Relations between Eastern Four Pillars Theory and Western Measures of Personality Traits

PURPOSE: The present study investigated the validity of personality classification using four pillars theory, a tradition in China and northeastern Asia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four pillars analyses were performed for 148 adults on the basis of their birth year, month, day, and hour. Participants completed two personality tests, the Korean version of Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised-Short Version (TCI) and the Korean Inventory of Interpersonal Problems; scores were correlated with four pillars classification elements. Mean difference tests (e.g., t-test, ANOVA) were compared with groups classified by four pillars index. RESULTS: There were no significant correlations between personality scale scores and total yin/yang number (i.e., the 8 heavenly or earthly stems), and no significant between-groups results for classifications by yin/yang day stem and the five elements. There were significant but weak (r=0.18-0.29) correlations between the five elements and personality scale scores. For the six gods and personality scales, there were significant but weak (r=0.18-0.25) correlations. Features predicted by four pillars theory were most consistent when participants were grouped according to the yin/yang of the day stem and dominance of yin/yang numbers in the eight heavenly or earthly stems. CONCLUSION: Although the major criteria of four pillars theory were not independently correlated with personality scale scores, correlations emerged when participants were grouped according to the composite yin/yang variable. Our results suggest the utility of four pillars theory (beyond fortune telling or astrology) for classifying personality traits and making behavioral predictions.

Evidence-Based, Non-Pharmacological Treatment Guideline for Depression in Korea

Although pharmacological treatment constitutes the main therapeutic approach for depression, non-pharmacological treatments (self-care or psychotherapeutic approach) are usually regarded as more essential therapeutic approaches in clinical practice. However, there have been few clinical practice guidelines concerning self-care or psychotherapy in the management of depression. This study introduces the 'Evidence-Based, Non-Pharmacological Treatment Guideline for Depression in Korea.' For the first time, a guideline was developed for non-pharmacological treatments for Korean adults with mild-to-moderate depression. The guideline development process consisted of establishing several key questions related to non-pharmacologic treatments of depression, searching the literature for studies which answer these questions, assessing the evidence level of each selected study, drawing up draft recommendation, and peer review. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network grading system was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. As a result of this process, the guideline recommends exercise therapy, bibliotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy, short-term psychodynamic supportive psychotherapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy as the non-pharmacological treatments for adult patients with mild-to-moderate depression in Korea. Hence, it is necessary to develop specific methodologies for several non-pharmacological treatment for Korean adults with depression.

Sinonasal and Psychological Symptoms in Rhinologic Patients(SNOT-20 & SCL-90-R) / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Quality of life is one of the important issues in the treatment of patients with chronic diseases of the nose and sinuses. Psychological disturbance may affect patient's symptoms and the outcome after treatments. In this study, we aimed to evaluate both sinonasal and psychological profiles in rhinologic patients. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: From February 2007 to January 2008, 117 rhinologic patients who had been scheduled for the nasal and sinus surgery were enrolled. They were divided into two groups, nasal cavity disease (NCD, n=53) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS, n=64). Somatic and psychological symptoms were evaluated using the Sinonasal Outcome Test-20 (SNOT-20) and Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). All of the patients underwent nasal endoscopy, computed tomography, acoustic rhinometry, T&T olfactometry and allergic skin prick test. RESULTS: Global severity index of the SCL-90-R was within the normal range for all the rhinologic patients. There was no difference of SNOT-20 (p=0.220) and SCL-90-R (p=0.367) scores between the two groups. In the non-allergic patients, the CRS group had higher scores of SNOT-20 (p=0.002) and SCL-90-R (p=0.003) compared to the NCD group. The allergic NCD patients showed significantly higher scores of SNOT-20 (p=0.020) and SCL-90-R (p=0.003) compared to non-allergic NCD patients. CONCLUSION: Allergy could augment the patient's somatic and psychological symptoms, especially in the NCD group. Therefore, allergy control may be important in the management of patients with nasal cavity diseases if they have allergic rhinitis.

Two cases of cesarean section after laparoscopic radiofrequency myolysis / 대한산부인과학회지

Radiofrequency myolysis is a method for preserving uterus and fecundity, and due to its more non-invasive and simpler operation, it is now carried out to cure the uterine myomas. However, not long time has passed since this operation started, and little studies were conducted on this complications and side effects. Therefore, since the authors experienced the pregnancy after radiofrequency myolysis of uterine myoma, we hereby report the cases.

