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KMID : 0376719830070070198
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Seoul Journal of Psychiatry
1983 Volume.7 No. 7 p.198 ~ p.210
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The Epidemiological Study of Mental Health Problems in Korea
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Yeon Byeoung-Kil
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Abstract
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An extensive 5-year follow-up study was carried out to 3, 017 patients with mental disorders discharged from psychiatric wards of 13 hospitals in 1976. Total number of 526 copies of questionnaires were answered by mailing questionnaires -to their family members or guardians. We found that 62 patients were dead at the time of follow-up. Thus we compared the following outcome variables between 350 schizophrenics and 114 non-schizophrenics who were still alive; change of marital status, change of economic status, change of occupation, employment, work performance, social contact, severity of present mental symptoms, and course of mental illness. An investigation was also done about treatment which the patients had received after discharge.
(1) All of the 18 patients who had committed suicide were schizophrenics. Suicidal rate of schizophrenia was 4.5%.
(2) Economic status of male schizophrenic patients changed worse significantly during the follw-up period. Economic status of male schizophrenic group was lower than that of male non-schizophrenic group at the time of follow-up.
(3) There was no difference of change of marital status between schizophrenic group and non-schizophrenic group during the follow-up period but single was more common in schizophrenic group at the time of follow-up.
(4) There was no difference of change of occupation between schizophrenic group and
non-schizophrenic group during the follow-up period but male schizophrenic -group was worse than male non-schizophrenic group in employment and duration of employment during the follow-up period, and employment in last year. ,During the follow-up period, 66.4% of discharged patients was not employed and 50.6% of unemployed schizophrenics was out of work due to severe mental symptoms.
(5) At the time of follow-up, social contact was fair in 49.8% of discharged patients and schizophrenic group was more disturbed in social contact than non-schizophrenic group.
(6) At the time of follow-up, 28.7% of discharged patients did not show any mental symptoms whereas 12.9% of the patients suffered from uncontrollable severe mental symptoms. Schizophrenic group had more severe mental symptoms than non-schizophenic group.
(7) After discharge from mental hospital in 1976, 37. 790 of discharged patients had readmitted. Rehospitalization rate of schizophrenic group was higher than that of female non-schizophrenic group and duration of rehospitalization was longer in male schizophrenic group.
(8) Of discharged patients, 29.3% was completely cured, 32.3% was much improved and 34.7% was unchanged or worse at the time of follow-up. Outcome of schizophrenic group was worse than that of non-schizophrenic group.
(9) During the follow-up period, 44. 00 of discharged patients were treated by psychiatrists and 17. 2% of them did not receive any treatment. In last month, 10. 016 of discharged patients admitted to mental hospital and 18.590 of them visited outpatient department of mental hospital. But 45.9% of discharged patients did not receive any treatment in last month.
(10) Of mental disorders who received treatment in last month, 17.661 owed treatment fee from health insurance, social work organization and government, and 24. 9o complained difficulty in making a living due to treatment fee.
(11) It seems to be urgent to increase psychiatric facilities, to extend application of medical´ insurance and supply of social support r l to enact Mental Health Law.
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KEYWORD
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