OBJECTIVE: Traumatic syndromes resembling posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been repeatedly described through the history of mankind. Since the inclusion into operational criteria of DSM-III, the concept of PTSD have been robustly changed. The author reviewed the cutting-edge issues regarding diagnosis and pathophysiology of PTSD for proper understanding of this conditon. METHODS: Wide literatural reviews using Medline and texbooks were performed for integrating up-to-date findings of PTSD studies. Several own preliminary findings and discussions with world-wide experts were also included into this review. RESULTS: The complex pathophysiology with the concept of "stress-vulnerablity model" of PTSD has become increasingly important as the dianostic criteria for PTSD specify an etiological factor, namely the traumatic event, unlike most other mental disoders. The present paper diffusely reviewed the historical consideration, the change of disease concept, symptomatology, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, methods for assessment, epidemiology, and pathophysiology of PTSD. CONCLUSION: Since various traumatic events are very prevalent in Korea, understanding the clinical phenomenology of PTSD is very crucial to properly diagnose and treat patients with PTSD.
Diagnosis* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Korea ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

OBJECTIVE: Traumatic syndromes resembling posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been repeatedly described through the history of mankind. Since the inclusion into operational criteria of DSM-III, the concept of PTSD have been robustly changed. The author reviewed the cutting-edge issues regarding diagnosis and pathophysiology of PTSD for proper understanding of this conditon. METHODS: Wide literatural reviews using Medline and texbooks were performed for integrating up-to-date findings of PTSD studies. Several own preliminary findings and discussions with world-wide experts were also included into this review. RESULTS: The complex pathophysiology with the concept of "stress-vulnerablity model" of PTSD has become increasingly important as the dianostic criteria for PTSD specify an etiological factor, namely the traumatic event, unlike most other mental disoders. The present paper diffusely reviewed the historical consideration, the change of disease concept, symptomatology, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, methods for assessment, epidemiology, and pathophysiology of PTSD. CONCLUSION: Since various traumatic events are very prevalent in Korea, understanding the clinical phenomenology of PTSD is very crucial to properly diagnose and treat patients with PTSD.
Diagnosis* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Korea ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

PURPOSE: Traumatic events and adverse stressful experiences are major etiological factors in a wide variety of physical and mental disorders. Developing psychological instruments that can be easily administered and that have good psychometric properties have become an integral part for research and practice. This study investigated the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Lifetime Stressor Checklist-Revised (LSC-R) in a consecutive sample of psychiatric outpatients. The LSC-R is a 30-item self-reporting questionnaire examining lifetime traumatic and non-traumatic stressors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A final sample of 258 outpatients with anxiety or depressive disorders was recruited at the psychiatric department of a university-affiliated teaching hospital. Self-reported data included the Life Events Checklist (LEC), the Zung Self-Rating Depression and Anxiety Scales, and the Impact of Events Scale-Revised, in addition to the LSC-R. A convenience sample of 50 college students completed the LSC-R on two occasions separated by a three week-interval for test-retest reliability. RESULTS: Mean kappa for temporal stability was high (κ=0.651) and Cronbach alpha was moderate (α=0.724). Convergent validity was excellent with corresponding items on the LEC. Concurrent validity was good for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. An exploratory factor analysis revealed that 11 factors explained 64.3 % of the total variance. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated good psychometric properties of the Korean version of the LSC-R, further supporting its use in clinical research and practice with a Korean speaking population.
Adult ; Anxiety/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; *Checklist ; Depression/diagnosis/epidemiology ; Depressive Disorder/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Outpatients ; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales ; Psychometrics ; Reproducibility of Results ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; *Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: A natural disaster negatively affects children's emotional and behavioral adjustment. The purpose of this paper was to examine the prevalence, symptoms, and correlates of PTSD after the occurrence of Typhoon Rusa. METHOD: 261 elementary school children living in Kimcheon, which was a devastated rural area in South Korea by Typhoon Rusa, were selected. Data were collected 4 months after the disaster using the PTSD Reaction Index categories recommended by Frederick, severity of PTSD. RESULT: 12.3% of the children had either moderate or severe PTSD symptoms; 22.7% reported mild symptoms; and the remaining 65% had sub-clinical symptoms of PTSD. The most frequent symptom was recurrenct fear(67.0%). 13% to 17.2% of children exhibited difficulty in concentration, sleep disturbance, and guilt feeling. The regression model of severity of PTSD was composed of the level of exposure to traumatic experiences, grade in school, gender, negative coping style, and social support, and explained 34.3% for PTSD symptoms. Exposure to traumatic experiences was the strongest factor of all predictors. CONCLUSION: Emotional support from friends and coping style were correlated with PTSD severity. School-based interventions that emphasizes coping with disaster related problems and problem-solving may prove to be useful, and may aid in building close and supportive ties with teachers, classmates, and friends.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Attitude to Health ; Child ; *Child Psychology ; *Disasters ; Female ; Friends/psychology ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Life Change Events ; Male ; Models, Psychological ; Prevalence ; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales ; Regression Analysis ; Rural Health ; School Health Services ; Self Care/methods/psychology ; Severity of Illness Index ; Social Support ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/diagnosis/epidemiology/*etiology/psychology ; Survivors