OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation betwen varying degrees of non-acute tinnitus and anxiety and depression. METHOD: Seventy-seven outpatients with non-acute tinnitus as their in chief complaint were submitted to Tinnitus Handicap Inventory(THI), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS), and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). RESULT: THI and its three subscales were found to have significant correlations with SAS and SDS. The group (THI ≥ 38) had more anxiety and depression than the mild (THI < 38). Significant correlations were also observed between THI, SAS and SDS in the group with THI ≥ 38, in contrast with the group of THI < 38. CONCLUSION Patients with THI ≥ 38 suffered from severe anxiety and depression than the mild. Doctors should pay more attention to these patients, especially their psychological disorders.
Anxiety ; complications ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Humans ; Personality Inventory ; Stress, Psychological ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tinnitus ; complications ; psychology

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to examine the relation between anger management style and organ system- related somatic symptoms in depressive disorder and somatoform disorder patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects included 73 patients with depressive disorders and 47 with somatoform disorders. Anger management styles were assessed by the Anger Expression Scale, while the severity of organ system-related somatic symptoms was evaluated using the Somatic Stress Response Scale (SSRS). The severity of depression and hostility was assessed by the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) depression and hostility subscales. RESULTS: The results of multiple regression analyses showed that, in depressive disorder patients, the level of anger expression was significantly associated with the severity of somatic symptoms related to neuromuscular, cardiorespiratory and gastrointestinal systems. However, in these patients, the level of anger suppression was not significantly associated with the severity of somatic symptoms related to any specific organ systems. In patients with somatoform disorders, there was no significant association between the level of anger suppression or anger expression and the severity of the somatic symptoms related to any specific organ systems. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that, in depressive disorder patients, anger expression is likely to be predominantly involved in the neuromuscular, cardiorespiratory and gastrointestinal organ systems. However, in each of depressive disorder and somatoform disorder patients, anger suppression is not likely to be associated with any specific organ systems.
Adult ; Anger/*physiology ; Depressive Disorder/*complications/pathology/*psychology ; Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Sociology ; Somatoform Disorders/*complications/pathology/*psychology

PURPOSE: Suicide is a major concern for increasing mortality in bipolar patients, but risk factors for suicide in bipolar disorder remain complex, including Korean patients. Medical records of bipolar patients were retrospectively reviewed to detect significant clinical characteristics associated with suicide attempts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 579 medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Bipolar patients were divided into two groups with the presence of a history of suicide attempts. We compared demographic characteristics and clinical features between the two groups using an analysis of covariance and chi-square tests. Finally, logistic regression was performed to evaluate significant risk factors associated with suicide attempts in bipolar disorder. RESULTS: The prevalence of suicide attempt was 13.1% in our patient group. The presence of a depressive first episode was significantly different between attempters and nonattempters. Logistic regression analysis revealed that depressive first episodes and bipolar II disorder were significantly associated with suicide attempts in those patients. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should consider the polarity of the first mood episode when evaluating suicide risk in bipolar patients. This study has some limitations as a retrospective study and further studies with a prospective design are needed to replicate and evaluate risk factors for suicide in patients with bipolar disorder.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bipolar Disorder/*complications/*psychology ; Depressive Disorder/complications/*psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Suicide, Attempted/*psychology/statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult

Depression during adolescence is critical to the individual's own development. Hence, identifying individuals with high-risk depression at an early stage is necessary. This study aimed to identify childhood emotional and behavioral risk factors related to depressive symptoms in Korean adolescents through a longitudinal study. The first survey took place from 1998 to 2000, and a follow-up assessment conducted in 2006, as the original participants reached 13-15 yr of age. The first assessment used the Korean version of Child Behavior Checklist and a general questionnaire on family structure, parental education, and economic status to evaluate the participants. The follow-up assessment administered the Korean Children's Depression Inventory. Multiple regression analysis revealed that childhood attention problems predicted depressive symptoms during adolescence for both boys and girls. For boys, family structure also predicted adolescent depressive symptoms. This study suggests that adolescents with attention problems during childhood are more likely to experience depressive symptoms.
Adolescent ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/etiology/*psychology ; Depression/complications/diagnosis/*psychology ; Depressive Disorder/complications/diagnosis/*psychology ; Family ; Female ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors

OBJECTIVETo establish an animal model of tumor-associated depression and observe their biological behaviors and biochemical indices.