Development of Screening Test for Adolescent Mental Health and Problem Behavior / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to develop the screening questionnaire (Adolescent Mental Health and Problem Behavior Questionnaire, AMPQ) for detecting mental health problems and various problem behaviors in adolescents. METHODS: First, six main domains of questionnaire were defined and preliminary sub-items were collected through literature study, consultation data from field mental health experts, and preliminary survey study. Next, with these 52 preliminary items, we conducted nationwide survey on 1,267 middle and high school students of five districts of Korea. RESULTS: Through reliability test and factor analysis 34 items were finally filtered out. The Cronbach's alpha of these 34 items was .88. And correlation with K-YSR and K-CBCL were .34 (p<.01) and .68 (p<.01). CONCLUSION: AMPQ, which is comprised of relatively short list of items and at the same time covers overall mental health and problem behaviors in adolescents can be used by non-professionals as a screening questionnaire in school settings or mental health centers.

Acute Sheehan's syndrome with hyponatremia and hypoglycemia / 대한산부인과학회지

We report two cases of acute Sheehan's syndrome with a brief review of literature: A 28-year-old woman who had been performed cesarean section delivery complicated by hemorrhage due to uterine atony. And a 29-year-old woman who had vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC) complicated by hemorrhage due to birth canal laceration. On 8th day after delivery, both patient visited emergency room in critical condition with nausea, vomiting and general weakness. Although clinically significant Sheehan's syndrome is an uncommon consequence of obstetric hemorrhage, Sheehan's syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hyponatremia and suggestive hypoglycemia in early postpartum period women with history of massive obstetric hemorrhage.

Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Related Factors in Firefighters of a Firestation / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the factors related with posttraumatic symptoms and to estimate the prevalence of posttraumatic disorder of urban male firefighters. METHODS: From a study sample comprising 260 male firefighters from one fire station, the responses from 146 who had experienced one or more traumatic events, responded to the 'Impact of Event Scale-Revised Korean version' (IES-R-K) and didn't show any evidence of depression were analyzed. We surveyed the firefighters using a self-administered questionnaire including general characteristics, job-related characteristics, IES-R-K, and a 'Firefighters and paramedics' incident stressor'. RESULTS: The mean value of IES-R-K in this study was 11.3 and it was higher in the married firefighters than in the unmarried firefighters (p=0.005) and in the 24-hr shift workers than in the ordinary day shift workers (p=0.032). The frequency of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) of the firefighters in this study using IES-R-K was 13.7%, with a cutoff point of 24/25. The overall number of experiences of 25 traumatic events was larger in emergency medical personnel and rescue workers than in other work functions (p=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of PTSD symptoms in firefighters was estimated to 13.7% using IES-RK and was higher than the prevalence of PTSD in the general population. A program to manage the mental health and provide early detection for mental illness for firefighters is needed.

The effects of cervical conization on sexual function / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed to evaluate the effects of cervical conization on sexual function in patients with non-malignant conditions. METHODS: We choose thirthy-one patients who were operated by cervical conization. They were interviewed retrospectically that effects on sexual desire or interest, sexual activity or frequency, pleasure, communication and satisfaction with sexual relationship. RESULTS: After cervical conization, there was no statistically significant change (p>.05) in sexual desire or interest, sexual activity or frequency, pleasure, communication and satisfaction with sexual relationship. CONCLUSION: Cervical conization was not found to have any adverse effects on sexual function in our study. In this respects, conization is a suitable conservative method when treating patients with non-malignant conditions.

A Preliminary Study for Illuminating Formal Ways of Pathological Language Behavior / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify differences in thinking between schizophrenic patients and healthy subjects with linguistic-philosophical approach and to develop a tool to measure pathological thinking. METHODS: Approximately 50 cards(pictures of either representational or abstract sculptures and paintings) from the previous experiment(1997) were carefully examined and 10 cards were selected based on their variety and promptness of the response. Twenty-four schizophrenic patients and 19 healthy subjects participated in this experiment. Participants were required to give a title to each picture. Their responses were analysed based on the forms of thinking, abstractness(or concreteness) and the category of the title. Each response was also coded either direct or indirect. RESULTS: 1) Schizophrenic patients emitted more direct and simple descriptive responses whereas healthy subjects showed projection-related direct traits, indirect traits, indirect association and generalization. 2) Both groups tended to utilize the whole rather than parts. Schizophrenic group depended more on the whole pictures than healthy group. Healthy subjects showed more generalization tendency with parts. 3) Both groups preferred concrete titles to abstract ones. Schizophrenic group(95.3%) used more concrete titles than healthy group(71.4%) and healthy group(28.65%) used more abstract titles than schizophrenic group(4.7%). 4) Schizophrenic patients(73.5%) showed more directness in thinking than healthy subjects, whereas healthy subjects(58.7%) more indirectness. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Schizophrenic patients clearly showed direct and simple forms of thinking and expressive language, lacking reasoning, and systematic processing. Additionally, schizophrenic patients simply responded to the whole and used concrete and direct expression. 2) Replication study is warranted to improve reliability and validity of the tool we developed. Research on individual differences needs to be conducted to measure differences among individuals and change over time in an individual. 3) Further study on the factors which might be related to forms of thinking and language expressions, such as intelligence is warranted.