.4%) answered that they had 'no' or 'low' sexual interest. Younger age and more education were correlated with greater sexual interest. CONCLUSIONS: With increasing age, middle-aged couples living in Seoul showed a decrease in libido, sexual function, and sexual interest. However, satisfaction with their sexual life was high in general.
Aged ; Education ; Epidemiology ; Family Characteristics* ; Female ; Humans ; Libido ; Male ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self-Assessment ; Seoul*

In contrast to previous dogma, the decline in testosterone levels in postmenopausal women is thought to be age-related and not a specific function of the menopause. In addition to normal aging, many conditions affecting ovarian and adrenal function, factors leading to increased SHBG levels can decrease androgen levels below the physiologic range in women. Clinical symptoms of female androgen deficiency include a loss of libido, lack of well-being, and persistent fatigue. However, the diagnosis of female androgen deficiency, as recently provided by the Princeton consensus statement, is under debate due to several limitations. Testosterone therapy in postmenopausal women with symptoms suggestive of androgen deficiency remains controversial. The adverse effects of testosterone therapy appear to be low in incidence, but more studies are necessary to assess long-term safety. Therefore, the decision to treat or not to treat androgen deficiency in postmenopausal women must be carefully considered on an individual basis by comprehensive evaluation of potential benefits and risks.
Aging ; Consensus ; Fatigue ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Libido ; Menopause ; Risk Assessment ; Testosterone

BACKGROUND: Although sexuality in old women is important for the quality of life, that has been overlooked due to social indifference. Because the studies for sexuality in old women were lack in Korea, we surveyed sexuality and its influential factors in old women. METHODS: From March to July 2000, we surveyed 115 old women over 60 years with 22 items of questionnaire. Data was gathered through written responses to the questionnaire and one to one interview between doctor and subject. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS ver10.0/PC and its significance was tested by chi square(p<0.05). RESULTS: Mean age of 115 women is 64.84+/-4.54year. There are 80 cases(69.6%) that thought sexuality is important in old women. Sexuality and sexual interest get gradually decreased by aging. Marital state, age of husband, family structure, economic state, sexual interest are statistically significant as the influential factors of sexuality(p<0.05). Sexual satisfaction comes out 35.7%. Age, marital state, family structure, job, economic state, subjective health state, current medication, sexual interest are statistically signifiant as the influential factors of sexual satisfaction(p<0.05). The reasons of decreased sexuality is due to aging process(47.8%), no partner(17.4%), partner problem(14.8%), physical illness(10.4%) and decreased libido. CONCLUSION: We conclude that sexuality in old women is important. Its influential factors are marital state, age of husband, family structure, economic state, sexual interest. Age, marital state, family structure, job, economic state, subjective health state, current medication, sexual interest are statistically signifiant as the influential factors of sexual satisfaction.
Aging ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Libido ; Quality of Life ; Sexuality* ; Spouses ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Ninety-one cases of chronic prostatitis were studied endoscopically and the results were evaluated. Endoscopic appearance of the bladder neck in the presence of chronic prostatitis was classified as 1. Normal bladder neck, 16 cases (17.5 per cent) 2. Elevated posterior urethra, 8 cases (8.7 per cent) 3. Contracture of the neck, 19 cases (20.8 per cent) 4. Diffuse, irregular swelling and narrowing of the neck, 19 cases (20.8 per cent) 5. Reversed V-neck, 2S cases (31.8 per cent) In this study it was found that the bladder neck was abnormal in 82.1 per cent of the cases. In 36 instances or 39.5 per cent. the verumontanum appeared normal but abnormal in 55 cases or 60.5 per cent. Bilateral prostatic urethral walls were inflammatory in 57 cases and unilaterally inflammatory in 6 cases. Forty-two cases (46.1 per cent) revealed elevation of the posterior urethra and the prostatic urethral floor was hyperemic and edematous in 44 cases. In 40 cases (43.9 per cent), the normal bladder mucosa was observed, trabeculation and cellulation in 43 cases and trigonal and interureteric thickening in 7 cases were also observed. Decreased libido was present in 12 instances (33.3 per cent) of 36 cases having normal verumontanum and in 25 instances (45.4 per cent) of 55 cases having abnormal one. Urinary symptoms were most frequently positive in cases with bladder neck contracture. The results of treatment using Ultzmann's urethral syringe were evaluated as follows: Complete cure was obtained in 8 cases (19.5 per cent) almost complete cure in 14 cases (34.1 per cent), improvement in 15 cases (36.5 per cent) and no remarkable change in 4 cases (9.7 per cent). Five cases had transurethral resection and four achieved almost complete cure and one improved clinically. Subjective symptoms were completely relieved in 23 cases (56.1 per dent) and more than two thirds of the previous symptoms were gone in 18 cases (43.9 per cent) after treatment. In summary. endoscopic examination on chronic prostatitis is s worthwhile and important procedure in establishing therapeutic criteria.
Contracture ; Endoscopy ; Libido ; Mucous Membrane ; Neck ; Prostatitis* ; Syringes ; Urethra ; Urinary Bladder

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

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