It is known that the personality is the crucial factor in the treatment outcome of depression. The authors tried to identify the results of such studies and various components which determine the treatment outcome of depression. Nearly 60 papers published between the year 1990 and 2000 about the treatment of depression and personality were reviewed. Among them about 30 papers were selected to compere the research methods, results and discussions. The arguments and critics of the papers were discussed. In the many debates, the authors admitted the fact that premorbid personality trait influences the treatment outcome of depression negatively regardless of treatment method. Subtyping of depression is feasible along the presence of good or bad predictors of treatment outcome for depression. Differentiation of depression and personality seems to have no problem, however test of personality state before the development of psychiatric disorder such as depression is not amenable. For example, cluster A personality trait is often misunderstood as depression in clinical setting. In some cases cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in the treatment of depression accompanying personality disorder. The authors insist that the analysis of personality in the dimensional aspect rather than in the categorical aspect gives more information in the research of personality influencing the treatment outcome of depression. In addition, the reason why we understand the relationship between depression and personality were discussed.
Cognitive Therapy ; Depression* ; Personality Disorders ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVES: As a part of plan to develop evidence-based treatment guidelines for depression that is more suitable for Korean situation, we investigate the present status and client's requirements for non-pharmacological treatment of depression in Korean clinical situation. METHODS: Subjects were patients with depression in 12 university hospitals which are located in metropolises in Korea. We analyzed the records from questionnaires about current clinical status and requirements for the non-pharmacological treatment of depression in Korea. RESULT: 50.8% of the subjects have experienced non-pharmacological treatments for their depression. The preference of non-pharmacological treatment method of depression is exercise/interesting activity, counseling by psychiatrists and psychotherapy, and the best effective treatment method is psychotherapy (Es=4.36). Actually, the mean consultation time by psychiatrist is 11.31+/-7.16 min, and the appropriate consultation time for client's situation is 18.39+/-8.95 min. During consultation, patients' satisfaction measurement for psychiatrist's explanation about pharmacological treatment is 64.17+/-27.11, and satisfaction measurement for psychiatrist's counseling for their depression about personal problems, resent stress, interpersonal relationship is 61.66+/-26.63. CONCLUSION: In Korea, many psychiatrists offered biologically oriented treatment to their patients with depression, and patients' satisfaction measurement about consultation by psychiatrists is low. Many patients wanted to combined pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment for their depression, and aspired to information about complementary and self-help treatment methods. It is necessary to develop non-pharmacological treatment guideline for depression which reflect the clinical situation in Korea and meet Korean patients' need.
Counseling ; Depression* ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Korea* ; Psychiatry ; Psychotherapy

As suicide deaths have been rapidly increasing among the Korean people, the clinical conditions associated with suicide including major depressive disorder (MDD) have also been in the public eye for decades. Thus we discuss the relationship between suicide and depression from the psychosocial perspective. Because the introjected aggression or hostility may be essential psychodynamic factors in suicide and depression, the clinical psychiatrist's or psychotherapist's empathy may be the important psychotherapeutic method in the recovery of object relationships or relieving suicidal patients' self-destructive tendencies. Although various and diverse psychological features have been suggested as the predictive factors of suicide, they have not yet been demonstrated by any statistical models. Psychiatrists should be aware that suicide or suicidal behaviors might be strongly associated with sociocultural background in Korea. Further research may be needed in the area of the relationship among suicide, depression, and sociocultural correlates.
Acculturation ; Aggression ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Empathy ; Eye ; Hostility ; Korea ; Models, Statistical ; Object Attachment ; Psychiatry ; Suicide

OBJECTIVES: It is interesting that the term "Tao" is seen in the Bible of Korean revised version, because Tao is the essential part of traditional Korean culture. Korean culture has 5000 years of history rooted in the humanitarian ideal that means devotion to the welfare of mankind. Such humanitarian ideal had accepted, digested and finally recreated many religions and ideas without conflict. Because understanding the patient's culture is important in the psychiatric practice, it is worthwhile to compare the Tao in the Bible and in the traditional culture. This will lead us to understand the Bible more accurately, and understanding the Bible can broaden our view toward the traditional Korean culture. METHODS: The authors searched the term "Tao" in the Bible of Korean Revised Version and compared it with the Biblia Hebrica Stuttgatensia, and Novum Testatum Graece to detect the original expressions of Tao. The meaning of Hebrew or Greek original expressions were compared with English expressions of The Holy Bible, the King James Version. RESULTS: Tao was recorded 85 times in the Bible of Korean Revised Version. The majority of original expressions were "derek" (43 times) in Hebrew Old Testaments, and "hodos" (14 times) in Greek New Testament. The majority of English expressions corresponding to Tao were "way" or "ways" (59 times). "Derek" means the commandments of God. "Hodos" means the way of Jesus Christ. CONCLUSION: "Derek" and "hodos" commonly mean the righteousness and sanctification required to human with the berith (testament) of God. Tao in the Bible of Korean Revised Version is similar to Tao in the traditional culture in the viewpoint of enlightenment. Korean psychotherapy can be elaborated further with the acceptance of Western psychotherapy on the basis of deep understanding of Korean traditional culture, such as Tao.
Bible* ; Humans ; Korea ; Psychotherapy ; Troleandomycin*