METHODSFour groups of SD rats kept in separate cages were subjected to tumor cell inoculation with or without chronic unpredictable moderate stress administered before or after the inoculation. The depressive behaviors of the rats were examined by open-field test, and the concentration of 5-HT in the hippocampus was measured by spectrophotofluorometry. The body weight of the rats and volume of the implanted tumor were monitored and sugar water test was performed.

RESULTSThe rats subjected to chronic stress displayed significant depression, manifested by reduction in movement in the central area and total movement distance with prolonged resting time and shortened time of activity. These rats maintained high levels of depression even 12 days after withdrawal of chronic stress. Compared with the control group, the depressive rats showed obviously reduced sugar water consumption and hippocampal 5-HT level. Tumors of different sizes were observed in all rats in the 4 groups.

CONCLUSIONA rat model of tumor-associated depression is established, and the tumor-bearing rats exhibit obvious depressive behaviors and reduced level of neural substance (5-HT), which provides a good basis for studying the association of depression with tumorigenesis,progression and prognosis of tumor.

Animals ; Carcinoma 256, Walker ; complications ; psychology ; Depressive Disorder ; etiology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress, Psychological ; complications

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of music therapy on pain, discomfort, and depression for patients with leg fractures. METHODS: Data were collected from 40 patients admitted in an orthopedic surgery care unit. The subjects included 20 intervention group members and 20 control group members. Music therapy was offered to intervention group members once a day for 3 days for 30-60 minutes per day. Pain was measured with a numeric rating scale and by measuring vital signs. Discomfort and depression were measured with self-administered questionnaires. RESULTS: Patients who received music therapy had a lower degree of pain than patients who did not receive music therapy as measured by the numeric pain score (p<0.001), systolic blood pressure (p<0.01), diastolic blood pressure (p<0.001), pulse rate (p<0.001) and respiration (p<0.001). Patients who were provided with music therapy also had a lower degree of discomfort than patients who were not provided with this therapy (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that music therapy is an effective method for decreasing pain and dis-comfort for patients with leg fractures.
Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Depressive Disorder/etiology/*prevention & control ; Female ; Fractures, Bone/*complications/psychology ; Humans ; *Leg ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Music Therapy ; Pain/etiology/*prevention & control

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influencing factors on health-related quality of life of physically disabled persons. METHOD: Data was collected from 96 persons with a physical disability in three cities in Korea from June to September, 2003. Social support and depression were measured by a Social Support Questionnaire 6 (SSQ6) and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression questionnaire (CES-D). The Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale was used to measure self-esteem. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was measured using Smith Kline Beecham Quality of Life Scale (SBQOL). The SPSS WIN 11.0 version program was used for data analysis. RESULT: There were significant differences of HRQOL according to monthly income and economic status. All subjects had a high level of depression and low self-esteem. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study show that self-esteem and the size of the social support network are significant influencing variables on HRQOL in physically disabled persons. Nursing intervention and counseling programs which improve self-esteem and increase the size of a social support network are needed to promote HRQOL in physically disabled persons.
Social Support ; Self Concept ; Questionnaires ; *Quality of Life ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Korea ; Humans ; *Health Status ; Female ; Disabled Persons/*psychology ; Depressive Disorder/complications ; Aged ; Adult

INTRODUCTIONThe aims of the study were to identify the prevalence and sociodemographic and clinical correlates of suicidal behaviours using data from a cross-sectional survey among those with major depressive disorder (MDD) in Singapore.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThe Singapore Mental Health Study (SMHS) was a cross-sectional epidemiological study that surveyed Singapore residents (Singapore citizens and permanent residents) aged 18 years and above. The assessment of mental disorders was established using version 3.0 of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 3.0). For the purposes of this study, suicidal behaviour was assessed by questions which were asked to respondents who answered positively to the screening questions in the CIDI 3.0 "Depression" module.

