OBJECTIVES: The rates, correlates, and factor structure of depressive symptoms in a Korean rural sample were examined using Korean version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale(CES-D). METHODS: Door to door visiting survey was conducted by trained interviewers. A random cluster sample of 1,315 respondents, aged 30 and over completed the CES-D scale along with additional sociodemographic questionnaires. RESULTS: In this sample, mean CES-D score of male and female were 7.8 and 9.5, respectively, which were lower than those reported previously. Symptoms of depression were most common among the less educated, non-married and female according to ANCOVA. Age was not a significant risk factor for depressive symptoms. Different factor structures emerged from this sample as compared to other studies using this approach. Somatic symptoms and affective symptoms were combined as one factor and emotional hardship emerged as a separate factor. CONCLUSIONS: Symptom scores and risk factors were similar to the results reported in other countries but unique factor structures were found in this study. Further research is needed about the Korean depressive symptomatology and related areas.
Affective Symptoms ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Depression* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Risk Factors*

Adult ; Affective Symptoms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Child ; Child Behavior Disorders ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Humans ; Research Design ; Singapore ; epidemiology

This study examined the relationship between anger expression or alexithymia and coronary artery stenosis in patients with coronary artery diseases. 143 patients with coronary artery diseases (104 males and 39 females) were enrolled in this study. The severity of their coronary artery stenosis was measured by angiography. The Anger Expression Scale and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale were used to assess the level of anger expression and alexithymia. The more stenotic group (occluded by 75% or more) exhibited a significantly higher level of alexithymia than the less stenotic group (occluded by less than 25%). Multiple regression anaylsis on the extent of stenosis also revealed that regardless of gender and age, the coronary artery disease patients with higher alexithymia were likely to show a greater level of stenosis. However, no significant differences were found on either the anger-in or anger-out subscale scores between the two groups. These results suggest that alexithymia is associated with the severity of coronary artery stenosis in patients with coronary artery disease. However, both anger expression and anger suppression were not shown to be associated with the severity of coronary artery stenosis.
Adult ; Affective Symptoms/*epidemiology ; Aged ; *Anger ; Coronary Stenosis/*epidemiology/*psychology ; Female ; Human ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index

OBJECTIVE: REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is associated with psychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety and alexithymia. However, only a few studies on the relationship between depression and RBD have been published. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of depression and associated factors in patients with RBD. METHODS: In total 94 patients (mean age: 61.9±12.7 years, male: 70.2%) diagnosed as RBD were examined using detailed clinical histories, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and nocturnal polysomnography (PSG). RESULTS: The mean BDI score of all patients was 12.4±10.3 and 44.7% of RBD patients showed depressed mood (BDI >11 points). Depressed RBD patients were less able to recall enacted dreams than were non-depressed patients (61.9% vs. 86.5%, p=0.008). Logistic regression analysis showed that failure to recall enacted dreams was significantly associated with depression, after controlling for confounding variables including the respiratory disturbance index and a history of psychiatric disorders (odds ratio=0.323, p=0.041). CONCLUSION: In this study, 44.7% of RBD patients were found to suffer from depressed mood. And, depression was found to be associated with reduced ability to recall enacted dreams. We suggest that routine evaluation of depression be performed in RBD patients, particularly when failure to recall enacted dreams is evident. We speculate that such failure may be associated with emotional dysregulation or neurodegeneration.
Affective Symptoms ; Anxiety ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Depression ; Dreams* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Polysomnography ; REM Sleep Behavior Disorder* ; Sleep, REM*

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have shown the relationship between recognition of facial expressions and psychiatric symptoms. This study investigated how healthy young adults recognize neutral faces and which psychological distresses and symptoms relate to their recognition of neutral faces. METHODS: One hundred forty-three healthy volunteers participated in this study. We used neutral facial pictures, selected from the Japanese and Caucasian Facial Expressions of Emotion (JACFEE) photo set, to evaluate participants' facial expression recognition and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale, and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) to measure and examine their psychological characteristics. RESULTS: There were significant positive correlations between the recognition rate of neutral expressions as contempt and trait-anxiety level (r=0.21 ; p=0.01) and depression (r=0.20 ; p=0.02). This contempt-recognition was significantly negatively correlated with resilience score (r=-0.22 ; p=0.01) and the TCI self-directedness subscale (r=-0.29 ; p=0.00). Also, the TCI's harm avoidance subscale score was significantly positively correlated with the contempt recognition rate (r=0.21 ; p=0.01). CONCLUSION: These finding suggests recognition of neutral faces as contempt may be related to psychological distress, including trait and temperament characteristics. This negative bias toward neutral emotion (expressions) may affect interpersonal relations and social functioning in a healthy population.
Affective Symptoms ; Anxiety ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Depression ; Facial Expression ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Polymethacrylic Acids ; Temperament ; Young Adult

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease with a global prevalence of approximately 2% and significant psychiatric comorbidity. There is a great deal of existing literature assessing different aspects of psychology in psoriasis. We aimed to conduct an in-depth review of current evidence linking psoriasis to personality traits and psychiatric comorbidities, as well as factors that put these patients at risk of psychopathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search of the PubMed database identified 1632 articles. We included articles studying psychological comorbidity in patients with psoriasis, looking especially at personality characteristics, and data linking psoriasis with increased risks of psychological distress, depression, anxiety and suicidality. In particular, we also evaluated subgroups in psoriasis found to be at risk. RESULTS: Patients with psoriasis are more likely to be alexithymic, lack body awareness and possess a Type D personality. Alcohol, but not illicit drug use, disorders are also more common in patients with psoriasis. Patient groups who are especially at risk of psychological distress include women, younger patients, patients with a younger age of disease onset, those who self-assess their psoriasis to be severe, and those with lesions on visible or sensitive areas. Adopting motivational interviewing skills and incorporating the use of learning materials during consultations have been found to be useful. CONCLUSION The knowledge of personality characteristics, "at-risk" groups, and early recognition of psychological distress among patients with psoriasis can help clinicians provide better holistic care and encourage a change in patients' behaviour.
Affective Symptoms ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Age Factors ; Age of Onset ; Alcoholism ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Anxiety ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Comorbidity ; Depression ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Humans ; Mental Disorders ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Motivational Interviewing ; Personality ; Psoriasis ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Sex Factors ; Stress, Psychological ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Substance-Related Disorders ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Suicidal Ideation ; Type D Personality