No abstract available.

PURPOSE: This research investigated the daily experiences of patients' lives to develop a formal theory that explains the lives of schizophrenic patients. METHOD: A grounded theory method(Strauss & Corbin, 1998) guided the data collection and analysis. Thirteen patients who were diagnosed with schizophrenia in regional communities participated. RESULT: The experiences of chronic schizophrenic patients are defined as "escaping from a fallen mine" comparing their suffering to that of entrapped miners trying to free themselves from a collapsed mine tunnel with much difficulty and without hope. In observing participant's time lines of having lived with chronic schizophrenia, it advances with "surrender", "collapse", "reaching out", "rising", "preparing to spring up", and "starting anew". CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the experience of a chronic schizophrenic patient is like that of a miner caught under a fallen mine channel, who, without external help cannot escape the depths of the mine, but at the same time must have conviction and hope of rescue and avert fear to cooperate with outside help. The result indicates that family members, doctors and nurses as well as an institute's persistent and active support is most critical for the patient's adjustment to social life.
Social Support ; *Schizophrenic Psychology ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Humans ; Female ; Fear ; Chronic Disease ; Adult

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between depression, self-esteem and quality of life in a community population. METHODS: The subjects were given questionnaires which included general characteristics, measures of depression, self-esteem, and quality of life. Data were analyzed by the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. RESULTS: The mean score of depression was 81.47 (range 40~150). Gender, age, education, marital status, subjective economic status, subjective health status and disease were significantly associated with depression. The mean score of self-esteem was 30.42 (range 16~39). Education, marital status, subjective economic status, subjective health status and disease were significantly associated with self-esteem. The mean score of quality of life was 156.29 (range 81~229). Age, education, marital status, subjective economic status, subjective health status and disease were significantly associated with quality of life. 28.9% of the subjects had experiences with depression symptoms. There were significant correlations among depression, self-esteem and quality of life. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate a need for a nursing intervention to decrease levels of depression in the depression group. In addition, it is necessary to develop a mental health promotion program in order to enhance self-esteem and quality of life in a community population.
Depression* ; Education ; Marital Status ; Mental Health ; Nursing ; Quality of Life* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between depression, self-esteem and quality of life in a community population. METHODS: The subjects were given questionnaires which included general characteristics, measures of depression, self-esteem, and quality of life. Data were analyzed by the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. RESULTS: The mean score of depression was 81.47 (range 40~150). Gender, age, education, marital status, subjective economic status, subjective health status and disease were significantly associated with depression. The mean score of self-esteem was 30.42 (range 16~39). Education, marital status, subjective economic status, subjective health status and disease were significantly associated with self-esteem. The mean score of quality of life was 156.29 (range 81~229). Age, education, marital status, subjective economic status, subjective health status and disease were significantly associated with quality of life. 28.9% of the subjects had experiences with depression symptoms. There were significant correlations among depression, self-esteem and quality of life. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate a need for a nursing intervention to decrease levels of depression in the depression group. In addition, it is necessary to develop a mental health promotion program in order to enhance self-esteem and quality of life in a community population.
Depression* ; Education ; Marital Status ; Mental Health ; Nursing ; Quality of Life* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

We reviewed surgical specimens from 11 patients with diffuse neurofibroma to define the specific clinicopathologic characteristics. Ten cases were cutaneous neurofibromas and one case was an uncommon gastrointestinal neurofibroma involving the rectum. The most frequent sites of involvement were the head and neck, especially the eyelids and the periorbital areas. They usually presented as a plaque-like elevation of the skin. They primarily occured in children and young adults and positive family histories of von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis were obtained in 45.4%. Pathologically, the involved skin & rectum were diffusely thickened by an infiltrative growing mass, showing proliferation of short fusiform cells in the uniform matrix of fine fibrillary collagen. The characteristic prominence of Wagner-Meissner bodies (45.4%) suggests they could be associated with pathogenesis of diffuse neurofibroma. On the basis of these findings, we could confirm diffuse neurofibroma to be a distinct form of neurofibroma.
Child ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to test the effects of a community-based depression prevention program on community people and the effectiveness was measured by assessing depression, self-esteem, and quality of life. The theoretical framework supporting the program was Ellis' REBT (Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy) theory (1962). METHODS: A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. Study participants were 29 community residents (experimental: 14, control: 15). The depression prevention program consisted of music activity, bibliotherapy, and cognitive behavior therapy and was provided for 6 weeks (a twelve-session). Data were collected before and after the program and 3 months later for follow-up testing. Data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN 12.0. RESULTS: There were no differences in outcome variables between the experimental and control groups. From the additional analyses, statistically significant differences by time point were observed for Self-esteem and Quality of life at 3 months later for experimental group. And 50% of the participants with depression symptoms no longer scored in the depression symptoms in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: The study findings indicate that depression prevention programs are positive in reducing depression in people suffering from depression symptoms. However some modifications are required to increase effectiveness.
Bibliotherapy ; Cognitive Therapy ; Depression* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Music ; Quality of Life*

PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the effects of a smoking prevention program among preschool children. METHOD: This study used a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants were 141 preschool children aged 6 or 7 at two childcare centers in Jecheon City, who were divided into an experimental group (n=66) and a control group (n=75). The smoking prevention program was applied through 9 sessions and 30 minutes per session. Surveys were conducted before and after the smoking prevention program to examine the preschoolers' knowledge and attitude toward smoking and smoking coping behavior. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the experimental group and the control group in smoking knowledge (t=-2.02, p=.044) and smoking coping behavior (t=-2.01, p=.047), but smoking attitude (t=-1.20, p=.230) was not statistically significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: As a result, further research is needed into the long term effects of a smoking prevention program on the future behavior of preschoolers so that the health benefits of early prevention can be quantified. It is necessary for parents to participate actively in influencing preschoolers' attitudes and behaviors with regard to the avoidance of smoking.
Adaptation, Psychological* ; Child, Preschool* ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Parents ; Smoke* ; Smoking*

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervix Uteri* ; Female ; Kidney*

Levodopa treatment in Parkinson's disease (PD) can cause a wide range of non-motor manifestations including poor impulse control and stereotyped behaviors. Punding is a term used to describe complex prolonged, purposeless and repetitive behavior in patients under dopamine replacement therapy. We report a 64-year-old PD patient who, concomitantly with self-increment of levodopa, developed punding behaviors in association with dopamine dysregulation syndrome. Gradual reduction of dopaminergic medication partially alleviated repetitive behavior over time.
Dopamine ; Humans ; Levodopa ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; Stereotyped Behavior

The components of bore marrow change dramatically during lifetime. To evaluate the bone marrow of cranium and upper cervical spine, the authors retrospectively evaluated 300 examinations of cranium and the second cervical bone in patients without known bone marrow abnormality. T1-weighted images were used to analyze the changes of lone marrow signal intensity according to the age and sex. The signal intensity of bone marrow of cranium increased most rapidly from birth to age of 10 years. Between 11 and 20 years of age, gradual increase of signal intensity was noted. There was minimal augment of signal intensity after age of 20 years. The examination of signal intensity of bone marrow of the cranium revealed slightly higher score in male than in female. The synchondrosis of the second cervical vertebra was visible in 97%. These results may be useful in the detection of abnormal bone marrow signal of cranium and upper cervical spine.
Bone Marrow* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Parturition ; Retrospective Studies ; Skull* ; Spine*