PURPOSE: This study was designed to examine the relation of trait anger and anger expression to blood pressure, cholesterol, and depression in middle-aged Korean women. METHODS: This descriptive correlational design was conducted using a convenient sample taken from the health center of K University Hospital located in Kyungki province, Korea. The subjects were 252 women aged 40 to 64 years. Spielberger's state trait anger expression inventory - Korean version and Beck's depression inventory were used for measuring trait anger, state anger, anger expression and depression. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson correlation, two-way ANOVA, and cluster analysis using a pc-SAS program. RESULTS: The anger expression types by cluster analysis were Anger out/in type, Low anger expression type, and Anger control type. The level of cholesterol and depression were significantly higher in women with high anger in and high trait anger. In addition, the level of depression was significantly higher in women with a high anger temperament. CONCLUSIONS: Trait anger and anger in might be related to cholesterol and depression in women. However, this study does not reveal the relation between blood pressure and trait anger and anger expression.
Middle Aged ; Humans ; Female ; *Expressed Emotion ; Depressive Disorder/physiopathology/*psychology ; *Blood Pressure ; Anger/*physiology ; Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy of catgut implantation at back-shu points in treatment of mild perimenopausal depression of kidney, deficiency and liver stagnation syndrome and analyze its essential function on target symptoms.

METHODSForty-five cases were randomized into a catgut implantation group (23 cases) and atid acupuncture group (22 cases). In the catgut implantation group, catguts were implanted at Shenshu (BL 23), Ganshu (BL 18), Xinshu (BL 15), Pishu (BL 20), etc., once every week. In the acupuncture group, the conventional acupuncture was applied to the same acupoints as the catgut implantation group, once every two days. The: treatment of 4 weeks made one session, and continuous 2 sessions were required. The efficacy was evaluated in, 2 sessions. The follow-up started in the 12th week. Before treatment, after treatment and in the follow-up period, Kupperman score and the total score in Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), as well as the factor score were observed in the patients separately.

RESULTSKupperman score, the total HAMD score and the scores in the items of anxiety/somatization, retardation, sleep disorder and cognitive disorder after treatment were all reduced significantly as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). In the follow-up period, the difference in Kupperman was not significant in comparison with that after treatment in the catgut implantation: group (P>0.05). The total HAMD score and sleep disorder were reduced significantly as compared with those after treatment in the catgut implantation group (both P<0.01); in the acupuncture group, Kupperman score, the total HAMD score and sleep disorder were all increased as compared with those after treatment (all P<0.05). In; the catgut implantation group, the total HAMD score was lower than that in the acupuncture group (P<0. 05), and the scores in the items of retardation and sleep disorder were reduced significantly as compared with those in the acupuncture group (both P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe catgut implantation at back-shu points alleviates perimenopasual sympton is in patients of mild perimenopausal depression of kidney deficiency and liver stagnation syndrome. This therapy effectively relieves depressive disorders by regulating the target symptoms such as anxiety/ somatization, retardation, sleep disorder and cognitive' disorder. The long-term efficacy of this therapy is better than the conventional acupuncture.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Catgut ; Depressive Disorder ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Perimenopause ; psychology ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition characterized by the gradual loss of kidney function over time. Self-management programs have been widely applied to chronic disease education programs, which are designed to delay deteriorating kidney functions, preclude depression, and improve quality of life. This study aims to analyze effectiveness of self-management programs in bettering CKD patients' eGFR, mitigating depression symptoms and improving quality of life in randomized control or clinical trials. METHODS: Using key terms, a search was conducted in English-language, peer-reviewed journals on CKD that were published between 2002 and 2014 on databases including CINAHL, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE. The measurable variables included CKD patients' eGFR, depression, and quality of life. Random and fixed effects meta analysis were applied with standard error and correlation based measure of effect size. RESULTS: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. A self-management program significantly impacted CKD patients' depression and mental quality-of-life dimensions, with an effect size of .29 [95% confidence interval (CI) (0.07, 0.53)] and −.42 [95% CI (−0.75, −0.10)]. However, the intervention of a self-management program had no significant effect on patients' eGFR as well as physical quality-of-life dimensions, with effect sizes of .06 [95% CI (−0.69, 0.81)] and −.16 [95% CI (−0.81, 0.50)]. CONCLUSIONS: Self-management programs of patients with chronic kidney disease can improve the depression and mental quality of life. Aside from providing more objective evidence-based results, this study provides a reference for clinical health care personnel who tend to patients with CKD.
Cognitive Therapy/methods ; Depressive Disorder/*etiology/therapy ; Glomerular Filtration Rate/*physiology ; Humans ; *Quality of Life ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/physiopathology/psychology/*therapy ; Self Care/*methods

BACKGROUNDEarly-onset major depressive disorder (MDD) (EOD) is often particularly malignant due to its special clinical features, accompanying impaired social function, protracted recovery time, and frequent recurrence. This study aimed to observe the effects of age onset on clinical characteristics and social function in MDD patients in Asia.

METHODSIn total, 547 out-patients aged 18-65 years who were from 13 study sites in five Asian countries were included. These patients had MDD diagnose according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4 th Edition criteria. Clinical features and social function were assessed using Symptom Checklist-90-revised (SCL-90-R) and Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). Quality of life was assessed by a 36-item Short-form Health Survey (SF-36). Analyses were performed using a continuous or dichotomous (cut-off: 30 years) age-of-onset indicator.

RESULTSEarly-onset MDD (EOD, <30 years) was associated with longer illness (P = 0.003), unmarried status (P < 0.001), higher neuroticism (P ≤ 0.002) based on the SCL-90-R, and more limited social function and mental health (P = 0.006, P = 0.007) based on the SF-36 and SDS. The impairment of social function and clinical severity were more prominent at in-patients with younger onset ages. Special clinical features and more impaired social function and quality of life were associated with EOD, as in western studies.

CONCLUSIONSEOD often follows higher levels of neuroticism. Age of onset of MDD may be a predictor of clinical features and impaired social function, allowing earlier diagnosis and treatment.

Adult ; Age of Onset ; Aged ; Anxiety Disorders ; etiology ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuroticism ; Quality of Life ; Young Adult