Effects of Meaning-Centered Therapy on Depressive Symptoms in Adults and Older Adults: A Systematic Review / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of meaning-centered therapy (MCT) on depressive symptoms in adults and older adults, excluding cancer patients.METHODS: Ten databases were systematically to extract peer-reviewed journal articles and dissertations in Korean or English. Two independent researchers assessed the risk of bias and the quality of the report using Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network criteria.RESULTS: A total of 12 (five Korean and seven non-Korean) studies were finally selected after removing 66 of the 78 studies assessed for eligibility due to inappropriate subject inclusion and research design. Eleven studies reported that MCT was effective in reducing depressive symptoms, except for one study using web-based MCT for cancer caregivers. Those studies also showed that the effects remained at the patient follow-up sessions.CONCLUSION: The reviewed studies provide evidence suggesting that MCT may be effective in reducing depressive symptoms in adults and older adults. However, it is necessary to investigate the effectiveness of on-line MCT on the depressive symptom reduction in the future.

Factors Influencing Metabolic Syndrome among Mental Health Facility Patients with Schizophrenia / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify prevalence of, and factors influencing metabolic syndrome among long-term care facility patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a 20-item questionnaire. Clinical data for blood triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, and fasting blood sugar were collected from medical records. Body weight, body fat, body mass index, blood pressure, height, and abdominal circumference were measured. Data for 198 participants were analyzed using t-test, x2 test and logistic regression. RESULTS: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 56.1%. The number of persons who overate was significantly higher in the metabolic syndrome group than in the normal group (p<.001). Factors influencing metabolic syndrome were hyperphagia (p<.001), abdominal circumference (p<.001), systolic blood pressure (p=.040), blood triglyceride (p<.001), fasting blood sugar (p=.015), and HDL-cholesterol (p<.001). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that nurses working with patients who have chronic schizophrenic should make an effort to help patients achieve control of overeating behavior and reduce abdominal circumference to prevent metabolic syndrome.

Causes of Burnout among South Korean Counselors Working with North Korean Refugees: A Qualitative Content Analysis / 정신간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was done to identify the causes of burnout among South Korean counselors for North Korean refugees. METHODS: Data were collected using open-ended questions in a survey from 85 South Korean counselors for North Korean refugees, and a content analysis of the textual data from the questions was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 192 statements were selected from the data and those were categorized into 3 domains, 8 categories, and 24 sub-categories. Institutional, client, and social recognition domains emerged. Findings indicate that the causes of burnout were derived from the following categories: 1) the categories for the Institutional domain were physical environment, work conflict, and work overload, 2) for the client domain, lack of cooperation, selfish attitude, and limits to interventions, and 3) for the social recognition domain, lack of rewards and identity confusion. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that community mental health professionals need to understand these causes of burnout among the counselors working with North Korean refugees. It is also necessary to do further research to develop strategies to prevent burnout and potential mental health problems for these counselors.

Meaning of Life in Wives of Alcoholics: Autobiographical Method

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe life-stories and meanings of life in wives of alcoholics by analyzing their autobiographies. METHODS: Autobiographies were collected from 20 participants who produced their own autobiographies in the logotherapeutic autobiography program at community alcohol counseling centers in Korea. The data were coded to identify themes of agency and communion using the manual coding system developed by McAdams, and analyzed by the existential approach. RESULTS: There were 214 coded episodes in twenty autobiographies. There were 128 agency themes and 86 communion themes. The most common themes were Love/Friendship. Five themes emerged from the autobiographical episodes on the existential perspective: 1) overcoming the suffering, 2) meaningful people and relationships, 3) spiritual maturation, 4) caring and helping, and 5) finding a meaning of life. CONCLUSION: These results showed that the wives of alcoholics who participated in the logotherapeutic autobiography program found the meaning of life through their suffering. Furthermore, a study on existential nursing interventions for people who have meaninglessness in life needs to be done.

Molecular cloning of clathrin assembly protein gene (rCALM) and its differential expression to AP180 in rat brain

Binding of clathrin assembly protein to clathrin triskelia induces their assembly into clathrin-coated vesicle (CCV) in neurons. The clathrin assembly protein gene (rCALM) was cloned from rat brain cDNA library. rCALM deduced 69 kD molecule has overall 73% amino acid homology compared with that of AP180 protein. The N-terminal domain, where amino acid sequences are very similar with AP180, harbours binding sites for clathrin and inositides, as well as possible phosphorylation sites, but the proline rich C-terminal domain is different from that of AP180. The mRNA expression of rCALM and AP180 by in situ hybridization histochemistry revealed that the rCALM mRNA was more intensely expressed than that of AP180, and the distribution patterns were different from each other. These results suggest that the rCALM mediates the assembly of clathrin in neural and supporting cells of brain, and regulates the clathrin coated-vesicle formation through phosphorylation and inositide metabolism. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.