No abstract available.
Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Vaccination*

In treatment of depression, non-pharmacological treatment is as important as pharmacological treatment. However, in clinical practice in Korea, non-pharmacological treatment is not provided sufficiently and patients are not satisfied with psychiatric interviews. Accordingly, patients ask for more information from clinicians. Clinicians should be aware of the characteristics of depression in Korean patients, because the manifestations of symptoms are influenced by cultural factors. In particular, depressed patients complain about somatic symptoms more frequently than they complain about depressed mood itself. In order to establish a therapeutic relationship with depressed patients, clinicians should be aware of these characteristics of depressed patients and clinicians should also address the needs of their patients. The author introduces evidence-based self-care methods for Korean patients with depression. St. John's wort, acupuncture, air ionization, light therapy, massage bibliotherapy, exercise, meditation, relaxation, and yoga can be helpful for overcoming depression. Among them, the Clinical Research Center for Depression, an organization supported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, has recommended several non-pharmacological treatments for depression. First of all, exercise, such as walking more than 30 min. everyday, is strongly recommended. Other recommendations include bibliotherapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and short-term psychodynamic supportive psychotherapy. For the nationwide management of depression, social bias against the treatment of depression should be reduced and non-pharmacological treatment for depression should be encouraged.
Acupuncture ; Air Ionization ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Bibliotherapy ; Cognitive Therapy ; Depression ; Humans ; Hypericum ; Korea ; Massage ; Meditation ; Phototherapy ; Psychotherapy ; Relaxation ; Self Care ; Walking ; Yoga

OBJECTIVES: Understanding the well-being of immigrant adolescents is complicated due to the empirical data showing poorer psychological and behavioral adjustment in native-born second generation immigrant children to those of foreign-born immigrant children. Some researchers argue the phenomenon of "healthy immigrant effect". This research is to examine the valicity of such effect. METHODS: The immigrant sample for this study was drawn from the pool of families involved in the Korean Mental Health Study (Noh et al, 1992) in the Metro area of Toronto. Of the 860 families, 318 Korean adolescents participated in this study. Immigrant control and Canadian control samples participated in the same survey. ANOVA and MCA were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The self reported depression in Korean sample was slightly higher than the controls. The self reported anxiety level is slightly higher in Korean than the controls. The self-reported instrumental and social competence were lower among Korean youth compared to the foreign-born and Canadian-born controls. CONCLUSION: The data are not consistent with the "healthy immigrant effect". A serious design issue in the studies of national data comparing immigrant children is that the impact of immigration on mental health can not be estimated accurately by comparing minority children of varying nativity status to children born in the host country. With close matching of the samples, we found that immigrant children do not have an advantage over their non-immigrant cohort.
Adolescent* ; Anxiety ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Depression ; Emigrants and Immigrants* ; Emigration and Immigration ; Humans ; Mental Competency ; Mental Health* ; Population Groups ; Self Report

OBJECTIVES: Understanding the well-being of immigrant adolescents is complicated due to the empirical data showing poorer psychological and behavioral adjustment in native-born second generation immigrant children to those of foreign-born immigrant children. Some researchers argue the phenomenon of "healthy immigrant effect". This research is to examine the valicity of such effect. METHODS: The immigrant sample for this study was drawn from the pool of families involved in the Korean Mental Health Study (Noh et al, 1992) in the Metro area of Toronto. Of the 860 families, 318 Korean adolescents participated in this study. Immigrant control and Canadian control samples participated in the same survey. ANOVA and MCA were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The self reported depression in Korean sample was slightly higher than the controls. The self reported anxiety level is slightly higher in Korean than the controls. The self-reported instrumental and social competence were lower among Korean youth compared to the foreign-born and Canadian-born controls. CONCLUSION: The data are not consistent with the "healthy immigrant effect". A serious design issue in the studies of national data comparing immigrant children is that the impact of immigration on mental health can not be estimated accurately by comparing minority children of varying nativity status to children born in the host country. With close matching of the samples, we found that immigrant children do not have an advantage over their non-immigrant cohort.
Adolescent* ; Anxiety ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Depression ; Emigrants and Immigrants* ; Emigration and Immigration ; Humans ; Mental Competency ; Mental Health* ; Population Groups ; Self Report