Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Young Military Men

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To estimate the prevalence and evaluate the associated psychological factors of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in males in their twenties who are currently enrolled in military service. METHODS: A total of 1,073 men in the Korean army were asked to complete questionnaires based on the Rome III criteria and Symptom Checklist-90-revised (SCL-90R). The prevalence of FGIDs was estimated, and the associated psychological factors were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 967 men participated. The total prevalence of FGIDs was 18.5% (age-adjusted prevalence, 18.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 15.3% to 20.8%). The total SCL-90R scores were higher in men with FGIDs than men without FGIDs (24 [interquartile range, 13 to 44] vs 13 [5 to 28], p<0.001) and higher in men with overlapping syndromes than in those with single FGIDs (31 [18 to 57] vs 14 [5.75 to 29], p<0.001). Somatization (odds ratio [OR], 1.141; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.20; p<0.001), obsessive-compulsive behaviors (OR, 1.084; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.14; p=0.002) and depression (OR, 0.943; 95% CI, 0.90 to 0.99; p=0.020) were identified as independent predictive factors for FGIDs. CONCLUSIONS: FGIDs are common among men in their twenties who are fulfilling their military duty. Somatization and obsessive-compulsive features from the tense atmosphere are associated with the development or progression of FGIDs. Patients who exhibit overlapping syndromes require greater attention given their more severe psychopathology.

The Relationship between Psychologic Factors and Motivation for Weight Loss in Childhood Obesity / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between the psychosocial variables such as emotional, character and motivation factors for weight loss in children with obesity. METHODS: Thirty seven children between the ages of 7 and 12 who had entered the summer camp pngram for childhood obesity and their parents participated in this study. The questionnaire for eating habit and life style of the child, the Child Behavioral Checklist (CBCL), and the Child Character Inventory (CCI) were completed by parents. The children with obesity completed the Child Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). We evaluated their motivation to lose weight with the Weight Loss Readiness Test (WLRT). Then, we analyzed correlation between the psychological variables and the items of the WLRT. RESULTS: The 'emotional instability' in the CBCL was correlated significantly with the item of 'emotional eating' of the WLRT (r=0.336, p=0.042), and the 'vharm avoidance' of the CCI was negatively correlated significantly with the item of 'exercise patterns and attitudes' of the WLRT (r=-0.047, p=0.014). However, no significant correlation was found between each of the severity scores of the depressive symptoms assessed with the CDI and the other psychological variables, and each of the six items of the WLRT. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the emotional instability and the 'harm avoidance' of the CCI of the children are related to the motivation for weight loss in childhood obesity.