RESULTSThe prevalence of suicidal ideation, plan and attempt among those with lifetime MDD was 43.6%, 13.7% and 12.3%, respectively. We found that suicidal ideation, plan and attempt were significantly associated with ethnicity, education and income. The rate of those who had sought some professional help was higher among those with suicidal plan (71.7%) and attempt (72.3%) as compared to those with suicidal ideation (48.7%) and those with MDD but no suicidal behaviour (29%).

CONCLUSIONIndividuals with MDD and suicidal behaviour do differ from their non-suicidal counterparts as they have a different sociodemographic and clinical profile. There is a need for more research and a better understanding of this population which in turn could lead to the development and implementation of relevant interventions.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; complications ; psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Singapore ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Suicidal Ideation ; Suicide, Attempted ; statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is diagnosed based on symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation but is a heterogeneous condition which can be subclassified according to endoscopy and esophageal reflux monitoring. The aim of this study was to identify differences in demographic characteristics and reflux symptom patterns among patients with various spectrum of GERD. METHODS: Patients having weekly heartburn or acid regurgitation were classified into four pathophysiological subgroups according to endoscopy and pH monitoring: reflux esophagitis (RE), endoscopy-negative reflux disease with pathological reflux (PR+), hypersensitive esophagus (HE), and normal acid exposure with negative symptom association (pH-). RESULTS: A total of 195 patients were enrolled. The numbers of patients in the subgroups were: RE, 39.0%; PR+, 20.0%; HE, 10.3%; and pH-, 30.8%. Grossly, reflux symptom patterns and relieving/exacerbating factors did not differ between subgroups. Prevalence of extraesophageal syndrome was higher in patients with PR+ than in other groups. Overlapping functional dyspepsia was common in all groups. The SCL-90-R depression score was higher in PR+ patients than in RE patients (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Demographic characteristics and reflux symptom patterns cannot differentiate pH- group from GERD subtypes. Esophageal pH monitoring could be considered for the initial evaluation of GERD in the tertiary referral setting.
Adult ; Aged ; Depressive Disorder/etiology ; Esophageal pH Monitoring ; Esophagitis, Peptic/complications/diagnosis ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux/complications/*diagnosis/psychology ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psychophysiologic Disorders/etiology ; Questionnaires ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

INTRODUCTIONIn this study, the pathways patients followed to treatment in an Insomnia Clinic in a psychiatric hospital were compared over 2 periods. The time interval to specialist referrals and patient clinical presentations were also studied. The aim was to better understand referrers' knowledge, needs and accessibility to services.

MATERIALS AND METHODSA retrospective review of cases seen between 2002 and 2005 was compared with an earlier review of cases referred between 1997 and 2000. The information gathered from medical records was similar for the 2 periods.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the socio-demographic profiles of patients in the 2 periods. Primary Insomnia was diagnosed in 48.2% of the first period cohort and in 47.5% of the second period cohort. However, among the remaining patients there was a shift from more depressive disorders in the first period to neurosis in the second period. Significantly, there was no difference in alcohol or substance abuse or dependence between the 2 periods. More than three-quarters of the patients had received treatment prior to the referral and for 51.8% in both periods, the providers were family physicians. Treatment was mainly pharmacotherapy with an increase in the use of Sleep Hygiene measures in the second period.

CONCLUSIONThere is a need for continuing medical education on insomnia as well as a need to highlight the risks of untreated insomnia and assessment for other psychiatric disorders in this common complaint.

Adult ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Depressive Disorder ; complications ; diagnosis ; Female ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurotic Disorders ; complications ; diagnosis ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care ; psychology ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Young Adult